Stitzel-Weller Distillery
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a historic 1935 Kentucky bourbon distillery, owned by Diageo, that produces and sells four premium whiskey brands (Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel, Stitzel Reserve), operates distillery tours and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge as a Kentucky Bourbon Trail destination for bourbon enthusiasts, collectors, and tourists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersShipley, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Stitzel-Weller Distillery does
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a historic Kentucky bourbon distillery located at 3860 Fitzgerald Road in Shively/Louisville, Kentucky. Originally opened on Derby Day in 1935, the facility ceased distilling operations in 1992 and was subsequently acquired by Diageo, which reopened it to the public in 2014. Today it operates as part of Diageo's American whiskey portfolio, producing and showcasing four brand families — Blade and Bow (4 SKUs from $55 standard bourbon to $1,400 30-Year release), I.W. Harper (Cabernet Cask Reserve and 15-Year), Orphan Barrel (6 aged variants including rye, bourbon, and Scotch at $225-$400), and the ultra-premium Stitzel Reserve collection (24-Year and the newly released 31-Year limited to 176 bottles at $3,000 per bottle). Technical differentiation rests on traditional bourbon distillation and aging, plus a proprietary multi-vat Solera finishing process used for Blade and Bow that draws on Cognac, Bordeaux, Moscatel, and Port vat influences.
The company monetizes through a hybrid business model combining (a) direct-to-consumer bottle sales at the distillery and online merchandise store, (b) selective retail distribution in seven U.S. states (Kentucky, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio), (c) global wholesale through Diageo's distribution network, and (d) on-site experiential revenue including guided distillery tours, tasting flights, and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge and bar on the second floor. Pricing is uniformly unit-based across SKUs, ranging from accessible premium ($55) to ultra-premium collector tier ($3,000) with enforced purchase limits on rare expressions.
Stitzel-Weller serves two primary customer segments: premium bourbon enthusiasts and collectors seeking rare, archive-aged whiskey for收藏 and special occasions, and Kentucky Bourbon Trail tourists seeking an authentic distillery experience near downtown Louisville. The company is privately held as a wholly-owned Diageo subsidiary operating under Diageo Americas Supply Inc., with 11-50 employees and revenue consolidated within its parent's corporate financials. Recent strategic activity has centered on premium product launches and experiential extension rather than volume growth, consistent with a portfolio brand positioned for brand equity and margin rather than scale.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery
- Legal name
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery
- Website
- https://stitzelwellerdistillery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a historic 1935 Kentucky bourbon distillery, owned by Diageo, that produces and sells four premium whiskey brands (Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel, Stitzel Reserve), operates distillery tours and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge as a Kentucky Bourbon Trail destination for bourbon enthusiasts, collectors, and tourists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stitzel-Weller Distillery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Bourbon Whiskey
- NAICS
- Distilleries (31214), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Stitzel-Weller Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shipley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stitzel-Weller 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
- Bourbon Whiskey Sales: Direct bottle sales of premium and super-premium bourbon expressions including Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel, and Stitzel Reserve brands. Pricing ranges from $55 for standard expressions to $3,000 for rare aged releases.
- Distillery Experience & Tours: Revenue from guided distillery tours, tasting flights, and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail bar and lounge. The experience is a key component of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tourism circuit.
- Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store selling branded apparel and items through shop.stitzelwellerdistillery.com
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blade and Bow Standard Expression |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blade and Bow 12-Year Solera Reserve |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blade and Bow 22-Year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blade and Bow 30-Year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | I.W. Harper 15-Year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stitzel Reserve 24-Year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stitzel Reserve 31-Year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade (14-Year Rye) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Orphan Barrel Copper Tongue (16-Year Cask Strength) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Orphan Barrel Muckety-Muck (26-Year Single Grain Scotch) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Orphan Barrel Castle's Curse (14-Year Single Malt Scotch) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Orphan Barrel Woven Honor (18-Year Single Malt Scotch) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Stitzel-Weller Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stitzel-Weller Distillery produces and sells premium Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey across four owned brands — Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel, and Stitzel Reserve — with aged expressions ranging from standard releases to 31-year ultra-premium bottlings. The distillery also operates a visitor experience in Louisville, Kentucky, offering guided tours, tasting flights, and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge on the second floor.
Product overview
Stitzel-Weller Distillery operates as a historic bourbon distillery and visitor destination in Louisville, Kentucky, under Diageo's portfolio. The company offers a portfolio of whiskey brands including Blade and Bow (with expressions ranging from standard bourbon to 12-Year Solera Reserve, 22-year, and 30-year aged releases), I.W. Harper (Cabernet Cask Reserve and 15-year expressions), and Orphan Barrel (featuring rye, bourbon, and Scotch variants). Additionally, the Stitzel Reserve collection offers ultra-premium aged expressions including 24-year and 31-year bourbons. The distillery also operates the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge and offers guided tours of the historic facility. The company opened in 1935, ceased distilling in 1992, was acquired by Diageo, and reopened to the public in 2014.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Blade and Bow: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand featuring products including Straight Bourbon, 12-Year Solera Reserve, Aged 22 Years, and Aged 30 Years Limited Release.
