Valentine Distilling
Valentine Distilling Co. is a Michigan craft distillery founded in 2007 that produces award-winning vodka, whiskey, and gin using a custom Frilli pot still, selling through five-state Midwest wholesale distribution, a tasting room, and a single barrel collector program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersFerndale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Valentine Distilling does
Valentine Distilling Co. is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2007 and headquartered in Ferndale, Michigan, producing vodka, whiskey, and gin. The company operates a custom 1,500-gallon Frilli copper-pot still — described as the first Frilli still shipped to the United States and one of the largest in a craft distillery — capable of producing approximately 1,000 barrels of whiskey per year. Core production technology includes two 35-foot rectification columns housing 42 plates, 24-hour filtration through coconut shell-activated carbon, and non-chill filtered whiskey aging across a five-expression Mayor Pingree whiskey line, a multi-variant Valentine vodka line, and the Liberator gin family including a barrel-aged Old Tom variant. The flagship vodka is produced from a proprietary three-grain blend (corn, wheat, barley), a recipe the company states is uncommon globally.
The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model: wholesale distribution across five Midwestern states (Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin) reaching both local corner stores and major retailers; direct-to-consumer sales through the Belle's Lounge tasting room in Ferndale, MI; nationwide mail-order shipping via Woods Wholesale for out-of-distribution customers; a Single Barrel Program offering 10yr+ Mayor Pingree whiskey at $180 per bottle for collectors; and ancillary experiential revenue from distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private event rental accommodating up to 100 guests. Primary customer segments include craft spirits consumers seeking additive-free premium products, retail and hospitality trade accounts stocking award-winning craft spirits, and whiskey collectors interested in single-barrel expressions.
Valentine markets on a clean-label, additive-free positioning and a substantial award pedigree — including World's Best Vodka at the World Drinks Awards London in 2016 (Traditional) and 2017 (Varietal), double gold and gold medals across major spirits competitions for vodka, gin, and whiskey, and a Whiskey Advocate 93-point rating. The company is founder-owned (Rifino Valentine serves as President & Founder), has not raised external funding, and operates at a small scale (11–50 employees). A 2024 celebrity co-development partnership with NFL personality Nate Burleson produced Lionblood Orange Vodka, signaling continued brand-led product expansion.
Valentine Distilling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Valentine Distilling
- Legal name
- Valentine Distilling Co.
- Website
- https://valentinedistilling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Valentine Distilling Co. is a Michigan craft distillery founded in 2007 that produces award-winning vodka, whiskey, and gin using a custom Frilli pot still, selling through five-state Midwest wholesale distribution, a tasting room, and a single barrel collector program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Valentine Distilling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Distilled Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Valentine Distilling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ferndale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Valentine Distilling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Spirits Sales: Sale of craft spirits including whiskey (Mayor Pingree line), vodka (Signature and flavored variants), and gin (Liberator). Products sold through distribution network, retail stores, and direct from the tasting room.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Single Barrel Program - Mayor Pingree 10yr+ |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Valentine Distilling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Valentine Distilling is a Michigan craft distillery that produces and sells small-batch whiskey, vodka, and gin under three sub-brands: Mayor Pingree Whiskey (bourbon and rye expressions), Valentine Vodka (signature and flavored variants), and Liberator Gin. The company manufactures approximately 1,000 barrels of whiskey annually using a custom 1,500-gallon Frilli copper-pot still with 24-hour coconut shell carbon filtration, and sells products wholesale across five Midwestern states, direct-to-consumer at its Belle's Lounge tasting room, and via mail order shipping nationwide.
Product overview
Valentine Distilling is a Michigan craft distillery established in 2007, producing a portfolio of whiskeys, gins, and vodkas. The core product lines include Mayor Pingree whiskeys (five labeled expressions: Red Label Bourbon, Orange Label Rye, Blue Label Bourbon, Green Label Rye, and Black Label Bourbon) featuring non-chill filtered, aged expressions; Valentine vodkas (Signature Vodka plus three flavored variants: White Blossom, Berry Blossom, and Lionblood Orange); and Liberator gins (standard and barrel-aged expressions). The distillery operates a custom 1,500-gallon Frilli pot still and produces approximately 1,000 barrels of whiskey annually. Valentine also offers experiential products including Belle's Lounge tasting room, distillery tours, cocktail classes, a single barrel selection program, and private event rental services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mayor Pingree: Bold whiskeys named after legendary Detroit mayor Hazen S. Pingree, including Red Label Bourbon, Orange Label Rye, Blue Label Bourbon, Green Label Rye, and Black Label Bourbon.
