OUR STORY
The Dedication of a Blender's Dream
In January 2017, Olde Raleigh Distillery was established in Zebulon, N.C. Though at the time, the hope was to open within three to four months, Master Blender Brandon McCraney officially opened the doors four years later, in January 2021. Doing so required McCraney to overcome county change orders, a 401k liquidation and 12 lender rejections.
McCraney credits his perseverance to his military background. This, along with strong local support, helped Olde Raleigh succeed in building a business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within its first operating year, Olde Raleigh Distillery grew from a bar and tasting room, having not yet produced a batch, to a true gathering space, eventually holding celebrations for the five batches it rolled out later that year. Olde Raleigh Distillery is proud to be a part of the charge to revitalize Zebulon, NC.
About Olde Raleigh Distillery
Olde Raleigh Distillery is on a mission to simply make unforgettable and damn good whiskey. With a laser focus on the art of blending and distilling spirits, our attention to detail is noticeable in every drop of our small batch bourbon blends.
Find us located in downtown Zebulon, NC, in an abandoned 10,000-square-foot brick building that we hand crafted with the same passion we do our whiskey. Our venue is a family-owned and operated distillery, tasting room and popular event space in The Triangle. We want to share our passion with you. Visit us today to taste our unique blend or book a tour to explore the art of making whiskey.
Meet the Man Behind the Bourbon
OUR Master Blender
Brandon McCraney has spent years immersing himself in the spirits industry to
dissect the world of whiskey. As Blender, he hand-selects and ages each
barrel using a vigorous process known as élevage to identify the perfect point in
the time to harvest our distinct and flavorful small batch spirits. When not
working on production or sampling barrels, he leads Olde Raleigh’s workshops
and Whiskey Master Classes. In the pursuit in mastering the art of blending
whiskey, follow Olde Raleigh’s journey as to release 1000 unique blends from
around the world.
Brandon’s role extends beyond the distillery’s walls, fostering partnerships with
local businesses to introduce collaborative products in the heart of Old Tobacco
country. As a Raleigh resident, he aims to build a meaningful brand that gives
back to the community he loves. The goal is to showcase the positive
environmental and economic impacts a whiskey brand can contribute from barrel
to glass.
This desire to have a broad impact stemmed from his experience as a Captain in
the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly served for four years. Brandon’s education
includes a Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and Master’s
Degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University. He is a certified
Executive Bourbon Steward, Whiskey Sommelier, teaches at the Whiskey
Marketing School and has industry affiliations with Moonshine University, the
American Distilling Institute, American Crafts Spirits Association and the U.K.’s
Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
As the sole owner and operator, Brandon has his sights set on making his family
name one to be reckoned with in the craft whiskey world.
Our Passion and Our Bourbon
Olde Raleigh Distillery is on a mission to make world-class bourbon through our passion and our process.