Garden State Distillery
Garden State Distillery is a craft spirits producer founded in 2019 in Toms River, New Jersey, manufacturing bourbon, vodka, whiskey, and ready-to-drink cocktails from locally sourced New Jersey grains. It serves New Jersey retail, hospitality, and DTC consumers through wholesale, e-commerce, and events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersToms River, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Garden State Distillery does
Garden State Distillery is a craft spirits producer founded in 2019 in Toms River, New Jersey, operating a single-location distillery that controls production from grain to glass using locally sourced New Jersey ingredients. The company's core product portfolio comprises five spirits — Bricktucky Bourbon Whiskey (sourced, $42.99 per bottle), Norman's Shuck Vodka (oyster-flavored, supporting Barnegat Bay restoration), Sissy's Hot Vodka, Norman's Farm Vodka (100% corn), and Weathervane Whiskey (American whiskey from 100% NJ grains with batch-varying mash bills) — alongside the Proper Cock line of ready-to-drink bottled cocktails ($15.99–$20.99) and a personalized "Age Your Own" barrel aging service. Production technology centers on a 16-plate still for vodka distillation, hand-selected yeast strains, and aging in 25-gallon #3 charred oak barrels sourced from Kelvin Cooperage.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through a Shopify-hosted storefront with US-wide shipping, wholesale distribution to 98+ retail locations across New Jersey (including Spirits chain stores, BuyRite Liquors, Costco Liquors, Joe Canal's, and Circus Wines), on-premise service at NJ shore restaurants and beach establishments, and event-driven revenue through private tastings, weddings, and the personalized barrel program (featured on Wedding Wire and The Knot). The business is privately held and founder-led by Rick Norman with Daniel Strack as Managing Partner and Mike Simon as Marketing Lead, with no disclosed external funding or institutional investment. Operating scope is single-state (New Jersey) for wholesale, with DTC as the only national revenue channel.
Garden State Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Garden State Distillery
- Legal name
- Garden State Distillery
- Website
- https://gardenstatedistillery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Garden State Distillery is a craft spirits producer founded in 2019 in Toms River, New Jersey, manufacturing bourbon, vodka, whiskey, and ready-to-drink cocktails from locally sourced New Jersey grains. It serves New Jersey retail, hospitality, and DTC consumers through wholesale, e-commerce, and events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Garden State Distillery industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)
Keywords
Where Garden State Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toms River
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Garden State Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Spirits Sales: E-commerce sales of spirits and bottled cocktails through the company's website. Products include Bricktucky Bourbon Whiskey, vodkas (Norman's Shuck, Sissy's Hot, Norman's Farm), Weathervane Whiskey, and the Proper Cock ready-to-drink line. One-time purchase model with per-bottle pricing.
- Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from distributing products through 98+ retail locations across New Jersey including liquor stores, wine shops, restaurants, and bars. Products sold through wholesale accounts to retailers who then sell to end consumers.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, baby onesies, and tote bags through the e-commerce store. Products include branded apparel featuring 'Grown Here. Made Here.' and product-specific branding.
- Personalized Barrel Program: Custom barrel aging service where customers can personalize barrels as gifts. Process takes approximately two weeks. Engraving and filling services provided.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bricktucky Bourbon Whiskey - $42.99 USD per bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vodka Products - $25.99 USD per bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weathervane Whiskey - $30.99 USD per bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Proper Cock Bottled Cocktails - $15.99 to $20.99 USD |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded Merchandise - $24.35 to $45.00 USD |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Garden State Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Garden State Distillery produces and sells craft spirits, including bourbon whiskey, multiple flavored and unflavored vodkas, and American whiskey, all distilled from locally sourced New Jersey grains. The company also offers a line of ready-to-drink bottled cocktails under the Proper Cock brand, branded merchandise, and a personalized barrel aging service for custom gifting.
