Rhode Island Spirits

What Rhode Island Spirits does

Rhode Island Spirits (operating under the Rhodium brand) is a nano-distillery founded in 2019 by Cathy Plourde and Kara Larson and headquartered at 40 Bayley Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The company produces a portfolio of organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan craft spirits — including flagship Rhodium Gin and Rhodium Vodka, the Forager's Gin, Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka, Citron Vodka, Rhode Island Red Vodka, and Rhodium Limoncello — alongside seasonal releases and cause-driven collaborations such as the Save The Bay Gin and the RI Pride Vodka. Production relies on small-batch craft distillation methods, including 7x distillation and charcoal filtration for the vodkas, traditional botanical maceration and vapor infusion for gin, and the use of foraged and locally-sourced ingredients such as bay laurel, beach plums, saltbush, red clover, elderberry, and foraged black walnuts.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through the Rhodium Room distillery bar at the Pawtucket production site and a pop-up cocktail bar called the Rhodium Green Room located next to The Guild beer hall at 461 Main Street, with online ordering available via a Square storefront for distillery pickup. Wholesale distribution is handled by Southern Glazer's Beverage Company across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, placing the Rhodium line in liquor stores, bars, restaurants, and clubs. The company also generates B2B revenue through custom exclusive products such as the Newport Gin created for Newport Restaurant Group, and pursues event-driven and community-led marketing through Pride partnerships, Save The Bay collaborations, and tasting events at partner venues including Bottles Fine Wine, The Hot Club, and The Beach House.

Rhode Island Spirits is structured as a women-, queer-, veteran-, LGBTQ-, BIPOC-, and employee-owned business and has positioned itself as New England's only LGBT-owned and employee-vested spirits brand. The company has accumulated a track record of industry recognition, including 2021 and 2022 Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, multiple ADI medals in 2023, and a 2026 SFWSC Silver Medal for the Save The Bay Gin alongside a Double Gold for the in-house chemist's Red Eyed Spirits partnership brand. The company is privately held, has no disclosed external funding, and operates as Rhode Island's fifth distillery in a market still dominated by out-of-state brands.

Name

Rhode Island Spirits

Legal name

Rhode Island Spirits

Website

https://rhodeislandspirits.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhode Island Spirits is a women-, LGBTQ-, and employee-owned nano-distillery in Pawtucket, RI that produces the Rhodium brand of organic craft gins, vodkas, and liqueurs using locally foraged botanicals, selling direct-to-consumer through its tasting room and wholesale via Southern Glazer's across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distillery Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• Small-batch gin vodka
• Foraged botanical spirits
• Organic gluten-free liqueurs
• Rhode Island nano-distillery

Headquarters

HQ city

Pawtucket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Product Sales: Direct sales of bottled spirits (gins, vodkas, liqueurs) to consumers through distillery pickup and retail distribution. Products include flagship spirits (Rhodium Gin, Vodka, Limoncello) and seasonal/limited editions.
2. Distillery Bar & Tasting Room: On-site cocktail sales, sample flights, and bottle purchases at the Rhodium Room Distillery Bar and Rhodium Green Room pop-up location. Visitors can experience craft cocktails and purchase bottles to take home.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution through Southern Glazer's Beverage Company to liquor stores, bars, and restaurants across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rhode Island Spirits is a nano-distillery producing the Rhodium brand of premium small-batch craft gins, vodkas, and liqueurs using organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan ingredients sourced locally or via wild foraging in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The company sells bottled spirits, on-site cocktails, and tasting flights through its distillery bar, a pop-up cocktail bar, and online ordering for distillery pickup, and distributes to liquor stores, bars, and restaurants via Southern Glazer's Beverage Company across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Product overview

