Whiskey Acres
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is a DeKalb, Illinois estate distillery that grows heirloom grains on-site and produces bourbon, rye, vodka, and limited-release craft whiskeys sold through regional retail, an on-site Visitors Center, and online shipping to 19 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1897
- HeadquartersDekalb, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Whiskey Acres does
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is a privately held estate distillery operated from a 11504 Keslinger Rd, DeKalb, Illinois farm, where fifth-generation farmers cultivate proprietary grain — including rare heirloom corn varieties such as Blue Popcorn, Bloody Butcher, Oaxacan Green, and Cocke's Prolific sourced from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Estate — and distill spirits on-site using natural limestone aquifer water and Kentucky-style equipment in a vertically integrated "Seed to Spirit" process. The portfolio spans core retail lines (Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Bottled in Bond Rye, and a 100% corn Vodka) plus a rotating Artisan Series of single-varietal heirloom-corn bourbons, a Cask Finished Series (Maple Syrup Casks, PX Sherry, Oloroso Sherry, Tawny Port, Madeira, Apple Brandy finishes), and ultra-limited offerings including a 7 Year Bourbon blending 7-, 8-, and 9-year-old barrels and the 1,776-bottle America 250 anniversary release. Quality positioning is supported by Double Gold medals at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for both Bottled in Bond Bourbon and Bottled-in-Bond Rye, a regional "Best Whiskey of the State" win for the Straight Rye in Illinois, and press features including Vinepair's state-by-state whiskey roundup.
Whiskey Acres firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Whiskey Acres
- Legal name
- Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
- Website
- https://whiskeyacres.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1897
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is a DeKalb, Illinois estate distillery that grows heirloom grains on-site and produces bourbon, rye, vodka, and limited-release craft whiskeys sold through regional retail, an on-site Visitors Center, and online shipping to 19 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Whiskey Acres industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Distilled Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming (111191)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Whiskey Acres is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dekalb
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Whiskey Acres business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Spirits Sales: Direct retail sales of bourbon, rye, vodka, and artisan series products at the Visitors Center and through online channels. Products sold in bottles at various price points based on age and expression.
- Distillery Tours: Paid tours of the distillery including tastings. Tours are $12.50 per person and include a 45-60 minute guided tour, tasting of three products, and souvenir shot glass.
- Facility Rental: Rental of event spaces including the Visitors Center (3600+ sq ft, $400 for first 2 hours), Historic Tasting Room ($200 for first 2 hours), and Conference Room ($150 for first 2 hours). Includes bartending service.
- Retail Distribution: Wholesale distribution through retail partners including Binny's, Hy-Vee, Lundeen's, The Royal Wren, Malloy's, Schnuck's, Sav Way, and independent liquor stores across Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and California.
- Merchandise: Sale of logo merchandise including apparel, hats, and glassware through their online store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Distillery Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Visitors Center Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Historic Tasting Room Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Conference Room Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special Release - America 250 Bourbon |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Associate Bourbon Steward Class |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Whiskey Acres product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is an estate distillery that operates a complete Seed to Spirit production process, growing its own heirloom grain varieties on a fifth-generation family farm and distilling them on-site into bourbon, rye, vodka, and limited-edition expressions. Beyond spirits, the company operates a visitor center offering distillery tours, tastings, event programming, and facility rentals for private and corporate gatherings.
Product overview
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is an estate distillery producing farm-to-bottle whiskeys and spirits. The core product portfolio includes Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Rye Whiskey, Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond Rye, and Vodka (all available at retail). The Artisan Series features limited-edition expressions made with heirloom corn varieties including Blue Popcorn Bourbon, Bloody Butcher Bourbon, and Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon. The Cask Finished Series offers finished whiskeys including Maple Syrup Casks and Cigar Blend expressions. Limited releases include 7 Year Bourbon and America 250 Anniversary Bourbon. Additional revenue streams include distillery tours ($12.50/person), facility rental services (Visitors Center, Historic Tasting Room, Conference Room), merchandise (clothing, glassware), gift cards, and an online store with shipping to select states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Artisan Series: Rare, heirloom and specialty varieties of corn distilled into unique offerings showcasing flavor nuances of corn varieties.
- Cask Finished Series
- Visitors Center
Products and services
- Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Quantifiable outcome
- Double Gold winner at 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for both Bottled in Bond Bourbon and Bottled-in-Bond Rye
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Whiskey Acres
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Whiskey Acres technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Whiskey Acres partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, regular and minor.
