Popcorn Sutton Distilling
Popcorn Sutton Distilling is a private craft spirits company in Newport, Tennessee that produces 100 proof Bourbon Whiskey and traditional Appalachian Likker. Founded by Pam Sutton and Ole Smoky's Joe Baker, it sells exclusively through three Ole Smoky Distillery retail locations and merchandise e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Popcorn Sutton Distilling does
Popcorn Sutton Distilling is a private craft spirits company headquartered in Newport, Tennessee, that produces and sells two core products: a 100 proof Bourbon Whiskey (a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged in North Carolina and Tennessee barrels) and a 100 proof Likker (a traditional Appalachian spirit made from cane and grain mash). The company was formed through a partnership between Pam Sutton, widow of legendary moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, and Joe Baker, founder of Ole Smoky Distillery, with the stated mission of preserving Popcorn Sutton's legacy and bringing his original recipes to market.
The business operates a tightly channeled distribution model: both products are sold exclusively at three Ole Smoky Distillery retail locations in the East Tennessee tourist corridor — The Holler (Gatlinburg), The Barn (Pigeon Forge), and The Barrelhouse (Gatlinburg). Branded merchandise (apparel, hats, glassware) is sold through Ole Smoky's e-commerce storefront at olesmoky.com. The company has no independent wholesale presence, no national distribution, and no direct-to-consumer beverage e-commerce. Primary customers are bourbon and moonshine enthusiasts seeking authentic Appalachian heritage products, and tourists and collectors visiting the Great Smoky Mountains.
The company is small (1-10 employees), has no disclosed funding, no patents, and no public financial reporting. Revenue is not disclosed. The brand monetizes through Ole Smoky's retail and e-commerce infrastructure, which functions as both the production partner and the sole sales channel. This makes the business model essentially a co-branded heritage line within a larger distillery's tourist retail operation, with limited standalone economic visibility.
Popcorn Sutton Distilling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Popcorn Sutton Distilling
- Legal name
- Popcorn Sutton Distillery
- Website
- https://popcornsutton.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Popcorn Sutton Distilling is a private craft spirits company in Newport, Tennessee that produces 100 proof Bourbon Whiskey and traditional Appalachian Likker. Founded by Pam Sutton and Ole Smoky's Joe Baker, it sells exclusively through three Ole Smoky Distillery retail locations and merchandise e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Popcorn Sutton Distilling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Popcorn Sutton Distilling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Popcorn Sutton Distilling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Popcorn Sutton Distilling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Popcorn Sutton Distilling produces and markets two spirits — Bourbon Whiskey (a 100 proof blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged in North Carolina and Tennessee barrels) and Likker (a 100 proof spirit made from cane and grain mash) — alongside branded merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, and glassware. The company preserves the legacy of legendary moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton and operates in partnership with Ole Smoky Distillery, which handles production and retail distribution.
Product overview
Popcorn Sutton Distilling is a spirits company honoring the legacy of legendary moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. The company produces two core alcoholic beverage products: Bourbon Whiskey (a 100 proof blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged in barrels from North Carolina and Tennessee) and Likkor (a 100 proof spirit made from a mash of cane and grain). These products are available for purchase at Ole Smoky Distillery locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The brand also offers branded merchandise including apparel and drinkware.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bourbon Whiskey: A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged in barrels from North Carolina and Tennessee, 100 proof with notes of caramel, leather, citrus and char.
- Likker
Products and services
- Popcorn Sutton Bourbon Whiskey
- Popcorn Sutton Likker
- Popcorn Sutton Branded Merchandise
Companies that use Popcorn Sutton Distilling
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Popcorn Sutton Distilling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Popcorn Sutton Distilling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ole SmokycoreOle Smoky, founded by Sevier County native Joe Baker, partnered with Pam Sutton (Popcorn's widow) to bring Popcorn Sutton's original recipes to market. Ole Smoky provides distribution, retail locations, and production capabilities while Pam Sutton ensures authenticity and preservation of her late husband's legacy. Products are sold exclusively at Ole Smoky distillery locations.
