History

Olde Raleigh Distillery began as a Raleigh-driven dream that lasted fifteen years. In January 2017 the dream took shape, and Master Blender Brandon McCraney worked for four years before the triumphant opening in Zebulon in January 2021. The road was marked by building bureaucracy, personal financial burdens, and half a dozen rejections, but local community support and an indomitable spirit drove the Unbreakable Spirit through the entire process, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023 Olde Raleigh Distillery was honored as Best Micro Distillery in the US by the International Whiskey Competition. In addition to creating exceptional spirits, Olde Raleigh is a symbol of perseverance and a Raleigh-based vision realized in Zebulon.

Production / Manufacturing

Master Blender Brandon McCraney leads blending and aging, where each flagship barrel is selected and aged through a process called élevage to find the perfect moment for harvest of our unique small batches. A 130-year-old white oak from Zebulon gives our bourbons their particular terroir; the oak's remnants are burned and toasted to add flavor and character. Our flagship brand, a 93 proof elixir, is built on nine different bourbon mash bills, which are combined through careful aging and air-drying. Each barrel is selected individually and bottled for specific batches. The barrels are aged across the states of CO, KY, IN, TN, WY and others, with age statements of 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 20 years in various blends. The bottle design is distinguished by an elongated neck and a heavy stopper with a coin that honors the Master Blender's Air Force service; the bottom bears the Olde Raleigh Whisky Society mark as a record of our commitment to craftsmanship and detail. The tasting notes wander through hints of allspice, caramel and malt chocolate surrounded by oak tones. Olde Raleigh is small-batch releases that cannot be replicated, and the new releases often come as limited editions – and they can ship to 38 states and DC directly from our online store.

Products / Whisky Series

Olde Raleigh focuses primarily on small-batch bourbons, including various finish versions such as Coffee Cask finished Bourbon and Honey Barrel finished Bourbon, as well as a Rye-based Savage Rye Whiskey. Their products also include Barrel Proof Bourbon and a range of member-exclusive releases and experiential events; for example Bourbon 101, Intro to Whiskey Sensory, Proofing Whiskey and other masterclasses such as 1000 Blends Flight Add-On and Whiskey Society memberships. Savage Rye is a collaboration with NC State's One Pack and Savage Wolves NIL Collectives and supports student athletes. Selected products are referred to as Coffee Bomb and Honey Barrel Rye in special Release events. The whiskies’ flavors range from coffee notes and chocolate to spicy and oak tones, with notes of coffee, caramel, vanilla and oak in various combinations, followed by a higher alcohol kick. Olde Raleigh's tiny-batch blending and meticulous attention to detail are continuous. In addition to Bourbons and Rye there are various bundles and masterclasses as well as barrel harvest programs and various events through the Society Room and Corporate Experiences.

Visits / Experiences

Olde Raleigh Distillery offers guided tours and an immersive tasting room in Zebulon. Tours take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00–7:00 PM and Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00–4:00 PM; a tour lasts about 60 minutes and includes a bourbon tasting. Private events are held in the Society Room, which can accommodate up to 200 guests and offers full bar, glassware, tables and a projector, etc. Their Corporate Experiences include Masterclass and Flight Tasting and can be arranged for groups. Through their online store and network products are delivered directly to customers and offered in collaboration with local partners such as Norse Brewing Longhouse for food delivery at the end of the experience.

Philosophy

Olde Raleigh lives by an unwavering spirit dedicated to creating unforgettable and outstanding whiskey experiences. Their focus is on blending and distilling in small batches, driven by Master Blender Brandon McCraney and a deep respect for both tradition and innovation. They emphasize building a brand that gives back to the local community and the environment, and to connect the entire process from barrel to glass in a storytelling that binds together passion, community, and craft. Their ambition is to be recognized as a strong family-owned business in the craft whiskey world and to continue developing unique blends and limited releases for the Whiskey Society and other customers.