- Liberator Gin
- Valentine Vodka
Products and services
- Mayor Pingree Red Label Bourbon Bold bourbon combining sweet corn, spicy rye, and subtle malt for a well-rounded character, non-chill filtered and aged at least 5 years. Named after legendary Detroit mayor Hazen S. Pingree.
- Mayor Pingree Orange Label Rye
- Mayor Pingree Blue Label Bourbon
- Mayor Pingree Green Label Rye
- Mayor Pingree Black Label Bourbon
- Valentine Signature Vodka
- Valentine White Blossom Vodka
- Valentine Berry Blossom Vodka
- Valentine Lionblood Orange Vodka
- Liberator Gin
- Liberator 'Old Tom' Barrel Aged Gin
- Single Barrel Program
- Belle's Lounge
- Distillery Tours
- Event Rental
Quantifiable outcome
- World's Best Vodka recognition at World Drinks Awards London (2016, 2017)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Valentine Distilling
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Valentine Distilling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Valentine Distilling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Nate BurlesoncoreNFL veteran and TV personality partnered with founder Rifino Valentine to create Lionblood Orange Vodka. Nate approached Valentine seeking to bring his vision for a flavored vodka to life, and once he found Valentine could meet the highest standards of taste and purity, they co-developed the product infused with blood orange and elderflower. The partnership leverages Nate Burleson's celebrity status for brand marketing and product endorsement.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Valentine Distilling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Copper & Kings: Louisville, KY craft distillery specializing in bourbon, gin, and American brandy. Comparable craft distillery with similar pot-still production, multi-state distribution, and experiential tasting room venue.
- FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing whiskey and gin. Direct Midwest peer with similar craft production scale, tasting room, and distribution footprint across Illinois and surrounding states.
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs with organic/biodynamic grain positioning. Comparable Midwest craft distillery with similar premium, additive-conscious messaging and multi-spirit portfolio.
- Journeyman Distillery: Michigan craft distillery producing whiskey, vodka, and gin with similar tasting room and event venue model. Direct geographic peer operating in Three Oaks, MI, with comparable product portfolio and craft positioning.
- Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and gin. Comparable craft distillery with sourced whiskey strategy, award-winning products, and similar tasting room experience model.
- St. George Spirits: California craft distillery producing vodka, gin, whiskey, and liqueurs. Comparable craft distillery with award-winning portfolio, copper-pot distillation, and similar multi-product brand strategy.
- Tuthilltown Spirits: Hudson Valley craft distillery producing whiskey, vodka, and gin. Comparable craft distillery with farm-distillery roots, tasting room, and multi-state distribution strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Beam Suntory: Major global spirits company (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek). Represents the broad incumbent category that acquires and partners with craft distilleries, providing a potential exit/strategic partnership path for Valentine.
- WhistlePig: Larger premium rye whiskey producer based in Vermont with farm-distillery roots. A broader craft-adjacent incumbent that has scaled well beyond Valentine's footprint, providing a comparable premium positioning benchmark.
Others
- Diageo: Global spirits conglomerate (Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Ketel One). Potential strategic acquirer of premium craft distilleries and benchmark for distribution scale that Valentine could eventually access through partnership or acquisition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Valentine Distilling social profiles
Digital presenceValentine Distilling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Valentine Distilling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Valentine Distilling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Valentine Distilling 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 Valentine Distilling
What does Valentine Distilling do?
Valentine Distilling is a Michigan craft distillery that produces and sells small-batch whiskey, vodka, and gin under three sub-brands: Mayor Pingree Whiskey (bourbon and rye expressions), Valentine Vodka (signature and flavored variants), and Liberator Gin. The company manufactures approximately 1,000 barrels of whiskey annually using a custom 1,500-gallon Frilli copper-pot still with 24-hour coconut shell carbon filtration, and sells products wholesale across five Midwestern states, direct-to-consumer at its Belle's Lounge tasting room, and via mail order shipping nationwide.
Is Valentine Distilling a public or private company?
Valentine Distilling is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Valentine Distilling founded?
Valentine Distilling was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Valentine Distilling based?
Valentine Distilling is headquartered in Ferndale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Valentine Distilling make money?
One revenue line is on record: spirits Sales.
Who are Valentine Distilling's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Copper & Kings, FEW Spirits, Koval Distillery, Journeyman Distillery, Smooth Ambler, St. George Spirits and Tuthilltown Spirits. Broad incumbents are Beam Suntory and WhistlePig. Diageo is listed as an others.
Does Valentine Distilling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Valentine Distilling.
What industry is Valentine Distilling in?
Valentine Distilling's product category is Craft Distilled Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140.