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KO Distilling to triple production with expansion
US grain-to-glass spirits producer KO Distilling is set to triple its production capacity with the completion of a US$900,000 distillery expansion.
KO Distilling, based in Virginia, has completed its US$900,000 distillery expansion
The distillery, based in Manassas, Virginia secured a US$25,000 grant from the Virginia Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund and a US$25,000 grant from the city of Manassas to fund the expansion.
The expansion includes a 30-foot high, 12-inch diameter continuous column still; six 1,000-gallon fermentation tanks; a 1,000-gallon Vendome mash tun; a much higher capacity boiler and chiller system; and larger grain silos.
Initial annual production was 225 barrels, and as a result of the recent expansion, KO expects to produce more than 800 barrels a year.
In addition, the distillery improved its VA ABC distillery store and tasting room with a new feature wall and overhang created from charred Bourbon barrels.
“It’s great to see this expansion come to fruition,” said mayor Harry J. Parrish II. “We look forward to the growth and future opportunities that this brings. The KO Distilling story is an inspiration to other entrepreneurs and great accomplishment for the city of Manassas.”
“This is an exciting day for the KO Distilling Family, our customers and suppliers,” said co-founder Bill Karlson.
“Thanks to the support of the state and local governments, we will now be able to triple our production. As a grain-to-glass producer of local spirits, this also means we’ll be tripling the amount of grain we buy from neighbouring Virginia farms.”
“Distilled spirits is a volume industry, and until recently, our production has been limited to a batch approach,” said co-founder John O’Mara. “Our new column still enables continuous distillation, and as a result, we will be able to produce more and keep up with the increasing demand for our award-winning portfolio.”
Founded in 2014, KO Distilling’s portfolio includes three American-style gins and four small-batch American whiskeys.