Philadelphia Distilling

What Philadelphia Distilling does

Philadelphia Distilling is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the first licensed craft distillery in the state since prohibition. The company operates from a 13,000 sq ft facility in the former Ajax Metal Company warehouse at 25 E. Allen Street, which houses production, a tasting room and cocktail bar, a retail store, and private event space. It produces a focused seven-SKU portfolio led by the Bluecoat gin family (American Dry, Barrel-Finished, Elderflower) and extending into Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure, Vigo Amaro, The Bay Seasoned Vodka, and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka. Production is anchored by fifth-generation Forsyth hand-hammered copper pot stills and Hall-Woodford wooden fermentation vessels, with batch distillation using organic botanicals and American citrus.

The business generates revenue across five streams: DTC bottle sales (online, two retail locations, and likely regional distribution), tasting room food and beverage, distillery tours and cocktail classes, private event hosting (20-150 guests), and gift vouchers. Pricing is unit-based across both retail and experiences (cocktails $13-$15; Cocktails 101 classes $85/person; private tours $300 flat). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven: a distillery destination model supported by a tasting room and bar (Thursday-Sunday), plus a 2023 retail expansion via the Bluecoat Bottle Shop in King of Prussia Mall. Marketing relies on owned digital channels (website, newsletter, Instagram for Bluecoat Gin and Bluecoat Bottle Shop) and earned media in lifestyle and spirits publications including Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, Vinepair, and The Tasting Panel.

The company is led by President Andrew Auwerda, Head Distiller Aaron Selya, General Manager Matt Wagner, Chef Paul Trowbridge, and Events & Marketing Manager Nicole Enders, with a broader distilling team of five. Heaven Hill's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are linked in the website footer, suggesting a possible parent-subsidiary relationship with the major U.S. spirits company, though no formal acquisition is disclosed. Ownership structure, funding history, and revenue are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Philadelphia Distilling

Legal name

Philadelphia Distilling

Website

https://philadelphiadistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philadelphia Distilling is a privately held craft distillery, founded in 2005 as the first in Pennsylvania since prohibition, producing a portfolio of gins, vodka, absinthe, and amaro and selling through its Philadelphia distillery tasting room, a King of Prussia Mall retail store, online storefronts, and on-site tours, classes, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distillery / Premium Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE), Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA)

Keywords

• Craft spirits production
• Artisan gin distilling
• Distillery tours experiences
• Craft cocktail classes
• Private event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct bottle sales of craft spirits portfolio including Bluecoat American Dry Gin, Bluecoat Barrel-Finished Gin, Bluecoat Elderflower Gin, Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure, Vigo Amaro, The Bay Seasoned Vodka, and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka through retail stores and online.
2. Tasting Room Food & Beverage: Cocktail bar and dining experience in the tasting room with seasonal cocktail menu, reimagined classics, and spirit flights. Full kitchen serving gastropub staples and shareable plates.
3. Experiences & Tours: Distillery tours, cocktail classes (Cocktails 101), and private event hosting generate revenue through ticket sales and booking fees.
4. Private Events: Corporate and social private events with capacities from 20-150 guests, including 4th floor cocktail lab with Ben Franklin Bridge views. Catering provided in-house.
5. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers for experiences and tours sold to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Philadelphia Distilling is a craft distillery that produces a portfolio of small-batch premium spirits, including Bluecoat American Dry Gin, Barrel Finished and Elderflower Gins, Vieux Carré Absinthe Supèrieure, Vigo Amaro, The Bay Seasoned Vodka, and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka. The company operates a tasting room with full cocktail bar and kitchen, retail store, distillery tours, cocktail classes, and a private event venue. A second retail location (Bluecoat Bottle Shop) operates in King of Prussia Mall.

Product overview

Philadelphia Distilling is a craft distillery founded in 2005 as the first craft distillery in Pennsylvania since prohibition. The company produces a portfolio of premium spirits including Bluecoat American Dry Gin (their signature American Dry style gin), Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin (aged 8 months in charred American Oak), Bluecoat Elderflower Gin (floral variation with organic elderflowers), Vieux Carré Absinthe Supèrieure (first legal East Coast absinthe in 100 years), Vigo Amaro (American digestif liqueur), The Bay Seasoned Vodka (Chesapeake Bay-inspired flavored vodka), and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka (rye-forward vodka). Beyond spirits production, the company operates a tasting room and cocktail bar, offers distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private event hosting. The company also operates the Bluecoat Bottle Shop retail location in King of Prussia Mall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bluecoat American Dry Gin: Flagship American Dry Gin distilled in Philadelphia, PA, in small batches to appeal to the American palate. Handcrafted using a proprietary blend of organic botanicals, highlighted by American citrus peels and a softer, rounder juniper berry.
• Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin
• Bluecoat Elderflower Gin
• Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure
• The Bay Seasoned Vodka
• Penn 1681 Rye Vodka
• Vigo Amaro

