ADVERTISEMENT

Subscriber Exclusive

How Small Distilleries Can Win with Bottled Whiskey Cocktails

Releasing your tasting room’s Manhattan or old fashioned as an RTD isn’t as simple as scaling up and bottling the recipe. Here’s some advice from two craft distilleries on how to do it successfully.

Louis Livingston-Garcia May 14, 2024 - 11 min read

How Small Distilleries Can Win with Bottled Whiskey Cocktails Primary Image

Photo: Courtesy Tattersall Distilling

Ready-to-drink cocktails may not appeal much to purists, but it’s clear that customer demand is there—and plenty of distilleries and ambitious brands are putting in the time and effort to develop products meant to be worthy of an upscale bar.

It should be clear by now that this isn’t only a game for the biggest companies, and craft distilleries are in a good position to offer flavorful, high-margin products. While canned cocktails come with their own challenges, including package integrity, higher-proof bottled cocktails should be in the comfort zone of most craft distilleries.

Smaller independents such as Tattersall in River Falls, Wisconsin, and Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh are leaning into their strengths, embracing high-end ingredients—and some careful math—to formulate and dial in their RTD products.

Here is some of what they’ve learned.

Access All of Craft Spirits & Distilling

Subscribe today to access all of the in-depth distilling stories & advice you won't find anywhere else (including this article).

Louis Livingston-Garcia has worked as lead storyteller for Crafted for All, a consulting firm and professional development platform that fosters inclusive, equitable, and just spaces and experiences in the craft-beverage sector. He also helms the Tulip and Schooner beer and spirit newsletter for Heavy Table, which creates culinary stories for Minnesota and beyond.

ARTICLES FOR YOU