Left Bank Distilled Spirits

What Left Bank Distilled Spirits does

Left Bank Distilled Spirits LLC is a privately-held craft bourbon producer founded in 2017 by Joshua Easton and Ken Hagan, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana with bottling operations there and a Kentucky tasting room presence in Louisville. The company produces straight bourbon whiskey in two expressions — a Small Batch core product (101–109 proof, batches of 4–8 barrels) and a premium Single Cask cask-strength offering (120–130+ proof) — distilled and aged at least two years on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky before barrels are shipped down the Mississippi River to New Orleans for final blending and bottling.

The company's core production process centers on a proprietary "river journey aging" method that subjects bourbon to motion, temperature variation, and humidity change over an 11–29 day barge transit, combined with custom stave finishing and a double-casking technique at 105 proof entry. Production is intentionally small-scale and hand-bottled without chill filtration to preserve flavor oils. The narrative positions the product as a recreation of 1800s bourbon trade routes from Kentucky to New Orleans, leveraging both Bourbon County heritage and New Orleans cocktail culture.

Left Bank generates revenue through two streams: (1) one-time product sales of bottled bourbon via direct-to-consumer e-commerce (leftbankbourbon.com) and a network of multi-state retail stockists and restaurant partners, and (2) tasting experience fees at the Kentucky Tasting Room, operated as a partnership with Logan St. Market and Safai Whiskey in Louisville. The target customer is the craft bourbon enthusiast and whiskey collector seeking story-driven, premium craft spirits. The company has accumulated multiple industry awards (2025 Ascot Awards Double Platinum/Platinum, ADI 2023 Double Gold, Fifty Best 2023 Gold) and secured earned media placement including a June 2024 Roku Emeril Cooks feature, but operates with only the two co-founders and no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Left Bank Distilled Spirits

Legal name

Left Bank Distilled Spirits LLC

Website

https://leftbankbourbon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Left Bank Distilled Spirits is a craft bourbon producer (founded 2017) that ages whiskey in Kentucky and ships barrels downriver to New Orleans for bottling, selling Small Batch and Single Cask bourbons through DTC e-commerce, multi-state retail stockists, and a Louisville tasting room partnership, serving craft bourbon enthusiasts and whiskey collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Bourbon Whiskey

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Beverages (2080), 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

• Craft bourbon whiskey
• Small batch bourbon
• Single cask bourbon
• River aged bourbon
• Straight bourbon whisky

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bourbon Product Sales: Direct sales of bottled bourbon products in two expressions: Small Batch (101-109 proof) and Single Cask (120-130+ proof, cask strength). Products sold through online shop and retail stockists.
2. Tasting Experiences: Revenue from scheduled tasting experiences at the Kentucky Tasting Room in Louisville, operated in partnership with Logan St. Market and Safai Whiskey. Bookings for 1-6 people with custom group options.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Left Bank Distilled Spirits produces craft straight bourbon whiskey distilled and aged on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky, then shipped downriver to New Orleans where barrels are married into small batches of 4-8 and bottled without chill filtration. The company sells two expressions—Left Bank Bourbon (Small Batch, 101-109 proof) and Left Bank Single Cask (cask strength, 120-130+ proof)—through its online shop, retail stockists, restaurant partners, and a tasting room in Louisville, KY.

