What Charbay Distillery does

Charbay Distillery is a family-owned craft spirits producer founded in 1983 in Ukiah, California, operated by the Karakasevic family across 13 generations of distilling heritage dating to 1751. The company produces a multi-category spirits portfolio including hopped whiskeys (R5, Doubled & Twisted, Stout), whole-fruit vodkas (Clear, Meyer Lemon, Green Tea, Blood Orange Mandarin), aged brandies (No. 83 and No. 89), Double Aged Rum, espresso cocktails in bottle and RTD can formats, and Nostalgie Walnut Liqueur. The distillery is anchored by a custom 660-gallon Alambic Charentais copper pot still built by the Pruhlo family and a 4-column still for vodka production, with proprietary 68-90 day whole-fruit extraction processes and a category-defining technique of distilling whiskey from bottle-ready beer (pioneered in 1999). The business operates as the exclusive US importer for Tequila Tapatío (La Alteña distillery, Jalisco), distributing across at least 11 US states through liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. In 2026, Charbay launched a Custom Production division offering contract distilling, bottling, RTD/canning, and TTB compliance services to other spirits brands nationwide, opening a B2B revenue stream alongside its premium consumer business.

Name

Charbay Distillery

Legal name

Charbay Distillery

Website

https://charbay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Charbay Distillery is a family-owned, 13th-generation craft distillery in Ukiah, California producing premium whiskey, vodka, brandy, rum, liqueur, and espresso cocktails, plus exclusive US import of Tequila Tapatío, now expanding into contract custom production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft spirits production
• Whiskey distilling
• Vodka production
• Brandy aging
• Tequila importation

Headquarters

HQ city

Causeway Bay

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Spirits Product Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted spirits including whiskey, vodka, brandy, rum, liqueurs, and imported Tequila Tapatío. Products sold through retail liquor stores, bars, restaurants, and directly to consumers via store locators. Premium pricing for craft, small-batch products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Charbay Distillery is a family-owned craft distillery established in 1983 in Ukiah, California, producing premium handcrafted spirits including hopped whiskeys, whole-fruit vodkas, aged brandies, rum, and liqueurs using a custom 660-gallon Alambic Charentais copper pot still and proprietary extraction processes. The company is also the exclusive US importer of Tequila Tapatío from La Alteña distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, and operates a Custom Production division offering contract distilling, bottling, and compliance services to other spirits brands.