- Seelbachs.comcorePartnership for online shipping to consumers in 19 states. Seelbachs.com handles compliance and logistics for direct-to-consumer online sales to states where Whiskey Acres cannot ship directly.
- Chuck's Wood Fired PizzaregularRegular food truck partner at events. Provides wood-fired pizza at many weekend events and larger gatherings like artisan markets and cigar nights.
- Dark Horse CateringregularCatering partner for events including whiskey dinners, special events, and artisan markets. Chef Terrell provides customized menus for various occasions.
- Kitchen Ten (Chef Susan)minorPersonal chef service providing catered events, cooking classes, and pop-ups. Brings bold, unforgettable flavors to events at Whiskey Acres.
- Strike the Box Pipe & CigarregularCigar partner for Cigar Night events. Provides premium cigar brands and accessories for cigar-focused evenings at Whiskey Acres.
- Stave & Thief SocietycoreWhiskey Acres is an Establishment Member of the Stave & Thief Society, the world's only industry-recognized Bourbon certification program. Hosts Certified Associate Bourbon Steward classes taught by Executive Bourbon Steward Trish Hayden.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Whiskey Acres competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Laws Whiskey House: Colorado-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey from locally sourced grains. Comparable grain-to-bottle craft distillery with farm-level provenance and multi-state distribution.
- Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon distillery producing premium bourbon and rye with a focus on quality and craft authenticity. Comparable craft whiskey producer with structured distribution and limited releases.
- Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and gin, including sourced-and-aged expressions. Comparable small craft distillery with award-winning products and selective retail distribution.
- Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. Louisville, KY craft distillery focused on American brandy and whiskey with strong visitor/tasting room programming. Comparable estate-style craft distillery with on-site experiences and limited distribution.
- FEW Spirits: Illinois craft distillery in Evanston producing bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka with a strong DTC and on-premise presence. Comparable as a craft spirits competitor in the same Illinois/chicagoland market with experiential retail.
- Koval Distillery: Midwest craft distillery based in Chicago, IL producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs from organic grains. Directly comparable as a small-batch, grain-to-bottle craft distillery in the same Illinois market with on-site tastings and tours.
- New Holland Brewing / New Holland Distilling: Michigan-based craft brewery and distillery producing bourbon, rye, and other spirits. Comparable craft producer with farm-to-bottle positioning, tours, and multi-state distribution in the Midwest.
- Corsair Distillery: Tennessee-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits with experimental grain-focused expressions. Comparable craft distillery with experimental, grain-centric product line and visitor experience.
Broad incumbents
- Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey: Nationally distributed Tennessee whiskey brand with strong media positioning and broad retail footprint. Comparable as a craft-styled whiskey brand that scaled from small to national distribution, illustrating the ceiling and capital requirements of the path Whiskey Acres could pursue.
- Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac): Large-scale Kentucky bourbon distillery producing flagship and allocated bourbons. Comparable as a benchmark for estate-style bourbon production and aged-inventory economics, but operates at vastly greater scale and brand reach than Whiskey Acres.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Whiskey Acres social profiles
Digital presenceWhiskey Acres financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Whiskey Acres leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Whiskey Acres funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Whiskey Acres 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 Whiskey Acres
What does Whiskey Acres do?
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is an estate distillery that operates a complete Seed to Spirit production process, growing its own heirloom grain varieties on a fifth-generation family farm and distilling them on-site into bourbon, rye, vodka, and limited-edition expressions. Beyond spirits, the company operates a visitor center offering distillery tours, tastings, event programming, and facility rentals for private and corporate gatherings.
Is Whiskey Acres a public or private company?
Whiskey Acres is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Whiskey Acres founded?
Whiskey Acres was founded in 1897. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Whiskey Acres based?
Whiskey Acres is headquartered in Dekalb, United States, in the North America region.
How does Whiskey Acres make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Spirits Sales are the primary driver. The others are distillery Tours, facility Rental, retail Distribution and merchandise.
Who are Whiskey Acres's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Laws Whiskey House, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Smooth Ambler Spirits, Copper & Kings American Brandy Co., FEW Spirits, Koval Distillery, New Holland Brewing / New Holland Distilling and Corsair Distillery. Broad incumbents are Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac).
Does Whiskey Acres have an API?
No public API is recorded for Whiskey Acres.
What industry is Whiskey Acres in?
Whiskey Acres's product category is Craft Distilled Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 5180.