Rhode Island Spirits operates as a nano-distillery producing the Rhodium brand of premium gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. The portfolio centers on five core spirits (Rhodium Gin, Vodka, Limoncello, Forager's Gin, and Citron Vodka) supplemented by seasonal and limited-edition releases. Notable offerings include the Save The Bay Gin collaboration supporting Narragansett Bay conservation and the RI Pride Vodka celebrating LGBTQIA+ history. The company also offers custom gin for the Newport Restaurant Group and hosts a distillery bar experience in Pawtucket. All spirits are crafted from organic, gluten-free ingredients using local, farmed, or foraged botanicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rhodium Gin: Classic cocktail gin formulated for classic gin cocktails, flagship cocktail gin released in 2019.
• Forager's Gin
• Newport Gin
• Strawberry Rhubarb Gin
• Rhodium Vodka
• Citron Vodka
• Rhode Island Red Vodka
• Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka
• Rhodium Limoncello
• Rhodium X Save The Bay Gin
• Rhodium X RI Pride Vodka

Products and services

• Rhodium Gin Classic cocktail gin formulated for use in any classic gin cocktail, featuring juniper, angelica, orris, coriander, lemon zest, lemon balm, and fennel. Flagship product released in 2019 and recognized with a Gold Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Rhodium Vodka Flagship vodka made from 100% organic corn, 7x distilled and charcoal filtered, with locally grown apples added for an extra smooth finish and velvety mouthfeel. Released in 2019 and recognized with a Silver Medal at the 2023 American Distilling Institute.
• Rhodium Limoncello Refreshing lemon liqueur made with fresh lemon zest and cane sugar, lighter and fresher than other limoncellos, full of flavor without being syrupy sweet.
• Rhodium Forager's Gin Botanical gin showcasing wild foraged and locally grown ingredients including juniper, angelica, orris, red clover, fennel, sumac, lavender, rose petals, elderberry, and rose hips. Recognized with a Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Rhodium Newport Gin Custom gin created exclusively for Newport Restaurant Group venues, featuring juniper, angelica, orris, coriander, orange and lemon zests, freshly foraged spruce tips, poppy seeds, lemon balm, chamomile, lovage, rose petals, lavender, and sweet orange zest. Not available in stores.
• Rhodium Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Seasonally sourced summer gin made with organic rhubarb from Frog and Toad Farm in Greene, RI, fresh strawberries, and cane sugar. Tart and sweet, suitable for gin and tonic or white negroni.
• Rhodium x Save The Bay Gin Collaboration gin inspired by Narragansett Bay coastal botanicals including bay laurel, beach plums, saltbush, tansy, and linden leaf. 46% abv/92 proof. $5 from every bottle sold is donated to Save The Bay for bay restoration. Silver Medal winner at 2026 SFWSC.
• Rhodium X RI Pride Vodka Limited edition vodka commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Rhode Island Pride parade. Developed with RI Pride and Providence Tourism Council. Distilled 7X from corn and charcoal filtered. Theme 'We Are the People' honors the first LGBTQIA+ Pride march in Providence in 1976. A portion of proceeds is donated to support future Pride events.
• Rhodium Citron Vodka All-natural lemon vodka made with vodka and lemon zest. First formulated for use in the tasting room, it became a customer favorite before being bottled for retail sale in 2022.
• Rhodium Rhode Island Red Vodka Unique flavored vodka inspired by New England's cranberry obsession, featuring cranberries, Montmorency cherries, rosemary, pink peppercorns, hibiscus, autumnberry, elderberry, rose petals, rose hips, and cane sugar. Described as a 'Cosmo in a bottle.'
• Rhodium Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka Cold brewed decaf Guatemala Antigua coffee from Downeast Coffee Roasters combined with black walnut extract foraged from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, finished with cardamom and cane sugar. Most loved product, suitable for coffee martini or sipping at 30% abv/60 proof. Recognized with Silver Medals at the 2022 and 2023 SFWSC and ADI.

