Louisville, KY (August 20, 2020)—Superior brand specialist, 375 Park Avenue Spirits, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Journeyman Distillery effective January 1, 2021. Under this agreement, 375 Park Avenue Spirits and Sazerac Company’s Bond and Royal craft division will assume responsibility for all sales and operational functions and will support the brand’s marketing efforts.
“When we explore potential strategic partners, it goes without saying that we evaluate the brand proposition, but we also want to ensure that we share a common vision with the owners and that they’re a good cultural fit for what we’re building. I can honestly say unequivocally that’s the type of long-term partner we’ve found in Bill and Johanna Welter from Journeyman,” said Jason Schladenhauffen, president and CEO of 375 Park Avenue Spirits. “From the history surrounding the building that now serves as the distillery, to the brand being 100% grain to bottle and certified organic, the unique points of difference and authenticity permeate from this brand like very few in the industry. Couple all of that with the award-winning liquids that Bill and his team cultivate and our team feels poised to deliver big things for this portfolio in the years to come.”
Founded in 2010 by husband and wife team Bill and Johanna Welter, Journeyman Distillery opened its doors to the public in 2011. There was no great fanfare in the early days, setting the tone for business on the tail end of the Great Recession, at a time when few even recognized what craft distilling was. The Welters and three employees, bursting with entrepreneurial spirit and the American dream of creating their own startup, had high hopes and aspirations of owning and operating a multigenerational business.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with a world-class organization in 375 Park Avenue Spirits,” said Bill and Johanna Welter. “In an effort to maintain one of our core visions of creating a multigenerational, family owned and operated business, we feel that the collaboration, with the like-minded 375 Park Avenue Spirits, will advance that mission. With the 375 Park Avenue Spirits expert sales team and guidance, we embrace the challenge for our authentic brand story, heritage, and carefully handcrafted artisan spirits, to reach a wider audience in the US. We are ready to embark on this ‘Adventure of Spirit’ together.”
About Journeyman Distillery:
Journeyman takes its place as one of the first to fire up its stills, during what would later be known as the craft distilling renaissance. Journeyman has focused on a grain to bottle process, creating award winning, certified organic and kosher spirits. We proudly reside in Three Oaks, a town of 1,000 people in the great state of Michigan. Journeyman Distillery is located in an 1800s corset and buggy whip factory once owned and operated by E.K. Warren a: visionary, philanthropist, industrialist, and prohibitionist. The distillery now attracts over 200,000 visitors a year.
Welter, having spent time living in St. Andrews Scotland, fell in love with Scotch whisky. That passion and entrepreneurial spirit would later translate into following his grandfather Bill and father, Chuck in the pursuit of a new kind of family business. Journeyman was born out of the idea of, creating hand crafted spirits, an authentic story, and a passion to take a small company and build it into much more.
With a focus on quality, locally sourced organic and kosher ingredients, and the signature inclusion of wheat across the product line, the once small startup, now boasts over 150 employees and distribution in 19 states and Europe. The family feeling and pride remains strong, as the Welter’s are still active in many facets of the business, in conjunction with building a management team that is an integral part of the evolving scene and growth.
Journeyman is now venturing into a new phase, embarking on a collaboration and partnership with the 375 Park Avenue Spirits team. Together we will work to make Journeyman a household name across America.
About 375 Park Avenue Spirits
375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and our portfolio includes numerous expressions from leading international & domestic producers. Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales and marketing affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Poland, Cutty Sark Blended Scotch, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand, Novo Fogo Cachaca and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com.