WHISKEY MICRO-DISTILLERY BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Ironwood Distilling Co. draws its name from the native ironwood trees that edge our family grain fields and the old iron grain mill on the property; the name signals place, craft, and continuity. We operate in the premium craft spirits sector as a grain-to-glass whiskey micro-distillery launching production in 2026. Our core products are small-batch straight whiskeys and limited-release single-barrel expressions made from locally sourced rye, corn, and barley, aged on-site, and sold primarily through our tasting room and direct-to-consumer channels. We run an on-site mash house, column and pot stills, barrel aging warehouse, a consumer-facing tasting room, and a DTC e-commerce platform to control quality, traceability, and margin. One clear line: craft whiskey produced and sold where the grain is grown.

We differentiate through full traceability (grain-to-glass), traditional floor-malt and small-batch mash protocols, and an immersive tasting-room experience that ties tasting notes to specific fields and farmers. Target customers are affluent urban and suburban adults age 30–55 who value provenance, small-batch quality, and experiential purchase moments. Short-term goals: start production in 2026, open the tasting room Q3 2026, and reach 1,200 DTC customers and 2,500 cases sold in year one. Long-term goals: scale to 10,000 annual cases by year five while preserving single-batch offerings, add a membership club for recurring revenue, and expand regional wholesale to premium accounts. One clear line: premium margins driven by direct sales and authentic provenance.

Problem

Consumers increasingly reject mass-produced whiskeys that lack transparency and geographic connection. They face limited access to verifiable, regional, small-batch whiskey, encounter opaque sourcing and production claims, and lack immersive educational tasting experiences that create brand loyalty.

Existing options under-serve buyers seeking grain-to-glass provenance and local craft identity, leaving a gap for a premium distillery that pairs transparent, locally sourced production with a consumer-facing tasting room and direct-to-consumer sales. One-liner: buyers want verifiable, regional, small-batch whiskey with immersive experiences.

Solution

We meet the demand for authentic, origin-driven spirits with a small-batch artisanal whiskey micro-distillery in Asheville, NC that uses locally sourced grains and bottle-level provenance. Our core offerings—Single Malt, Small Batch Rye, and Cask Strength Bourbon—plus an on-site tasting room and transparent production stories provide the missing local identity, access to exclusive releases, and immersive education that the mass market lacks.

One line: local grain, clear provenance, small batches, and a tasting room that turns visitors into repeat customers.

Mission Statement

We craft exceptional, small-batch whiskeys that honor our regional agricultural roots and deliver an authentic, transparent grain-to-glass experience for every enthusiast. We commit to local sourcing, meticulous craftsmanship, and rigorous quality control so each bottle reflects provenance and skill. We build a community around the art of distilling, connecting drinkers, growers, and distillers through shared respect for tradition and traceability.

Key Success Factors

Success depends on supply, operations, margins, membership revenue, and on-time CapEx execution ahead of the 2026 launch.

• Secure high-quality local grain supply to protect our grain-to-glass flavor and production continuity.
• Drive Year 1 EBITDA of $248,000 through efficient tasting room operations and margin control.
• Maintain strict QC on 5,250 initial units to ensure consistent distillation and aging outcomes.
• Build a loyal distillery club to deliver recurring revenue and organic brand advocacy.
• Manage $445,000 CapEx deployment to hit the scheduled 2026 launch without cost overruns.

Financial Summary

Brief financial snapshot for the Executive Summary.

Financial requirements: Minimum cash on hand of $1,198,000 and planned capex of $445,000; anticipated IRR 4.9% and ROE 4.81%, with a 1-month payback and breakeven in Feb-2026.

Overall outlook: profitable scaling with EBITDA rising to $1,880,000 by 2030.

Funding Requirements

We need capital to buy equipment, build a tasting room, stock barrels, and carry the business through to breakeven.

Financial snapshot: Year 1 EBITDA $248,000, Year 5 EBITDA $1,880,000; breakeven February 2026 with a 1‑month payback; projected IRR 4.9% and ROE 4.81%; production grows from 5,250 units (2026) to 32,500 units (2030); top‑tier price $106.00 per bottle.