Olde Raleigh Distillery

Olde Raleigh Distillery

Company type	Private
Industry	Distilling
Founded	January 22, 2021 (2021-01-22)
Founder	Brandon McCraney
Headquarters	Zebulon , United States
Area served	United States (40 states)
Key people	Brandon McCraney (Founder)
Products	Small batch whiskey, bourbon, cider, punch, craft beers, cocktails, liquors, wines, non-alcoholic beverages

Olde Raleigh Distillery is a microdistillery based in Zebulon, North Carolina, established by Brandon McCraney and officially opened on January 22, 2021. It has earned both regional and national acclaim, distributing products across forty states and securing the title of "Best Micro Distillery Whiskey" at the 2023 International Whisky Competition.

The distillery focuses on crafting small batch whiskey through traditional Scottish techniques from the 19th century. Approximately 1,500 bottles are produced every two months, with occasional limited-edition releases. In addition to whiskey, the distillery offers non-alcoholic beverages such as cider and punch, along with a concise food menu tailored to complement its drink selections. The venue also features food trucks, live music performances, and whiskey blending workshops hosted by its Whiskey Society.

Brandon McCraney, a graduate of North Carolina State University, launched the distillery after years spent in corporate positions. He selected Zebulon in 2019 following delays related to permitting challenges inherent to North Carolina’s status as an Alcoholic beverage control state. Olde Raleigh actively promotes local economic development through collaborations with the Chamber of Commerce and plans to broaden its recipe offerings, establish additional partnerships, and possibly relocate operations to Raleigh.

Overview and menu

Olde Raleigh sources its whiskey ingredients from five states—North Carolina, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wyoming—and ages the spirits on-site prior to blending. Each production cycle yields roughly 1,500 bottles every two months. The distillery incorporates heirloom corn varieties alongside malted barley, rye, and wheat to achieve unique flavor characteristics. Locally harvested honey from Baxter's Bees is used for products such as honey cask-finished bourbon.

Besides whiskey and bourbon, the distillery’s beverage selection includes craft beers, cocktails, liquors, wines, and non-alcoholic options like lemonade and punch. Since September 2022, Olde Raleigh has collaborated with nearby Workbench Roasters to offer bourbon barrel-aged coffee. The food menu features items such as candied bacon and honey cheesecake. The industrial-inspired interior showcases reclaimed wood elements including a 61-foot bar top and displays distillation equipment within the tasting area. The facility spans 10,400 square feet and provides event hosting space accommodating up to 200 guests.

The premier product is the "Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society," a membership program granting access to exclusive bottles, private gatherings, and educational blending sessions. Members participate in blending workshops and barrel tastings. Founded amid the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual meetings, the society counted approximately 200 members as of March 2024.

History

Brandon McCraney, a North Carolina State University alumnus with over ten years’ interest in whiskey maturation, founded the distillery. After successful careers in business sales and food service sectors, he pursued his distilling ambitions beginning in January 2017. McCraney deepened his industry expertise by touring distilleries nationwide and collecting hundreds of whiskey samples. His education included specialized courses such as moonshine production training in Louisville and whiskey sommelier certification in Texas.

Initially intending to open in Raleigh, North Carolina, McCraney encountered prohibitive real estate prices and zoning obstacles. In September 2019, he chose Zebulon for its accommodating Chamber of Commerce and favorable permitting process. Renovations commenced on a former department store building; however, opening was postponed from spring 2020 until January 22, 2021 due to construction delays and state alcohol regulation complexities. Ongoing support from the Chamber of Commerce proved vital in overcoming these challenges.

Following its launch, McCraney became an advocate for downtown Zebulon’s commercial revitalization by joining the Chamber of Commerce and offering his facility as a community gathering spot. This initiative attracted complementary businesses such as MacLellan Bagpipes, which opened adjacent storefronts after successful local performances. Marketing efforts included managing a booth at Five County Stadium, participating in Charlotte’s annual "Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ" festival, and featuring on PBS’s "NC Weekend" series in 2023. These activities expanded out-of-state customer engagement and increased event rental revenue.

Given North Carolina’s status as an Alcoholic beverage control state restricting sales avenues, McCraney supports establishing a "social district" downtown Zebulon that permits public alcohol consumption within designated zones. Future objectives include launching vodka and gin product lines, innovating recipes further, strengthening local partnerships, and potentially relocating the distillery permanently to Raleigh. McCraney aims to position Olde Raleigh as a unique destination brand within The Research Triangle region with aspirations to shift bourbon’s prominence from Kentucky to North Carolina.

Awards

During the 2023 International Whisky Competition, the distillery earned the top honor for "Best Micro Distillery Whiskey" in the United States. It also achieved second and third positions in the "Best North Carolina Whiskey" category for its straight and blended bourbons, respectively, and secured third place in "Best Barrel Finish/Special Cask Whiskey" with its straight bourbon. In 2024, the distillery reclaimed first place in the "Best North Carolina Whiskey" category with its straight bourbon. The British publication The Spirits Business included the distillery's blended bourbon whiskey bottle among the top ten in their 2021 Design & Packaging Masters list. Furthermore, in 2023, the Zebulon Chamber of Commerce recognized the distillery with the "Most Influential Business Award" in acknowledgment of its significant contributions to the local community.

External links

• Zebulon Mayor's Show - Olde Raleigh Distillery – A 17-minute interview featuring Zebulon's mayor on East Wake Television