Product overview

Left Bank Distilled Spirits produces craft-aged bourbon whiskey available in two expressions: Left Bank Bourbon (Small Batch) as the core product, and Left Bank Single Cask as the premium expression. The bourbon is distilled and aged in Kentucky along the banks of the Ohio River for at least two years, then shipped down the Mississippi River to New Orleans where barrels are married into small batches of 4-8 barrels and bottled without chill filtration. The small batch expression uses batches of 8 or fewer barrels at 101-109 proof, while the Single Cask expression features older barrels with 25% more oak staves, bottled at cask strength (120-130+ proof).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Left Bank Bourbon (Small Batch) The core expression of Left Bank Bourbon, featuring small batches of 8 or fewer barrels carefully married to create a balanced bourbon. Proof varies from 101 to 109 proof depending on the release and batch. Bottled without chill filtration to preserve natural oils and esters. Distilled and aged at least two years on the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky before being shipped downriver to New Orleans for blending and bottling.
• Left Bank Single Cask A premium bourbon expression featuring barrels selected for maximum flavor intensity. These barrels start older than the core expression and receive 25% more oak added during stave finishing. Bottled at cask strength (120 to 130+ proof depending on barrel and journey), as close to straight from the barrel as possible. Aimed at enthusiasts seeking a higher-intensity, cask-strength craft bourbon.
• Kentucky Tasting Room Experience Scheduled in-person tasting experiences held in the heart of Louisville, KY at Logan St. Market, operated in partnership with Safai Whiskey. Bookings available for 1-6 people with custom group options. Visitors learn about the river journey and bourbon heritage while tasting Left Bank Bourbon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured on Roku's Emeril Cooks show (Season 5, Episode 4), aired June 30, 2024

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Emeril Cooks (Roku)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2024Left Bank owners Joshua Easton and Ken Hagan featured in Season 5, Episode 4 of Emeril Cooks on Roku, entitled 'Summer Grilling Louisiana Bourbon.' The episode aired June 30, 2024, featuring bourbon-inspired cooking and grilling with Left Bank Straight Bourbon Whisky as the star ingredient.
• Logan St. MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Logan St. Market to operate a tasting experience in Louisville, KY. The tasting room is located in the heart of Louisville and offers visitors the chance to taste Left Bank Bourbon while learning about the journey to New Orleans and America's bourbon roots.
• Safai WhiskeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with Logan St. Market in running the Kentucky Tasting Room experience in Louisville. Safai Whiskey brings expertise in whiskey programming to enhance the tasting room offerings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Buffalo Trace Distillery: Kentucky bourbon producer owned by Sazerac, operating one of the largest bourbon portfolios including Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and Pappy Van Winkle. Comparable as the dominant Kentucky bourbon producer that defines the premium and collectible categories Left Bank targets.
• Four Roses Distillery: Kentucky bourbon producer known for ten-recipe small-batch blending program, owned by Kirin. Comparable to Left Bank on the small-batch blending philosophy and Kentucky bourbon heritage positioning.
• Old Forester: Historic Louisville-based Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky brand owned by Brown-Forman, spanning a full premium-to-mainstream portfolio. Comparable as a Louisville-based bourbon incumbent that Left Bank competes against for on-premise and retail placement.
• Woodford Reserve: Premium Kentucky bourbon brand owned by Brown-Forman, distributed nationally and internationally with a destination distillery experience. Comparable as the premium Kentucky bourbon benchmark that Left Bank's premium positioning sits alongside.

Direct peers

• Castle & Key Distillery: Kentucky craft spirits producer distilling bourbon, rye, and gin with strong heritage branding and a destination tasting experience. Comparable to Left Bank on craft positioning, heritage narrative, and experiential retail.
• Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery: Louisville-based craft distillery producing bourbon, brandy, and gin with a focus on barrel experimentation. Comparable to Left Bank on craft positioning, Louisville base, and novel maturation techniques.
• Willett Distillery: Family-owned Kentucky craft bourbon distillery producing small-batch and single-barrel releases for collector and gift markets. Comparable to Left Bank on craft positioning, small-batch releases, and high-proof single-barrel expressions.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky-based craft bourbon distillery producing small-batch, single-barrel and rye whiskeys. Directly comparable to Left Bank on craft positioning, Kentucky origin, small-batch releases, and premium-tier pricing.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company: Kentucky craft bourbon producer with a custom-distillation and on-site blending program, widely regarded as a benchmark for modern craft bourbon. Comparable to Left Bank on craft positioning, premium expressions, and ambitious brand storytelling.
• Rabbit Hole Distillery: Louisville-based craft bourbon distillery producing small-batch Kentucky bourbon with proprietary production techniques (e.g., specialty grains, secondary finishing). Comparable on craft positioning, Louisville origin, and focus on novel aging/finishing methods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/leftbankwhisky
• Instagraminstagram.com/leftbankwhisky
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leftbankbourbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Left Bank Distilled Spirits