Olde Raleigh Distillery is a microdistillery located in Zebulon, North Carolina, United States. Since opening on January 22, 2021, the distillery has gained local as well as national recognition and distributes to forty states. In 2023, Olde Raleigh was awarded "Best Micro Distillery Whiskey" in the U.S. in the annual International Whisky Competition.
The distillery specializes in blending different small batch whiskey recipes using traditional Scottish methods. Approximately 1,500 bottles are produced every two months, with occasional limited releases in between. In addition to whiskey, they also offer non-alcoholic alternatives including cider and punch, as well as a small selection of food meant to complement the drinks. The distillery also hosts food trucks, live music, and educational courses on whiskey blending through its Whiskey Society.
The idea for the distillery began in January 2017, when North Carolina State University alumnus Brandon McCraney decided to pursue his aspiration in craft distilling after years in corporate jobs. After educating himself in the field and searching for a location, McCraney eventually settled on Zebulon, a suburb of Raleigh, in September 2019. The distillery's opening was delayed, however, due to permitting challenges and restrictions relating to North Carolina's status as an Alcoholic beverage control state, until 2021. Since then, Olde Raleigh has supported the growth of other business locally by collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce, including encouraging MacLellan Bagpipes' move to the town in August 2021. Creating new recipes, small business partnerships, and potentially moving to the distillery's namesake, Raleigh, are all stated short and long-term goals.