Products and services

• Bluecoat American Dry Gin Handcrafted American Dry Gin using a proprietary blend of organic botanicals highlighted by American citrus peels, softer and rounder juniper berry, angelica, and coriander. Pioneered what is now known as the American Dry style gin.
• Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin Bold gin expression finished in new, charred American Oak barrels for 8 months, producing a well-rounded, complex liquid with hints of caramel, vanilla, and toffee while retaining juniper and pepper notes.
• Bluecoat Elderflower Gin Gin built on the Bluecoat American Dry Gin foundation with whole organic elderflowers added through maceration, transforming the spirit with floral and tropical fruit flavors and a heady fragrance.
• Vieux Carré Absinthe Supèrieure Artisan absinthe batch distilled using double maceration, featuring Grande Wormwood and Petite Wormwood, Green and Star Anise, Fennel Doux, Lemon Balm, Genepi, Hyssop, and Spearmint. Honors the unique history of absinthe in New Orleans.
• Vigo Amaro
• The Bay Seasoned Vodka Handcrafted vodka distilled four times using American grains and infused with traditional Chesapeake Bay seasonings from Maryland, featuring notes of celery seed, black and red pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, spice, and salt.
• Penn 1681 Rye Vodka
• Distillery Tours
• Cocktail Classes (Cocktails 101)
• Private Events
• Bluecoat Bottle Shop (King of Prussia) Boutique store located in King of Prussia Mall offering the full lineup of Philadelphia Distilling spirits, cocktail ingredients, equipment, and apparel for home bartenders, with guided sampling through products. Store hours Monday-Friday 11AM-7PM, Saturday 11AM-8PM, Sunday 11AM-6PM.

Quantifiable outcome

• First craft distillery in Pennsylvania since prohibition
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Forsyth Family (Copper Pot Stills)coreOthersFifth-generation Forsyth family provides hand-hammered copper pot stills for distillation. The copper construction is key to the integrity of spirits produced, representing artisanal craftsmanship across generations.
• Hall-Woolford (Wooden Fermentation Vessels)coreOthersIconic Philadelphia-based family business provides wooden fermentation vessels. Key point of difference in production process contributing to the integrity and unique character of spirits produced.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery producing a wide portfolio of gins, whiskeys, and specialty spirits with experimental mashbills. Comparable in small-batch craft methodology and multi-SKU strategy.
• Copper & Kings: Louisville-based craft distillery specializing in American brandy and bourbon with an on-site hospitality and tasting room program. Comparable in distillery-tourism model and craft positioning.
• FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery operating a hybrid production + tasting room + retail + events model. Comparable in scale, premium positioning, and direct-to-consumer go-to-market mix.
• St. George Spirits: California-based craft distillery producing a similarly diverse portfolio of gins, vodkas, absinthe, and liqueurs using small-batch methods. Closely comparable in multi-SKU craft spirits strategy, production philosophy, and on-site experiential retail.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty liqueurs using small-batch methods. Comparable in product breadth, organic/craft positioning, and on-site tasting room + retail.
• Catoctin Creek Distilling Company: Virginia-based craft distillery producing rye whiskey, gin, and brandy with on-site tasting room and retail. Comparable in regional craft positioning and mid-Atlantic consumer targeting.
• Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery with a multi-SKU portfolio and direct-to-consumer retail. Comparable in size, premium craft positioning, and emphasis on American ingredients and provenance.
• New Holland Artisan Spirits: Michigan-based brewery/distillery hybrid producing whiskeys, gins, and vodka with an on-site tasting room and entertainment venue. Comparable in combining production with full hospitality experiences.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo North America: Global spirits giant whose portfolio (Tanqueray, Beefeater, Bulleit, Ketel One) competes head-to-head with Bluecoat gin and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka. Relevant as the dominant incumbent defining competition in Philadelphia Distilling's core categories.
• Heaven Hill Brands: Largest privately-held American spirits producer (Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, etc.). The footer of philadelphiadistilling.com links to Heaven Hill's legal pages, suggesting a corporate or distribution relationship; broadly comparable as a U.S. spirits operator with overlapping gin/vodka category exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/philadistilling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philadelphia-distilling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Philadelphia Distilling