Product overview

Charbay Distillery is a family-owned craft distillery (No. 177 in America, est. 1983) offering a portfolio of premium spirits across multiple categories. The product lineup is organized around its own branded spirits (Charbay whiskeys, vodkas, brandies, rum, espresso cocktails, and liqueur) and the imported Tapatío Tequila sub-brand (for which Charbay is US exclusive importer). Core Charbay products include three hopped whiskeys (R5 Whiskey, Doubled & Twisted Whiskey, Stout Whiskey), four vodkas (Clear, Meyer Lemon, Green Tea, Blood Orange Mandarin), two aged brandies (No. 83 and No. 89), Double Aged Rum, Espresso Cocktail (bottle and can formats), and Nostalgie Walnut Liqueur. The Tapatío Tequila line includes five expressions (Blanco, Blanco 110, Reposado, Añejo, Excelencia Extra Añejo). The company also operates a Custom Production division offering contract distilling, bottling, and compliance services for other spirits brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charbay R5 Whiskey Hopped whiskey distilled from Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA beer, aged 6.5 years in French oak barrels. The 6th release and final batch, distilled in 2017. Pioneered the US hopped whiskey category.
• Charbay Doubled & Twisted Whiskey Triple blend of aged Straight Malt, Stout, and Pilsner whiskeys. Straight malt and Pilsner aged 4 years, Stout aged 8 years. Blended and bottled at 45% ABV.
• Charbay Stout Whiskey Hopped whiskey distilled from Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout beer, aged 50 months (over 4 years) in French oak barrels. Made with over five different malts.
• Charbay Clear Vodka Premium clear vodka distilled from 100% pure grain (corn and rye mix) from Midwest farmers, using Northern California water. Distilled once in a 4-column still without filtering. Bottled at 40% ABV in 1L format.
• Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka First 100% fresh fruit flavored vodka in the US, launched in 1998. Made from organically grown, tree-ripened Meyer Lemons, using the whole lemon with zest. 68-day extraction process blended with Clear Vodka.
• Charbay Green Tea Vodka Original creation released in 2004, made from 3 varieties of rare, first-growth whole-leaf green teas from Anhwei Province, China. 120-day extraction process blended with Clear Vodka. Bottled at 35% ABV.
• Charbay Blood Orange Mandarin Vodka Innovative flavor combination launched in 2025/2026, made from organically grown whole blood oranges and mandarins (zest and all). 90-day extraction process blended with Clear Vodka. First of its kind on the market.
• Charbay Brandy No. 83 One of the oldest California Brandys, aged 27 years in new French Limousin and Nevers oak barrels. Made in traditional Cognac style using Alambic Charentais pot still. 100% Folle Blanche grapes from Yountville, CA. Released 2010.
• Charbay Brandy No. 89 California Brandy aged 24 years in new French Limousin and Nevers oak barrels. Double distilled in Alambic Charentais pot still. Made from 74% Pinot Noir and 26% Sauvignon Blanc grape blend. Bottled at higher 46% ABV.
• Charbay Double Aged Rum Overproof rum at 137 proof made from Maui sugar cane syrup. Aged 5 years in stainless steel then 3 years in used French oak barrels. Limited production of 120 cases. Distilled twice through alambic pot still.
• Charbay Espresso Cocktail (Bottle) Pre-batched Espresso Martini cocktail made with Arabica and Robusta coffee beans (Brazilian and Indian), real Tahitian and Triunfadora vanilla, and cane neutral spirit. Produces natural crema when shaken. Available in 1L and 200ml bottles.
• Charbay Espresso Martini Can
• Charbay Nostalgie Black Walnut Liqueur Luxurious liqueur made from hand-picked Black and English Walnuts. 14-month extraction process using 12-year-old Charbay Brandy. Secret mix of herbs and spices added as finishing touch. Awarded Top 100 Spirits of 2024 by Wine Enthusiast (97 pts).
• Tequila Tapatío Blanco Cult favorite blanco tequila made by La Alteña distillery (founded 1937) in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. From 100% blue weber agave. Rested 6 months in stainless steel. Charbay is US exclusive importer.
• Tequila Tapatío Blanco 110 Overproof blanco tequila at 110 proof. Distilled at 114 proof, bottled at 110. Rested in stainless steel for 6 months. Rich, pure, big flavor profile with fruity floral fragrance. Charbay is US exclusive importer.
• Tequila Tapatío Reposado Reposado tequila aged 8 months in used bourbon barrels (6 months more than required minimum). Distilled to 114 proof then cut to bottling proof. Delicate caramel, oak and smoke notes. Awarded 93 pts by Wine Enthusiast.
• Tequila Tapatío Añejo Añejo tequila aged 18 months in used bourbon barrels (6 months more than required). Distilled to 114 proof, aged, then cut. Mature flavors of vanilla, cacao and lime zest. Described as 'bartenders' favorite tequila'.
• Tequila Tapatío Excelencia Extra Añejo One of the oldest extra añejo tequilas on the market. Aged 5 years in used barrels then 10 additional years in 5-liter glass jugs. Extremely limited production. Charbay is US exclusive importer.
• Custom Production Services Contract production services for spirits, RTDs, and wine-based products. Includes custom distillation, blending, proofing, bottling, labeling, compliance support (TTB labeling and COLA submissions), and fulfillment coordination. Serving brands nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Spirits recognition for Meyer Lemon Vodka (97 pts) and Nostalgie Walnut Liqueur (97 pts)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bear Republic Brewing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Longstanding partnership with Bear Republic Brewing Company for sourcing bottle-ready beers used to distill Charbay's unique hopped whiskeys. Marko Karakasevic worked with the Norgrove family (Bear Republic owners) to develop R5 Whiskey distilled from Racer 5 IPA and Stout Whiskey from Big Bear Black Stout. This collaboration created the original hopped whiskey category in the US.
• Pruhlo Family (Copper Pot Still Makers)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1986Custom 660-gallon Alambic Charentais pot still crafted by the Pruhlo family, renowned makers of pot stills for Cognac region distillers. This copper pot still, handmade to Charbay's specifications, is the heart of the distillery and defines them as genuine craft distillers.
• La Alteña Distillery (Tequila Tapatío)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1937Charbay is the exclusive US importer of Tequila Tapatío, crafted by La Alteña distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, founded by Don Felipe Camarena in 1937. The partnership between Master Distiller Marko Karakasevic and Master Distiller Carlos Camarena resulted in Miles Karakasevic earning the Grand Master Distiller title. Charbay distilled their own tequila at this facility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/charbay
• Facebookfacebook.com/CharbayDistillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charbay Distillery