What Horse Soldier Bourbon does

Horse Soldier Bourbon is the consumer brand of American Freedom Distillery, a private U.S. craft distillery founded in 2015 by six retired U.S. Army Green Berets (Scott Neil, Rob Schaefer, Mark Nutsch, Bob Pennington, Tyler Garner, John Koko) and Elizabeth Pritchard-Koko, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. The brand produces small-batch, non-chill-filtered bourbon aged in new American oak in three core expressions — Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($44.99), Small Batch ($59.99), and Barrel Strength ($89.99) — alongside ultra-premium limited releases such as the Commanders Select series ($595) and the Liberty Edition ($799), with bottles uniquely pressed in molds forged from steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce at horsesoldierbourbon.com with third-party fulfillment via AccelPay, supplemented by a nationwide retail store locator, DoorDash local delivery, and a B2B corporate gifting program. The company has built an ecosystem of adjacent products — barrel-aged maple syrup, hot sauce, and BBQ sauce; Legendary Coffee in collaboration with Kahwa Coffee; LM Cigars pairings; and branded apparel, barware, and collectible merchandise — alongside a 150-seat Urban Stillhouse tasting room in St. Petersburg and the under-construction 240-acre Horse Soldier Farms distillery and tourist destination in Somerset, Kentucky, scheduled to open July 4, 2026.

Key customer segments are premium bourbon enthusiasts, the veteran and military-affiliated community (supported by charitable partnerships with Green Beret Foundation, Warrior Sailing Program, Armed Forces Families Foundation, The Folded Flag, and others), corporate gift buyers, cigar enthusiasts, and commemorative collectors. The brand has won multiple Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2019, 2022) and Gold at the New York International Spirits Competition (2019), and is currently expanding national reach with selective state-level shipping restrictions (excluding AK, HI, MI, MT, UT).

Name

Horse Soldier Bourbon

Legal name

American Freedom Distillery

Website

https://horsesoldierbourbon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

American Freedom Distillery operates the Horse Soldier Bourbon brand, producing premium small-batch bourbon in bottles pressed from World Trade Center steel, founded by retired Green Berets. The company sells via DTC e-commerce, retail, corporate gifting, and a 240-acre Kentucky distillery opening July 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Bourbon Whiskey

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA)

Keywords

• Craft bourbon whiskey
• Small batch distillery
• Premium spirits production
• Barrel aged bourbon
• Veteran founded distillery

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bourbon Spirits Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales of bourbon products including Straight Bourbon ($44.99), Small Batch ($59.99), Barrel Strength ($89.99), Commanders Select limited editions ($595-$799), and Liberty Edition ($799). Third-party fulfillment through AccelPay network.
2. Merchandise and Accessories: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, hats, barware, drinkware, cigar accessories, gourmet foods (syrups, sauces, coffee), and gift items. Prices range from $3 stickers to $229 belt buckles.
3. Corporate Gifting: Customized corporate gifting solutions for businesses including luxury thank-you packages, branded items, and seasonal gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Horse Soldier Bourbon produces and sells small-batch, non-chill-filtered Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey in multiple expressions (Straight, Small Batch, Barrel Strength, plus Commander's Select and Liberty Edition limited releases), alongside premium pairing cigars, bourbon-barrel-aged gourmet foods, branded barware and apparel. Every bottle is pressed in molds forged from steel recovered from the World Trade Center, and the brand is supported through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, retail partners, a Florida tasting room, and an upcoming 240-acre Somerset, Kentucky distillery.

Product overview

Horse Soldier Bourbon is an award-winning American bourbon whiskey brand produced by American Freedom Distillery. The product portfolio centers on four core bourbon expressions: Premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey (87°), Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey (95°), Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey (+110°), and the limited-edition Liberty Edition (100°). The brand also offers Commander's Select single-barrel releases and a premium cigar line paired to complement each bourbon expression. Supporting the core spirits are bourbon barrel-aged culinary products (maple syrup, hot sauce, barbecue sauce) and Legendary Coffee in partnership with Kahwa Coffee. Merchandise includes branded barware (etched rocks glasses, Glencairn glasses, shot glasses), apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, golf polos), and collectible items (bottle toppers, leather journals). The bottles are molded from steel recovered from the World Trade Center, and the company is expanding with Horse Soldier Farms, a 240-acre destination distillery in Somerset, Kentucky opening July 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Horse Soldier Bourbon: The primary bourbon brand featuring Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey, and Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey expressions.

