CRAFT DISTILLERY BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Asheville Grain & Glass draws its name from the company's grain-to-glass philosophy and its Asheville roots. It operates in the craft spirits sector, producing small-batch whiskey, rye, and specialty spirits. The business runs a state-of-the-art distillery and an immersive on-site tasting room that doubles as a community hub. Core activities include sourcing local grains, on-site mashing and distillation, barrel aging, bottling, direct tasting-room sales, and wholesale to regional restaurants and independent retailers. One-liner: premium, locally sourced spirits made transparently from grain to bottle.

The company differentiates through full supply-chain transparency, strict small-batch runs, and a tasting-room experience that connects customers to local agriculture. Target customers are adults 28–55 in Western North Carolina and tourists seeking artisanal experiences, plus on-premise accounts and boutique retailers across the Southeast. Short-term goals: open in Q2 2026, reach 5,000 bottles sold and 12 local wholesale accounts in year one. Long-term goals: expand distribution to three Southeastern states and build a 10,000-bottle annual capacity by year five. One-liner: scale thoughtfully while keeping local sourcing and quality central.

Problem

The regional spirits market is dominated by mass-produced products that lack transparency about ingredient sourcing and artisanal methods, leaving discerning drinkers with limited flavor variety and weak connection to product provenance. This creates unmet demand for small-batch, locally sourced spirits that clearly trace ingredients from farm to bottle.

Buyers want provenance, flavor complexity, and community connection—current mainstream options do not provide it.

Solution

The regional spirits market lacks authentic, transparent options for discerning drinkers aged 25–55; our response is a small-batch, handcrafted portfolio of Signature Gin, Rye Whiskey, Vodka Pure, Bourbon Barrel, and Small Batch Brandy paired with an immersive tasting room that ties production to local farms. We deliver grain-to-glass provenance, limited releases to preserve premium pricing, and on-site memberships and events to convert tasting visitors into recurring customers and brand ambassadors.

One line: a premium, locally-sourced spirits portfolio plus an educational tasting-room experience that replaces generic mass-market spirits with verifiable, regional flavor and direct consumer loyalty.

Mission Statement

We craft exceptional, small-batch spirits that showcase our region through a transparent grain-to-glass process. We commit to celebrating local agriculture and artisanal craftsmanship while delivering an immersive, educational brand experience for our community and customers. We aim to provide a premium, authentic alternative to mass-market spirits and lead the craft distilling industry by upholding the highest standards of quality and community focus.

Key Success Factors

The business succeeds by aligning production, sourcing, customer experience, leadership, and distribution around a grain-to-glass model.

• Grain-to-glass transparency that differentiates product through visible local sourcing and traceability.
• On-site tasting room that drives high-margin direct-to-consumer sales and repeat visits.
• Partnerships with local cooperatives securing consistent, high-quality raw materials.
• Master Distiller-led team delivering complex, unique flavor profiles and product consistency.
• Three-tier distribution network enabling scalable regional market access.

Financial Summary

Financial Summary: the distillery reaches breakeven in February 2026 and scales to meaningful profitability by Year 5.

Financial requirements: total initial capex of $850,000 and working capital to maintain a minimum cash balance of $562,000 (expected Sep‑2026).

Outlook: profitable growth with Year‑5 EBITDA of $1,245,000 and stable cash reserves.

Funding Requirements

We require USD 870,000 to launch in 2026; we expect breakeven in February 2026, Year 1 EBITDA of USD 100,000, Year 5 EBITDA of USD 1,245,000 on 42,500 units, a 43-month payback, IRR 0.03, ROE 2.85, and minimum cash reserves of USD 562,000 in September 2026.