CH Distillery
CH Distillery is a privately held Chicago-based artisan spirits producer founded in 2013, operating a 50,000 sq ft Pilsen distillery and selling vodka, gin, rum, aquavit, specialty spirits, and acquired Jeppson's Malört and Bourbon brands across 35+ US states, plus on-premise and DTC channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CH Distillery does
CH Distillery is a Chicago-based artisan spirits producer founded in 2013 that operates a vertically integrated 50,000 square-foot distillery in the city's Pilsen neighborhood. The facility includes 75 tons of grain storage, in-house milling and mashing equipment, fermentation capacity, barrel storage, and a 50-foot vodka distillation column, enabling the company to claim it produces the only vodka hand-made from Illinois grain. Its portfolio spans core spirits (CH Vodka, London Dry Gin, Key Gin, Rum, Aquavit), specialty products (Espresso Martini RTD, Peppercorn Vodka, Amargo de Chile, Rubin bitter aperitif), and acquired brands Jeppson's Malört and Jeppson's Bourbon (100 proof, 90 proof, single barrel), the former acquired via the September 2018 purchase of Carl Jeppson Company.
The company generates revenue through four distinct channels: wholesale distribution across 35+ US states via regional distributors including Romano Beverage (Illinois), Crescent Crown (Arizona), Western Distributing (Colorado), and Murphy Distributors (Connecticut); direct-to-consumer online sales through dedicated spirits and merchandise storefronts; on-premise consumption at CH Bar/Joto Sushi, a craft cocktail bar and sushi restaurant in Chicago's West Loop; and private event hosting and catering services at the distillery. Its target customers include on-premise consumers, off-premise/retail buyers of craft spirits, wholesale distributors and retailers, and event hosts seeking a unique Chicago venue, with marketing executed primarily through owned digital content (cocktail recipes, brand storytelling) and event-driven engagement. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment or leadership team information in the source material.
CH Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CH Distillery
- Legal name
- CH Distillery
- Website
- https://chdistillery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CH Distillery is a privately held Chicago-based artisan spirits producer founded in 2013, operating a 50,000 sq ft Pilsen distillery and selling vodka, gin, rum, aquavit, specialty spirits, and acquired Jeppson's Malört and Bourbon brands across 35+ US states, plus on-premise and DTC channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CH Distillery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Spirits Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)
Keywords
Where CH Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CH Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Spirits Sales: Sale of bottled spirits including vodka, gin, rum, aquavit, bourbon, and specialty spirits through wholesale distribution and direct sales.
- On-Premise Bar & Restaurant: Revenue from craft cocktails and food service at CH Bar/Joto Sushi restaurant in West Loop, Chicago.
- Online Retail: Direct-to-consumer sales of spirits and merchandise through online storefronts.
- Event Hosting & Catering: Private event bookings, catering services, and venue rentals at the distillery.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CH Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CH Distillery manufactures and sells artisan spirits from a 50,000 square-foot distillery in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, producing vodka, gin, rum, aquavit, specialty spirits, and the Jeppson's Malört and Jeppson's Bourbon brands acquired in 2018. The company also operates CH Bar/Joto Sushi, a craft cocktail bar and sushi restaurant in Chicago's West Loop, and provides private event hosting and catering services.
Product overview
CH Distillery is Chicago's leading artisan spirits producer offering a portfolio of core spirits, specialty spirits, and acquired brands. The core spirits line includes CH Vodka (the only hand-made vodka from Illinois grain), CH London Dry Gin, CH Key Gin, CH Rum, and CH Aquavit. Specialty offerings include CH Espresso Martini ready-to-drink, CH Peppercorn Vodka, and CH-Dogma Amargo de Chile and Rubin aperitifs. Following the 2018 acquisition of Carl Jeppson Company, the portfolio expanded to include Jeppson's Malört (the iconic Chicago wormwood liqueur) and Jeppson's Bourbon (available in 100 proof, 90 proof, and single barrel expressions). The company also operates CH Bar/Joto Sushi, a craft cocktail bar and sushi restaurant in Chicago's West Loop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jeppson's Malört: Traditional wormwood-based liqueur, iconic Chicago spirit. Registered trademark of Carl Jeppson Company.
- Jeppson's Bourbon
Products and services
- CH Vodka Hand-made vodka from Illinois grain at 40% ABV, 750ml bottle, with vanilla and pepper nose, delicate sweetness from winter wheat on palate, and pepper and rye finish. Awarded Gold Medal with 94 points at the 2018 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition. Targeted at craft spirits consumers.
- CH London Dry Gin British-style gin at 46% ABV, 750ml bottle, with juniper and pine nose, citrus peel and coriander on palate, and orange rind finish. Rated Highly Recommended by Beverage Tastings Institute. Targeted at gin enthusiasts and craft cocktail makers.
- CH Key Gin American-style gin at 42% ABV, 750ml bottle, with white pepper-forward nose, key lime and hint of juniper on palate, and lavender finish. Awarded Gold Medal at the International Review of Spirits. Targeted at craft gin drinkers.