Products and services

• Premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey Traditional award-winning small-batch straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 87 proof / 43.5% ABV, non-chill filtered, with tasting notes of caramel, vanilla, toasted corn, honey, nutmeg, custard, and spiced oak. Sold direct to consumers at $44.99 per 750ml bottle.
• Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Award-winning wheated small-batch bourbon bottled at 95 proof / 47.5% ABV, non-chill filtered, with notes of creamy toffee, dark stone fruits, ginger, cola, vanilla, and oak. Sold direct to consumers at $59.99 per 750ml bottle.
• Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey Non-chill-filtered barrel-strength wheated bourbon bottled at +110 proof, with tasting notes of butterscotch, oak, stone fruits, cola, ginger, and floral notes. Sold direct to consumers at $89.99 per 750ml bottle.
• Liberty Edition Bourbon 13-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 100 proof / 50% ABV, presented in bespoke French glass with copper label and gold flame closure. Limited to 1,776 bottles priced at $799, with a donation to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation for each bottle sold.
• Commander's Select VII Bourbon Seventh release in the Commander's Select series, a 10-year-old wheated bourbon at 120 proof, made with a 70% corn / 25% wheat / 5% barley mash from barrels in a Bardstown rickhouse, featuring notes of sarsaparilla, vanilla, birch, cacao, and honey.
• Premium Pairing Cigars Hand-rolled premium cigars from Nicaragua, sold via partnership with LM Cigars in three expressions (Sungrown, Shade, Maduro) that are meticulously paired to each of the three Double Gold Medal award-winning Horse Soldier bourbons.
• Barrel Aged Maple Syrup Small-batch maple syrup triple-aged in award-winning Horse Soldier bourbon barrels, presented in 12.7 oz bottles with notes of oak, vanilla, and warm caramel.
• Barrel Aged Hot Sauce Small-batch hot sauce aged in authentic Horse Soldier bourbon barrels, featuring a smoky, spicy profile with a bourbon-kissed finish.
• Barrel Aged Barbecue Sauce Premium barbecue sauce aged in signature Horse Soldier bourbon barrels, with rich smoky character and a sweet and tangy flavor profile.
• Legendary Coffee Whiskey barrel-aged coffee produced in collaboration with Kahwa Coffee using beans aged in Horse Soldier bourbon barrels. Available in ground and whole bean formats, with each purchase supporting a non-profit charity for American Veterans.
• Corporate Gifting Program Sales-led corporate gifting solution offering customized bulk bourbon and branded merchandise packages (luxury thank-you packages, branded items, seasonal gifts) for businesses, managed through a contact-based B2B sales process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sold out initial launch inventory within first month, exceeding 2,000 cases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PBR (Professional Bull Riders)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026PBR partnership for hosting sanctioned bull riding competition at Horse Soldier Farms grand opening July 4th weekend. Partnership built around shared values of patriotism, authenticity, and bringing people together. PBR CEO Sean Gleason stated relationship launched in prior year with expanded involvement.
• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026For each bottle of Liberty Edition sold ($799), Horse Soldier Bourbon donates to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation to support preservation of American historic landmarks. This partnership commemorates America's 250th anniversary.
• Blue FusionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 20252nd Annual Special Operations Tailgate partnership at 2025 Army-Navy Game. Event raises funds and awareness for veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and blast-related brain injury research. Features live music by Grammy-nominated band FUEL.
• LM CigarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorse Soldier Bourbon partnered with LM Cigars to provide premium pairing cigars hand-rolled in Nicaragua. Three expressions (Sungrown, Shade, Maduro) meticulously paired to complement each of the three Double Gold Medal award-winning bourbons. Partnership enables nationwide shipping of cigars through LM Cigars platform.
• Kahwa CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Legendary Coffee - coffee beans aged in Horse Soldier bourbon barrels creating unique flavor profile. Every purchase contributes to a non-profit charity supporting American Veterans.
• Warrior Sailing ProgramcoreOthersVeteran support organization helping military service members with PTSD, brain injury, amputation, paralysis and nerve damage through sailing therapy. Horse Soldier supports through donations and participation.
• Green Beret FoundationcoreOthersFoundation providing support to Green Berets and their families. Horse Soldier Bourbon contributes through limited edition bottle auctions and direct donations.
• Armed Forces Families FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporting military families. Horse Soldier Bourbon supports through charitable initiatives and limited edition product releases.
• The Folded FlagcoreOthersNonprofit organization supported by Horse Soldier Bourbon through charitable donations and fundraising events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Buffalo Trace Distillery: One of the largest and most decorated Kentucky bourbon producers, home to cult brands like Pappy Van Winkle and Blanton's — direct premium-tier competitor with vastly deeper aged-stock reserves.
• Woodford Reserve: Brown-Forman's flagship premium bourbon with strong national distribution and tourism at its Versailles distillery — benchmark for scaled premium bourbon with destination experience.
• Four Roses Distillery: Established Kentucky bourbon producer with single-barrel and small-batch lineup, award pedigree, and an active visitor center — overlapping premium bourbon positioning and tourism component.

Direct peers

• Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery (Pappy Van Winkle): Cult ultra-premium bourbon brand with deep collector demand, limited releases, and auction-driven secondary markets — directly comparable to Horse Soldier's Commander's Select and Liberty Edition positioning.
• Castle & Key Distillery: Restored historic Kentucky distillery repositioned as a craft tourism destination with tasting rooms and events — comparable experiential, craft-premium positioning.
• WhistlePig: Premium craft whiskey brand built on a strong origin story and aged-stock narrative, with DTC, experiential, and ultra-premium tiered releases directly comparable to Horse Soldier.
• New Riff Distilling: Independent Kentucky craft distillery with bourbon and rye portfolio, visitor experience, and DTC focus — overlapping target customer and operational model.
• Michter's Distillery: Premium small-batch American whiskey brand with a similar craft-positioned, award-driven portfolio and comparable ultra-premium limited releases targeting enthusiast collectors.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company: Destination distillery model combining premium bourbon production, custom contract distilling, and a tourism/tasting-room experience — the closest operational analogue to Horse Soldier Farms.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon producer with a science-driven, award-winning portfolio and DTC emphasis, competing for similar premium enthusiast and gift-buyer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HorseSoldierUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/horsesoldierbourbon
• Instagraminstagram.com/horsesoldierbourbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Horse Soldier Bourbon