Quantifiable outcome

• $5 per bottle donated to Save The Bay from Save The Bay Gin sales
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Save The BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaboration gin (Rhodium X Save The Bay Gin) inspired by botanicals foraged from Narragansett Bay shoreline including bay laurel, beach plums, saltbush, tansy, and linden leaf. $5 per bottle sold donated to Save The Bay for bay restoration. Featured at multiple tasting events and venues throughout 2026.
• RI PridecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration on limited edition Rhodium X RI Pride Vodka commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Rhode Island Pride. Developed with Providence Tourism Council as part of PrideFest 2026 theme 'We Are The People.' A portion of proceeds donated to support future Pride events in Rhode Island.
• ColletteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Featured in Breaking Bread-Inspiring Innovation event featuring Ana Rooney & Melissa Snape from Collette at Rhodium Green Room @ RI Spirits.
• Bottles Fine WineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Retail partner hosting tasting events. Weekly spirit tasting hosted by co-founder Cathy Plourde featuring new product launches like Rhodium X Save The Bay Gin.
• Navigant Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Marketing campaign partnership celebrating Navigant's unique cooperative ownership structure. Featured RI Spirits in campaign because of shared employee ownership values.
• Newport Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom gin (Newport Gin) developed exclusively for Newport Restaurant Group venues. Features all the usual gin ingredients plus freshly foraged spruce tips, poppy seeds, and sweet orange zest to pair perfectly with Negroni cocktails. Not available in any store.
• Southern Glazer's Beverage CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner (formerly Horizon Beverage Co., Origin Beverage Division) for Rhode Island and Massachusetts markets. Makes Rhodium products available at liquor stores, bars, and restaurants across both states.
• Downeast Coffee RoastersminorOthersSupplier of Guatemala Antigua cold brew coffee for Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka production. Coffee is specifically sourced as DECAF for the product.
• Frog and Toad FarmminorOthersLocal farm supplier of organic rhubarb for Strawberry Rhubarb Gin seasonal release. Located in Greene, RI.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Global spirits conglomerate with gin, vodka, and liqueur portfolios (e.g., Tanqueray, Beefeater, Ketel One). Comparable as the broader incumbent context in the same product categories where Rhode Island Spirits competes for shelf and on-premise placement.
• Pernod Ricard: Global spirits group with gin, vodka, and specialty liqueur brands (e.g., Beefeater, Absolut, Jameson, Malibu). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same core categories, distributed through similar wholesalers including Southern Glazer's.

Direct peers

• Short Path Distillery: Everett, MA craft distillery producing gin, vodka, and specialty spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Comparable in scale, geography (New England), and product mix, with a similar DTC-plus-regional-wholesale go-to-market.
• Bully Boy Distillers: Boston-based craft distillery producing small-batch whiskeys, gin, vodka, and rum. Directly comparable as a similarly scaled New England craft distillery with a tasting-room-led DTC model and bar/restaurant wholesale placement.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic gin, vodka, whiskey, and liqueurs with an organic/certified positioning. Directly comparable on organic, small-batch, and identity-driven brand positioning versus commodity spirits.
• Greenhook Ginsmiths: Brooklyn, NY craft distillery specializing in gin and flavored gin with a foraged/botanical-driven product line. Closely comparable in gin-led portfolio and craft-flavored extension strategy to Rhode Island Spirits' Forager's Gin and seasonal gins.
• St. George Spirits: Alameda, CA craft distillery producing gin, vodka, whiskey, absinthe, and liqueurs with strong botanical focus. Comparable in product breadth (gin, vodka, liqueurs) and emphasis on ingredient-driven differentiation, though at a larger scale.
• Hudson Whiskey (Tuthilltown Spirits): New York's first farm distillery post-Prohibition, producing gin, vodka, and whiskey with a strong local-ingredient narrative. Comparable craft positioning, distribution through regional wholesalers, and core spirits portfolio.

Regional players

• Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling: Rhode Island-based craft brewery and distillery producing spirits in the same home state. Geographic peer in the same regional distribution footprint, with overlapping on-premise accounts in Rhode Island.
• Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. South Kingstown, RI craft distillery producing whiskeys and gin. Direct in-state Rhode Island peer competing for the same on-premise and retail accounts in the company's home market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RhodeIslandSpirits
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhode-island-spirits
• Instagraminstagram.com/rispirits
• TikToktiktok.com/@rispirits
• Xx.com/ri_spirits

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Rhode Island Spirits