- CH Rum Unaged rum in Spanish style at 40% ABV, 750ml bottle, with salted butterscotch nose, sugar cane and tropical notes on palate, and vanilla bean finish. Awarded Silver Medal at the 2015 NY International Spirits Competition. Targeted at rum enthusiasts.
- CH Aquavit Classic Scandinavian aquavit at 44% ABV, 750ml bottle, with fresh dill and caraway nose, anise on palate, and slight peppery sweetness finish. Targeted at Scandinavian spirit and craft cocktail consumers.
- CH Espresso Martini Ready-to-drink premixed cocktail at 19.9% ABV made with the finest vodka and locally roasted coffee, sold in 1L bottles yielding 11 cocktails per bottle. Targeted at consumers seeking convenient craft cocktails.
- CH Peppercorn Vodka Flavored vodka at 41% ABV infused with aromatic Tellicherry peppercorn, offering pepper notes on nose, palate, and finish. Targeted at vodka enthusiasts seeking flavored craft expressions.
- CH-Dogma Amargo de Chile Latin-style amaro at 32% ABV with molé spice nose, chile pepper heat and cocoa on palate, finishing with bitter, sweet, and cinnamon spice notes. Targeted at amaro and craft spirit enthusiasts.
- CH-Dogma Rubin
Quantifiable outcome
- Gold Medal - 94 points at 2018 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CH Distillery
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CH Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CH Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Romano BeveragecoreIllinois state distributor for CH Distillery spirits, Jeppson's Malört, and Jeppson's Bourbon.
- Crescent Crown DistributingcoreArizona state distributor for CH Distillery products.
- Western Distributing CompanycoreColorado state distributor for CH Distillery products.
- Murphy DistributorscoreConnecticut state distributor for CH Distillery products.
- Jōtō SushicoreOn-site Japanese sushi restaurant partnership at CH Bar/Joto location. Provides food menu for the craft cocktail bar, offers catering menus for events, and shares the West Loop venue.
- Carl Jeppson CompanycoreAcquired in September 2018, bringing Jeppson's Malört and Jeppson's Bourbon brands into the CH Distillery portfolio.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CH Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rhine Hall Distillery: Chicago-based fruit brandy and spirits producer with on-premise tasting room; competes with CH in the Chicago craft on-premise and wholesale scene, though with narrower portfolio scope.
- Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, gin, and vodka with broad US distribution; comparable craft spirits portfolio and wholesale model.
- FEW Spirits: Evanston, IL-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and bourbon with national distribution; one of CH's closest geographic and product-line competitors in the craft spirits space.
- Leopold Bros: Denver-based craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, vodka, and liqueurs with a grain-to-bottle approach, on-premise tasting room, and national distribution — comparable craft portfolio breadth and premium positioning.
- Journeyman Distillery: Midwest craft distillery producing whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum with an on-premise restaurant and event venue — comparable multi-channel model including distillery, restaurant, and wholesale distribution.
- Tuthilltown Spirits / Hudson Whiskey: New York craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits with national distribution; comparable craft positioning and multi-product portfolio, though in the East Coast market.
- Death's Door Spirits: Wisconsin-based craft distillery producing vodka, gin, and whiskey with national distribution through larger partners; comparable craft positioning and Midwest regional origin.
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits with a similar local-sourcing, grain-to-bottle ethos and on-premise presence. Direct competitor in the Chicago craft spirits category.
Broad incumbents
- Beam Suntory (Jim Beam): Global spirits conglomerate whose bourbon and vodka brands (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Pinnacle) compete with CH for retail and on-premise placement; a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities and vastly greater distribution scale.
- Diageo North America: Global spirits giant with vodka (Smirnoff, Ketel One), gin (Tanqueray, Beefeater), and bourbon (Bulleit, Bulleit Rye) competing directly with CH's core portfolio; broad incumbent exercising significant pricing and shelf-space pressure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CH Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceCH Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CH Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CH Distillery subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CH Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CH Distillery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CH Distillery
What does CH Distillery do?
CH Distillery manufactures and sells artisan spirits from a 50,000 square-foot distillery in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, producing vodka, gin, rum, aquavit, specialty spirits, and the Jeppson's Malört and Jeppson's Bourbon brands acquired in 2018. The company also operates CH Bar/Joto Sushi, a craft cocktail bar and sushi restaurant in Chicago's West Loop, and provides private event hosting and catering services.
Is CH Distillery a public or private company?
CH Distillery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CH Distillery founded?
CH Distillery was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CH Distillery based?
CH Distillery is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does CH Distillery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Spirits Sales are the primary driver. The others are on-Premise Bar & Restaurant, online Retail and event Hosting & Catering.
Who are CH Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rhine Hall Distillery, Smooth Ambler Spirits, FEW Spirits, Leopold Bros, Journeyman Distillery, Tuthilltown Spirits / Hudson Whiskey, Death's Door Spirits and Koval Distillery. Broad incumbents are Beam Suntory (Jim Beam) and Diageo North America.
Does CH Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for CH Distillery.
What industry is CH Distillery in?
CH Distillery's product category is Artisan Spirits Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands. Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.