Recent moves4 records
Popcorn Sutton Distilling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Climax Moonshine: North Carolina-based moonshine producer selling traditional and flavored spirits through distillery retail, on-premise, and select wholesale. Comparable craft spirits portfolio with strong regional heritage, sold in similar Smoky Mountains-adjacent markets.
- Doc Swine's Moonshine: Appalachian moonshine brand built around a folk-heritage narrative and traditional recipes. Closely comparable to Popcorn Sutton in its reliance on a legendary figure, regional authenticity, and craft-style spirits positioning.
- Ole Smoky Distillery: Largest legal moonshine distillery in the U.S. and Popcorn Sutton's exclusive production, distribution, and retail partner. Operates the same Tennessee tourist-corridor tasting rooms where Popcorn Sutton is sold, making it both a direct channel partner and the closest comparable brand in the moonshine category.
- Midnight Moon Moonshine: Piedmont Distillers' legal moonshine brand sold in mason jars with a heritage Appalachian aesthetic. Comparable product format (jarred moonshine), price point, and target consumer as Popcorn Sutton Likker.
- Old Smoky Distillery: Tennessee moonshine distillery producing a range of traditional and flavored moonshines for retail and on-premise distribution. Overlaps directly with Popcorn Sutton on product format (moonshine-style spirits) and Appalachian heritage positioning.
- Sugarlands Distilling Company: Gatlinburg, Tennessee-based craft distillery producing flavored moonshines, sipping cream liqueurs, and craft spirits. Targets the same Great Smoky Mountains tourist and craft-spirits customer as Popcorn Sutton and sells through its own downtown Gatlinburg tasting room.
- Tim Smith Spirits: Moonshine brand founded by Tim Smith, star of the Discovery Channel series 'Moonshiners'. Closely comparable to Popcorn Sutton in building a legal moonshine business around a moonshining celebrity and folk-hero story.
Broad incumbents
- Jack Daniel's: Iconic Tennessee whiskey brand owned by Brown-Forman. Comparable because it is the dominant Tennessee whiskey incumbent against which any Tennessee bourbon offering (such as Popcorn Sutton's Bourbon Whiskey) is positioned, and it sets the pricing and distribution benchmark for the category.
- Woodford Reserve: Premium Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Brown-Forman. Comparable as a craft-positioned straight bourbon incumbent against which Popcorn Sutton's Bourbon Whiskey competes for shelf space, gifting occasions, and premium pricing.
- Maker's Mark: Premium bourbon whiskey brand under Beam Suntory with broad national and international distribution. Comparable as an established craft-bourbon incumbent, illustrating the scale and distribution depth Popcorn Sutton would need to grow beyond its single partner channel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Popcorn Sutton Distilling social profiles
Digital presencePopcorn Sutton Distilling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Popcorn Sutton Distilling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Popcorn Sutton Distilling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Popcorn Sutton 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 Popcorn Sutton Distilling
What does Popcorn Sutton Distilling do?
Popcorn Sutton Distilling produces and markets two spirits — Bourbon Whiskey (a 100 proof blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged in North Carolina and Tennessee barrels) and Likker (a 100 proof spirit made from cane and grain mash) — alongside branded merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, and glassware. The company preserves the legacy of legendary moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton and operates in partnership with Ole Smoky Distillery, which handles production and retail distribution.
Is Popcorn Sutton Distilling a public or private company?
Popcorn Sutton Distilling is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Popcorn Sutton Distilling founded?
Popcorn Sutton Distilling was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Popcorn Sutton Distilling based?
Popcorn Sutton Distilling is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Popcorn Sutton Distilling's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Climax Moonshine, Doc Swine's Moonshine, Ole Smoky Distillery, Midnight Moon Moonshine, Old Smoky Distillery, Sugarlands Distilling Company and Tim Smith Spirits. Broad incumbents are Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark.
Does Popcorn Sutton Distilling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Popcorn Sutton Distilling.
What industry is Popcorn Sutton Distilling in?
Popcorn Sutton Distilling's product category is Craft Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling. Its NAICS code is 31214 and its SIC code is 5180.