Founded in 2020 by Montgomery County natives Alyssa and Joshua Ammerman, Butterfly Spirits is a Bethesda-based craft liquor brand making botanically forward spirits with a vintage flair. Its signature Butterfly Botanical Liqueur is naturally lavender-blue and changes color in cocktails, while the lineup also includes elderberry vodka, hazelnut whiskey and ready-to-drink vodka sodas. The brand’s spirits have earned recognition in multiple competitions and have expanded throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Meinelschmidt DistilleryBorn-and-raised Washington County residents Cort and Chelsea Meinelschmidt have been making small-batch whiskey, bourbon and vodka in downtown Hagerstown since 2020. Their spirits use locally sourced Washington County grains, including a Maryland rye that became the county’s first straight rye whiskey and earned silver medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition. The distillery also ties its bottles to community giving, donating portions of whiskey proceeds to combat-veteran programs and charities while supporting animal rescue through its Pretty Girl Vodka brand.HAGERSTOWN, MD
Lytos VodkaFounded by a Maryland native and Towson graduate, Lytos Vodka grew from a 2010 experiment into a patented spirit brand designed to make vodka easier to drink. The company produces its high-alkaline vodka for consumers across Maryland, Washington, DC, and Delaware.
Hudson Valley DistillersSince 2014, family-run Hudson Valley Distillers has been hand-distilling farm-to-bottle spirits in New York’s Hudson Valley and turning them into ready-to-pour bottled cocktails. Husband-and-wife team Chris and Jennifer Moyer run the operation with Jennifer’s brother, Stephen Theiss: Chris distills, Jennifer develops the cocktails, and Stephen handles packaging. The veteran-, woman-, and LGBT+-owned business sources ingredients from nearby farms and grain growers, keeping its spirits closely tied to the local community.CLERMONT, NY
Arthur Wheeler Spirits CompanyAt its Maryland distillery, Arthur Wheeler Spirits Company makes an award-winning portfolio of whiskey, rum and agave spirits, with bottles designed to bring people together. The company also operates a cocktail lounge and tasting room at Free State Distillery, where its scratch-made drinks and tours offer a direct introduction to the spirits. In its first year of competition, Arthur Wheeler earned seven international awards, including the 2025 Small Batch Whiskey of the Year.UPPER MARLBORO, MD