Green Door Distilling Co.

What Green Door Distilling Co. does

Green Door Distilling Co. is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2014 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, operating as the first distillery to open in the city since 1858. The company produces a portfolio of nine spirits spanning vodka, gin, bourbon, brandy, amaro, and liqueurs, including Ben's Apple Brandy (a co-branded release with NBA Hall-of-Famer and partner Ben Wallace) and Green Oaxacan Corn Bourbon, an heirloom-corn special release aged in small 15-gallon barrels. Production relies on traditional distillation methods paired with distinctive ingredient sourcing, notably 100% Michigan-grown apples for the apple brandy (aged in used hard cider barrels from the same farm) and Green Oaxacan heirloom corn for the bourbon, which function as the company's primary technical differentiators.

The company monetizes through multiple channels: on-premises tasting room sales in downtown Kalamazoo (Thursday through Saturday evenings with a seasonal cocktail menu), direct-to-consumer e-commerce bottle pickup, statewide Michigan wholesale distribution via Imperial Beverage, and a layer of experiential services including private distillery tours, cocktail classes for groups of 10-15, private event rentals, and custom event design. Pricing for bottles ranges from $29.99 to $71.99 per 750ml, positioning the portfolio in the premium craft tier. Brand credibility is supported by medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, American Distilling Institute, and New York International Spirits Competition across multiple SKUs.

Green Door is co-owned by Steve Jbara and Scott Benton, with Ben Wallace as a partner since spring 2022 and Shaneé Marvin as Director of Strategy since May 2022. Customer engagement is driven by a community-led, product-led motion centered on the Kalamazoo tasting room, supported by email marketing, social media, and an extensive cocktail recipe library. Distribution remains single-state (Michigan), and the company has not disclosed outside capital, M&A activity, or expansion beyond its existing footprint.

Name

Green Door Distilling Co.

Legal name

Green Door Distilling Co.

Website

https://greendoordistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Green Door Distilling Co. is a craft distillery founded in 2014 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, producing nine award-winning spirits and serving consumers through its tasting room, Michigan wholesale distribution via Imperial Beverage, e-commerce bottle pickup, and on-site events and classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distillery / Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRADAIAC

Spirits Distilling & Brands

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Manufacturing & Brands

SECONDARYTHAFALAG

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

SECONDARYTHAJAGAF

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

SECONDARYTHAFALAJ

Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

Keywords

• Craft spirits
• Distillery tasting room
• Small batch distilling
• Spirits distribution
• Distillery event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalamazoo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tasting Room Sales: On-premises consumption of craft cocktails and spirits at the tasting room in Kalamazoo. Operating Thursday through Saturday evenings with seasonal cocktail menus.
2. Bottle Sales: Direct-to-consumer bottle purchases at the distillery and through Michigan retail partners via Imperial Beverage distribution.
3. Cocktail Classes: Private cocktail classes for groups of 10-15 people, led by expert mixologists at the distillery space.
4. Distillery Tours: Private tours of the production area with exclusive tastings and insights into the distillery process.
5. Private Event Rentals: Rental of tasting room space for birthdays, work events, reunions, and custom events with handcrafted cocktails and customizable experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Green Door Distilling Co. manufactures and sells a portfolio of award-winning craft spirits including vodka, gin, bourbon, brandy, amaro, and liqueurs. The company operates a physical tasting room in Kalamazoo, MI, sells bottles directly to consumers via on-site pickup and e-commerce, distributes statewide through Imperial Beverage, and offers ancillary experiences including distillery tours, private cocktail classes, and tasting room event rentals.

Product overview

Green Door Distilling Co. is a craft distillery founded in 2014, the first distillery to open in Kalamazoo since 1858. The company offers a portfolio of nine award-winning spirits: Amaro, Ben's Apple Brandy, Blueberry Liqueur, Botanical Gin, Cider Cask Bourbon, Green Oaxacan Corn Bourbon, Hazelnut Coffee Liqueur, Pink Peppercorn Gin, and Vodka. Beyond product sales, the company operates a Tasting Room and offers experiential services including distillery tours, private cocktail classes, and event rental. Distribution is handled through Imperial Beverage throughout Michigan, with a direct-to-consumer pickup option at the distillery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BW Undrafted: Ben Wallace's product line including merchandise and cannabis products, partnered with Green Door Distilling

