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Overview
One of the Northeast's premier small-batch distilleries raises the bar with a line of Sparkling Craft Cocktails
We've been making a full line of award-winning spirits in Portland, Maine since 2012. Our distillery focuses on Farm-to-Flask spirits with a firm tie to the land and traditions of Maine. Our destination distillery is filled with live music and the tasting room serves gastro pub cuisine and creative craft cocktails. Founder Luke Davidson took our best-selling cocktails and started putting them in cans. Now....You can Bring the Bar with You!
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Product
High-quality, craft-distilled spirits
We launched our line of sparkling craft cocktails using Maine Craft Spirits in 2018. These premium, ready-to-drink beverages are made with natural ingredients, resulting in six distinct and delicious flavor profiles. They're created and canned right in our Portland distillery, and are a convenient way to bring cocktails on the road, boat, or trail with you.
Process
Creativity and Ingenuity are our operating principles
Yankee ingenuity isn’t a slogan at Maine Craft Distilling, it’s our operating principle. We craft our spirits in small batches using carefully designed processes and artisanal methods. Every bottle we produce blends the land and pride of Maine with our down-to-earth, can-do approach to life and liquor.
Drawing on this process for inspiration, we’ve created a line-up of flavorful, creative, high-quality, craft-distilled bottled spirits and Sparkling Craft Cocktails in a can-each as unique, and interesting as the landscape and seascape of Maine!
Market
The ready-to-drink cocktail market is large and growing
RTDs outperform other alcohol products on flavor, refreshment, and excitement. From 2018 to 2023, the RTD market is expected to grow 26.5%. Overall, alcoholic cocktails is the second fastest-growing subcategory within the alcohol category. There's a rising demand for RTDs, fueled by the convenience, flavor and versatility of these products.
Customers
A unique beverage experience
At Maine Craft Distilling, we make high-quality spirits which we mix into full-flavored cocktails. Our customers appreciate the genuine flavor, as well as the convenience of being able to simply grab a can and go. All the flavor and versatility, without the hassle. We make it easy to Bring the Bar With You!
“I am a huge fan of your products. We have traveled mutiple times, over 13 hours one-way, just to purchase your products!”
- Sharon, PA
"My favorite summer beverage!! It's been with us camping, to the beach, to the porch and anywhere else I can get away with having a blueshine lemonade!”
- Cassi, ME
“Such a great combination! Simplicity but great quality.”
- Drinkable, National
“Crazy good spirits and cocktails.”
- Chip
Traction
$2.6M revenue in 2020
2020 was a banner year for Maine Craft Distilling, as we more than doubled our RTD case sales and grew our revenue by $1M. We saw 14% YoY growth in our restaurant & retail business (during the pandemic), 19% YoY growth in our distilled spirits business and 122% YoY growth in our RTD cocktails. Our Q1 2021 RTD growth continues to accelerate with 352% YoY growth.
We've partnered with ten distributors to bring our products across New England, down the Atlantic coast and into the Midwest, with great success. The average retail price of our bottled spirits ranges $30-$50, and our canned cocktails costs $10-$14 for a 4-pack of 12 oz. cans and around $19 for an 8-pack.
Our margins are 46% blended across our products lines, landing north of the industry average.
Maine Craft's spirits have won industry awards from the Whiskies of the World and New York International Spirits competitions.
Competition
Winning characteristics in a competitive landscape
Vision and strategy
Bringing genuine, curated drinks to the people
Over the next three years, we plan to grow our team, expand our distribution outside of the Northeast and continue to innovate. Our priorities include introducing new seasonal canned cocktail flavors, reducing our sugar content and creating opportunities to expand our production capacity.
We're passionate about our process and products, and know that there are only good things to come!
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Funding
$1.7M raised to date
We've previously raised from friends, family and advisors, as well as local institutions Coastal Enterprises Inc. and Maine Venture Fund. We're now opening up our fundraising to our community, allowing our customers and partners to participate in this campaign.
Use of Funds
Hire an industry sales leader and provide them the funds to build out a leading sales team.
Target: $350k We're looking for an industry sales executive with a strong Rolodex. To support him or her, we want both a sales team and a sampling army to help the public find and try our cocktails.
An increase in marketing spend.
Target $150k: This will encompass social media marketing and targeted ads to beaches, boats, golf courses, and music & sporting events. Let's Bring the Bar With You.
Cap Ex/Investment to increase capacity
Target $250k: Continuous improvement of our equipment and facility that that Improves our internal efficiency and capacity in conjunction with building a relationship with other partners to build inventory during peak times.
A significant inventory build.
Target $320K: This working capital will allow us to build significant pallet inventory on our floor ahead of the peak summer season. It also gives us the capital to engage in co-packing of our best-selling SKUs when that becomes necessary.
Founders
Luke Davidson, Founder and CEO of Maine Craft Distilling, grew up interested in grains on a farm in the Mid Coast of Maine. Before Maine Craft Distilling was born, Luke spent his days in the barn with a homemade still. He began by malting grains to sell to brewers. With an excess of malted grain, he decided to test his luck and make Whiskey. Luke thought it was about time that Maine had a Whiskey created in the Scottish tradition with Maine’s natural resources. With a heavy focus on the terroir and ingredients of Maine, he teamed up with co-founder Fred Farber, and the mission to create the best whiskey began, and with it, Maine Craft Distilling.
