Blog #20 - Olde Raleigh Distillery Going Back to an old favorite.

🥃 Blog 20: Olde Raleigh Distillery — Blending Heritage with Innovation – Another Revisit.

Location: Zebulon, NCWebsite: olderaleighdistillery.com

A Masterclass in Blending

Founded by Brandon McCraney, a former Air Force captain and NC State alum, Olde Raleigh Distillery has quickly earned national acclaim. Opened in 2021, it’s a microdistillery with a macro impact—distributing to over 40 states and crowned Best Micro Distillery in the U.S. by the International Whisky Competition in 2023.

Olde Raleigh Distillery specializes in blending sourced whiskey from across the United States, but it also produces some of its own house-made bourbon using a process called élevage. The distillery sources select whiskeys from states like Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado, and Wyoming, then ages and blends them using traditional Scottish methods. They combine this with their own unique, small-batch, house-made bourbon to create distinct flavor profiles. 

• Blending: The company sources whiskey from five different states: North Carolina, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, and Wyoming. This sourced whiskey is then brought to the Zebulon distillery, aged, and blended in small batches to create their final products.

  
  

• Distilling: Olde Raleigh also distills its own bourbon from scratch using heirloom corn, rye, wheat, and barley. This house-made bourbon is then aged and infused with flavors using a process called élevage before being incorporated into the blends, according to People-First Tourism.

  
  

• Process: The master blender, Brandon McCraney, oversees the creation of both the sourced and house-distilled spirits, using his expertise to combine them to create unique flavor profiles, notes Olde Raleigh Distillery and mybeerbuzz.com. 

  
  

What Sets It Apart

• Blending Philosophy: McCraney sources whiskey from five states and blends using 19th-century Scottish techniques, creating layered, expressive profiles.

  
  

• Whiskey Society: A membership club offering curated monthly bottles, blending classes, and exclusive barrel tastings.

  
  

• Community Hub: The tasting room doubles as Zebulon’s social center, with food trucks, live music, and local artisan tie-ins.

  
  

🧊 Bottles That Tell a Story

Olde Raleigh’s commitment to craftsmanship extends beyond the liquid—it’s reflected in the bottle itself. Each release is housed in a custom-designed vessel that blends elegance with storytelling. The thick glass base and angular shoulders evoke strength and precision, while the etched labels and wax seals signal small-batch authenticity. These bottles aren’t just containers—they’re collectibles, designed to stand out on a shelf and spark conversation. Whether it’s the strawberry-forward Batch 14 or the nostalgic Star Crunch Batch 15, the packaging reinforces the experience: bold, memorable, and rooted in intentional design.

Signature Bottles

• Flagship Blend: A 93-proof bourbon crafted from nine different whiskeys.

  
  

• Limited Releases: Honey cask, Armagnac, and Port wine finishes.

  
  

• Savage Rye: A high-proof collaboration with NC State’s NIL collectives.

Personal Bourbon Favorites from the Lineup

My personal collection includes two standout batches that showcase Olde Raleigh’s creative depth:

🍓 Batch 14: Doral Strawberry

• Proof: 93

• Grains: Corn, Barley, Rye, Wheat

• Barrel Age: 4, 5, 6, 11, & 20 years

• Barrel Origins: CO, KY, IN, TN, WY

• Nose: Bubble Yum bubble gum, cherry cough drops, oak, hints of vanilla

• Palate: Cherry Coke, chocolate-covered cherries, strawberry bubblegum, baking spices, oak

• Finish: Tobacco, rich leather, strawberry buds hard candy, oak

I first tasted this batch about a year ago and still finds its strawberry-forward aroma and flavor irresistible. It’s a bottle that is truly unique and “hits my fancy.” I must admit it is the only craft distillery that requires you to buy flights rather than provide micro-samples to determine which product(s) you prefer.

Batch 15, Star Crunch is also one I enjoy, particularly when sitting by a fire on a cold snowy Buffalo, NY night.

🍫 Batch 15: Star Crunch

• ABV: 46.5%

• Grains: Corn, Barley, Rye, Wheat

• Barrel Age: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, & 20 years

• Barrel Origins: TN, IN, WY, CO, KY, TX

• Nose: Sugar Daddy, allspice, oak

• Palate: Star Crunch, crushed black pepper, hot cinnamon candies

• Finish: Star Crunch, spices, grits, oak

This batch is another favorite—I typically keep at least two bottles of each in my home collection.

Why It’s Worth the Drive

Olde Raleigh offers more than a pour—it’s a place where whiskey meets hospitality and heritage. Whether you're seeking inspiration for your own brand or scouting for collaborative tastings, this distillery delivers a rich, immersive experience. And if you’re lucky enough to snag a bottle from a standout batch like Doral Strawberry or Star Crunch, you’ll understand why collectors and connoisseurs alike go out of their way to visit.