MANASSAS, Va. — A three-year-old whiskey distiller in historic Manassas plans to triple its capacity with the help of $50,000 in local and state grants.
KO Distilling will invest a total of $675,000 to expand its production and hire a half-dozen new employees. The local company also plans to expand its on-site tasting room and store.
KO Distilling will also source all of the corn, wheat and rye needed to produce its gins and whiskeys from Virginia farms. The majority of the $675,000 investment will pay for a new distilling system aimed at increasing production and decreasing work.
“Distilled spirits is a volume industry, and it takes more manpower to do it in a batch-type approach, like we are now, rather than a continuous distilling approach,” said co-owner John O’Mara. “By buying a column still, we can produce faster to meet the demand we anticipate.”
KO is also significantly expanding its grain handling capacity.
O’Mara said they are currently producing about 24 barrels a month and expect to increase production to 80 barrels a month.
The expansion is possible in part thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Virginia Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund and a matching $25,000 grant from the City of Manassas.
KO’s whiskeys are sold in about 100 Virginia ABC liquor stores and throughout the District.