Products and services

• Amaro An 80-proof Italian digestif with a bold start that transitions to a soft finish; awarded Silver Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold Medal at the 2021 American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition. Sold as a bottled spirit for individual consumer purchase.
• Ben's Apple Brandy A special release apple brandy made from 100% Michigan-grown apples, distilled and aged in used hard cider barrels from the supplying farm; created in partnership with NBA Hall of Famer Ben Wallace. Sold as a bottled craft spirit to consumers.
• Blueberry Liqueur An 80-proof liqueur with elegant, balanced flavors on the nose and finish; awarded Double Gold Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Silver Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Sold as a bottled craft spirit.
• Botanical Gin A 90-proof gin balancing juniper with citrus and exotic botanicals including curry, fenugreek, and lavender; awarded Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Bronze Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Sold as a bottled craft spirit.
• Cider Cask Bourbon A 90-proof blend of bourbon whiskies finished in Michigan Hard Cider Casks for a crisp and light experience; awarded Silver Medal at the 2022 American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition and Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Sold as a bottled craft spirit.
• Green Oaxacan Corn Bourbon An heirloom corn bourbon made solely from Green Oaxacan corn and aged in small 15-gallon barrels; awarded Silver Medal at the 2024 New York International Spirits Competition. Sold as a special-release bottled craft spirit.
• Hazelnut Coffee Liqueur A 70-proof coffee-forward liqueur with notes of hazelnut and cinnamon. Sold as a bottled craft spirit for consumer use.
• Pink Peppercorn Gin A special-release gin developed to showcase pink peppercorns with punchy, bold, bright floral spiciness, juniper, and savory caraway. Sold as a bottled craft spirit.
• Vodka An 80-proof vodka with a delicate hint of cream left in from Michigan yellow dent corn; awarded Bronze Medal at the 2021 American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition. Sold as a bottled craft spirit.
• Distillery Tours Private guided tours of the Green Door production area with team members walking guests through the distillery process, including exclusive tastings and insights into craft spirits production. Targeted at visitors and consumer groups.
• Private Cocktail Classes Expert-led cocktail making classes for groups of 10-15 people where participants create, taste, and enjoy unique cocktails in the distillery space. Targeted at small consumer groups and private bookings.
• Tasting Room Private Event Rental Private rental of the Green Door tasting room space for birthdays, work events, or reunions, complete with handcrafted cocktails, guided tours, and customizable experiences. Targeted at consumer groups hosting events.
• Custom Events Custom event design services ranging from intimate gatherings to lively celebrations, with personalized touches leveraging the distillery's unique space and craft cocktails. Targeted at consumer hosts seeking tailored event experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bronze Medal - 2021 American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition (Vodka)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ben WallacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA Hall-of-Famer and co-owner of Green Door Distilling. Ben Wallace joined as co-owner in spring 2022. Launching a BW-inspired product line within Green Door. Also released Ben's Apple Brandy, a special release made from Michigan apples. Previously launched BW Undrafted cannabis line in Michigan.
• Imperial BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichigan-based beverage distributor handling statewide distribution of Green Door Distilling products throughout the state of Michigan for retail bottle sales.
• Grand Rapids GoldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA G-League basketball team co-owned by Steve Jbara and Scott Benton. Steve is founder and co-owner, Scott is equity partner. Strategic partnership connecting sports business with craft distilling.
• Atomic HoneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDetroit-based advertising agency founded and co-owned by Steve Jbara as CEO. Shaneé Marvin serves as VP of Strategy & Digital for the agency.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and liqueurs from organic grains with a tasting room and DTC focus. Comparable craft spirits portfolio, premium positioning, and direct-to-consumer sales model.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery known for award-winning bourbon and whiskey. Comparable craft scale, award-winning spirits portfolio, and tasting-room experience.
• New Holland Brewing: Holland, Michigan-based craft producer with both beer and a spirits line (including bourbon, vodka, gin). Comparable Michigan craft heritage, multi-product portfolio, and tasting-room experience-led GTM.
• Mammoth Distilling: Michigan craft distillery producing whiskey and spirits with multiple taproom locations in the state. Comparable regional craft positioning and tasting-room-driven retail model.
• Valentine Distilling Co. Ferndale, Michigan craft distillery producing bourbon, vodka, gin, and liqueurs with statewide distribution. Comparable craft scale, Michigan distribution model, and tasting-room-led GTM.
• Leopold Bros. Colorado craft distillery producing small-batch gin, whiskey, and liqueurs with an award-winning product line. Comparable craft pedigree, medal-winning spirits, and tasting-room retail model.
• Journeyman Distillery: Award-winning Michigan craft distillery in Three Oaks producing a similar portfolio of vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye with an on-site tasting room/restaurant. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, scale, and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• St. George Spirits: Established California craft distillery with a wide portfolio of gin, whiskey, absinthe, and liqueurs. Comparable craft-quality positioning and tasting-room DTC, though at a larger, more mature scale.

Emerging players

• Copper & Craft Distilling: Small-batch Michigan craft distillery producing vodka, gin, whiskey, and bourbon. Similar emerging-stage craft scale and product diversification strategy.

Others

• Imperial Beverage (parent distributor): Michigan-based beer, wine, and spirits distributor that already handles Green Door's statewide distribution. Strategic channel partner that represents the company's primary wholesale route to market and is critical to scaling beyond current accounts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Green Door Distilling Co.