Product overview
Garden State Distillery is a craft distillery founded in 2019 in New Jersey that produces handcrafted spirits from locally sourced ingredients. The company operates a grain-to-glass philosophy, controlling production from local New Jersey farmers through distillation. Their core product portfolio includes five distinct spirits: Bricktucky Bourbon Whiskey (a sourced bourbon homage to Brick, NJ), Norman's Shuck Vodka (an oyster-flavored vodka supporting Barnegat Bay restoration), Sissy's Hot Vodka (a spicy pepper vodka), Norman's Farm Vodka (100% corn vodka), and Weathervane Whiskey (an American whiskey with varying batch-specific recipes using New Jersey grains). Complementing their spirits line, they offer the Proper Cock brand of ready-to-drink bottled cocktails including Old Fashion, Espressotini, Limoncello, Peach Cosmo, and Lunique Limontini. The company also provides personalized barrel services for custom-aged spirits and sells branded merchandise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Proper Cock: Line of bottled cocktails including Old Fashion, Espressotini, Limoncello, Peach Cosmo, and Lunique Limontini.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98+ retail locations across New Jersey
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Garden State Distillery
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Garden State Distillery technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Garden State Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kelvin CooperagecoreSupplier of barrels used for aging Weathervane Whiskey and Bricktucky Bourbon. Provides #3 charred oak barrels in 25-gallon sizes from Kelvin Cooperage. Used for aging whiskey batches with varying mash bills.
- Barnegat Bay Nonprofit OrganizationsminorPartnership with local nonprofit organizations supporting Barnegat Bay restoration. Through sales of Shuck Vodka (oyster-flavored vodka made with Barnegat Bay ingredients), the company supports continued restoration efforts for the bay ecosystem.
- Wedding WireminorFeatured vendor listing on Wedding Wire platform for private tasting events and venue inquiries at Garden State Distillery.
- The KnotminorFeatured vendor on The Knot marketplace for wedding and event venue services at Garden State Distillery in Toms River, NJ.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Garden State Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey): New York-based craft distillery producing Hudson Whiskey and other spirits with local-ingredient sourcing and multi-channel distribution. Comparable as an East Coast craft distillery with similar scale and brand-driven approach.
- Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery renowned for award-winning whiskeys with innovative production techniques and broad U.S. distribution. Similar craft distillery model with multi-SKU portfolio and DTC plus wholesale channels.
- New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery focused on bourbon and rye whiskey with grain-to-glass philosophy and broad retail distribution. Highly comparable to Garden State's spirits-focused craft positioning with strong wholesale account penetration.
- FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing bourbon, gin, and whiskey with grain-to-glass ethos and DTC plus retail distribution. Similar in scale, craft positioning, and diversified spirit portfolio to Garden State.
- Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery producing a multi-SKU portfolio across gin, whiskey, bourbon, and other spirits with DTC and wholesale distribution. Comparable to Garden State in scale, multi-product craft positioning, and direct-to-consumer-plus-retail channel mix.
- St. George Spirits: California craft distillery producing a wide range of spirits including whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs with strong distribution. Comparable as a multi-category craft producer with broader SKU portfolio than Garden State.
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing unique whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits with organic grain sourcing and direct-to-consumer focus. Comparable craft positioning and SKU breadth to Garden State.
- Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and whiskey with traditional methods and broad distribution. Similar craft whiskey focus and multi-channel distribution model to Garden State.
- Laws Whiskey House: Colorado craft distillery producing bourbon and whiskey with farm-to-bottle sourcing and direct-to-consumer plus wholesale distribution. Comparable craft whiskey positioning and ingredient-driven brand story.
Broad incumbents
- Cutwater Spirits: Larger San Diego-based spirits producer offering both craft distilled spirits and a leading line of canned RTD cocktails. Comparable as a craft-adjacent producer with an overlapping spirits-plus-RTD portfolio, though operating at significantly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Garden State Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceGarden State Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Garden State Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Garden State Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Garden State Distillery 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 Garden State Distillery
What does Garden State Distillery do?
Garden State Distillery produces and sells craft spirits, including bourbon whiskey, multiple flavored and unflavored vodkas, and American whiskey, all distilled from locally sourced New Jersey grains. The company also offers a line of ready-to-drink bottled cocktails under the Proper Cock brand, branded merchandise, and a personalized barrel aging service for custom gifting.
Is Garden State Distillery a public or private company?
Garden State Distillery is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Garden State Distillery founded?
Garden State Distillery was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Garden State Distillery based?
Garden State Distillery is headquartered in Toms River, United States, in the North America region.
How does Garden State Distillery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Spirits Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution, merchandise Sales and personalized Barrel Program.
Who are Garden State Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey), Balcones Distilling, New Riff Distilling, FEW Spirits, Corsair Distillery, St. George Spirits, Koval Distillery, Smooth Ambler and Laws Whiskey House. Cutwater Spirits is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Garden State Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Garden State Distillery.
What industry is Garden State Distillery in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands. Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.