In January, owner and master blender Brandon McCraney saw his vision and hard work come to life with the opening of Olde Raleigh Distillery. Olde Raleigh is a small family-owned craft-spirits distillery specializing in small-batch whiskey blends. It occupies a completely remodeled 10,000 square foot space in downtown Zebulon that is home to a tasting room, production area, barrel storage and special event space. With the launch of Olde Raleigh McCraney hopes to create a welcoming community space while also establishing the Triangle region as a new destination for bourbon lovers.
First Batch Bottle Release – This Saturday!
Just four months after opening, the distillery is now set to release their signature blended bourbon under the flagship brand Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society this Saturday, April 24th! The celebration will start Satruday morning with a roaring bag pipe band (in an homage to bourbon and whiskey’s roots) to announce the release on Zebulon’s Main Street at 11:30am. The doors to the distillery will open at noon with bottle sales of the signature blend taking place in the “Society Room”. The Tasting room will be open to the public with full bar service from noon to 11pm and there will be live music throughout the day and a food truck from 4-7pm.
About the Owner
Brandon McCraney’s journey to opening the distillery spans several years of planning and hard work. After seveal years working in the corporate world, he has spent the past several years learning everything he can about spirits industry, traveling the country to visit distilleries and amassing an impressive collection featuring hundreds of different whiskeys. As the owner and master blender he has big plans and is off to a great start of making Olde Raleigh a “must visit” for any bourbon lover.
What’s Next for Olde Raleigh?
Following the relase of the signature blend this weekend, Olde Raleigh has additional long-term plans for creating cask-finished limited-release whiskeys, a line of vodka and gin and their own house-made heirloom bourbon.
McCraney’s vision for the distillery goes beyond seeing it just as a business and hopes to develop Olde Raleigh as community oriented brand that gives back to the local community by showcasing the positive environmental and economic impacts distilleries contribute from the farms that source the grains to glass of spirits poured at their bar. He is working to develop partnerships with North Carolina farmers to supply the grains that will be used to distill their spirits and the distillery has already become a central meeting location for the town of Zebulon and regulars from around the Triangle by hosting weekend markets, music and food trucks. You can view their calendar of events here.
There is plenty of seating at the beautiful bar inside at Olde Raleigh providing a great view of the stills. They also have some nice outdoor seating to enjoy now that the warmer weather is here. Don’t worry if bourbon isn’t your cup of tea, they offer an array of cocktails made with other spirits and have both wine and beer on hand as well so there really is something for everybody!
If you haven’t been to downtown Zebulon before it is SUPER EASY to get to. It’s actually just a 30 minute drive from North Raleigh and you may even find it easier and quicker to get to than downtown Raleigh. Just hop on 540 and take 64 to 264 east and you’ll be in downtown zebulon enjoying a glass of bourbon neat or a cold cocktail before you know it. Happy Exploring!!
Olde Raleigh Distillery
209 N. Arendell Avenue
Zebulon, NC 27597
wesbite: https://olderaleighdistillery.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olderaleighdistillery/
instagram: @olderaleighdistillery
The Triangle Explorer 