Scratch-Made Craft Spirits: Quality You Can Taste

At Founding Spirits, we believe that the heart of great spirits lies in the quality of the ingredients and the care used in distilling. We are a small-batch distillery in the nation’s capital, majority-owned by American family farmers. We take pride in using only the finest sourced ingredients and ensuring that every bottle reflects our commitment to craftsmanship and flavor.  

The Founding Spirits difference is clear in every sip, from our smooth and supremely mixable rums to our rich, sophisticated Rye Whiskey. Our distilling team cultivates unique and tasty spirits from primarily American-grown wheat, barley, corn, rye, sugar cane, and many botanicals. We craft and distill our spirits with care, infusing them with a sense of place and purpose.  

In a world where mass production often takes center stage, Founding Spirits stands as a reminder of the impact that small batches and quality ingredients can have on the final product. Every Founding Spirits bottle is filled, labeled, and sealed by hand in our very own distillery inside our Founding Farmers & Distillers restaurant. For us, it is a true labor of love. Or, as our Distiller, Bob VanLancker, says: “With this distillery, we are taking small-batch spirit production to the next level. We are going to blow people away with new and different flavors, and a whole new taste experience.” 

For example, our Founding Spirits Dry Gin exemplifies our efforts and the impact that high-quality, thoughtfully curated botanicals can have on the final product. Our Dry Gin captures a distinct flavor profile that stands out from mass-produced alternatives. By distilling our gin in small batches in-house with regionally sourced botanicals, we’re able to create a product that makes every pour a celebration of our local landscape and our company mission. You can stop by one of our restaurants for what we think is one of the best Gin & Tonics around. Enjoy the classic or try our ever-popular frozen G&T made with our own house tonic. 

As a craft distillery, we don’t just create spirits; we are working to dismantle the industrial supply chain. Every Founding Spirits bottle tells a story of care, precision, and dedication to making spirits that are as unique as they are delicious. Whether you’re enjoying our vodka in a Founding Farmers cocktail or savoring our bourbon neat, you can taste the difference that comes from a small-batch distillery that values quality at every step of the process, from grain to glass.