- I.W. Harper
- Orphan Barrel
- Stitzel Reserve
- Garden & Gun Club
Companies that use Stitzel-Weller Distillery
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stitzel-Weller Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Stitzel-Weller Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Garden & Gun ClubcoreThe Garden & Gun Club is a premier cocktail bar and lounge located on the second floor of Stitzel-Weller Distillery. It brings the defining Southern lifestyle brand to life with a curated menu of elevated cocktails and modern take on Southern dishes. The partnership creates an immersive experience combining bourbon heritage with Southern hospitality culture.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stitzel-Weller Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Old Forester (Brown-Forman): Historic Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Brown-Forman with the Old Forester Distillery downtown Louisville. Comparable as a heritage bourbon brand with a downtown Louisville tourism experience in close geographic proximity.
- Michter's Distillery: Premium American whiskey producer with operations in Kentucky, featuring ultra-premium aged bourbon and rye at comparable price points ($200-$800+). Comparable in super-premium aged whiskey positioning and limited-release scarcity strategy.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company: Modern Kentucky bourbon destination combining distillation, custom contract production, and a high-end visitor experience. Comparable in premium bourbon tourism, on-site cocktail bar/restaurant concept, and elevated experience-driven revenue model.
Direct peers
- Maker's Mark: Beam Suntory-owned Kentucky bourbon distillery on the Bourbon Trail with a flagship visitor center. Highly comparable in premium positioning, tourism-driven experience, and global distribution through a major spirits parent.
- Buffalo Trace Distillery: Historic Kentucky bourbon distillery owned by Sazerac, located on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with tours, tastings, and a deep aged-bourbon portfolio (Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Pappy Van Winkle). Directly comparable in heritage tourism, premium bourbon production, and limited-release strategy.
- Woodford Reserve: Premium Kentucky bourbon owned by Brown-Forman with on-site distillery tours, tastings, and a tasting-room experience. Comparable in premium positioning, bourbon tourism, and parent-company backing.
- Four Roses Distillery: Kentucky bourbon distillery owned by Kirin Brewery with a single-site visitor experience on the Bourbon Trail. Directly comparable as a heritage-driven, tourism-focused craft-style bourbon operation.
- Wild Turkey Distillery: Campari Group-owned Kentucky bourbon distillery with on-site tours and aged bourbon portfolio including Russell's Reserve. Comparable in Kentucky Bourbon Trail tourism, premium bourbon production, and parent-driven global distribution.
- Heaven Hill Distilleries: Independent family-owned producer of Kentucky bourbon brands (Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny) with the Bourbon Heritage Center tourist experience. Comparable in bourbon heritage, multi-brand portfolio, and visitor engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Jim Beam Distillery (Beam Suntory): Flagship Kentucky bourbon distillery of Beam Suntory, the world's largest bourbon producer. Overlaps with Stitzel-Weller on bourbon production, Bourbon Trail tourism, and Beam brands (Knob Creek, Booker's) compete head-to-head with Blade and Bow and Orphan Barrel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stitzel-Weller Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceStitzel-Weller Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stitzel-Weller Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Stitzel-Weller Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stitzel-Weller 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 Stitzel-Weller Distillery
What does Stitzel-Weller Distillery do?
Stitzel-Weller Distillery produces and sells premium Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey across four owned brands — Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel, and Stitzel Reserve — with aged expressions ranging from standard releases to 31-year ultra-premium bottlings. The distillery also operates a visitor experience in Louisville, Kentucky, offering guided tours, tasting flights, and the Garden & Gun Club cocktail lounge on the second floor.
Is Stitzel-Weller Distillery a public or private company?
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Stitzel-Weller Distillery founded?
Stitzel-Weller Distillery was founded in 1935. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Stitzel-Weller Distillery based?
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is headquartered in Shipley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Stitzel-Weller Distillery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bourbon Whiskey Sales are the primary driver. The others are distillery Experience & Tours and merchandise Sales.
Who are Stitzel-Weller Distillery's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Old Forester (Brown-Forman), Michter's Distillery and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Direct peers are Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Distillery, Wild Turkey Distillery and Heaven Hill Distilleries. Jim Beam Distillery (Beam Suntory) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Stitzel-Weller Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stitzel-Weller Distillery.
What industry is Stitzel-Weller Distillery in?
Stitzel-Weller Distillery's product category is Premium Bourbon Whiskey. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 31214 and its SIC code is 2080.