KO Distilling

Beverage ManufacturingVirginia, United States2-10 Employees

KO Distilling is a small craft distillery based in Manassas, Virginia, founded in 2013 by Bill Karlson and John O'Mara, longtime friends and classmates at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The company operates a 12,000-square-foot facility that opened to the public in September 2015, housing a distillation plant with a 550-gallon Vendome copper pot/hybrid still and a 30-foot continuous column still, along with 4,000 square feet of oak barrel storage and a visitor center for tours, tastings, product and merchandise sales, and events. It produces and sells small-batch bourbons, ryes, wheat whiskey, gin, and other distilled spirits, including Bare Knuckle aged whiskeys and the Battle Standard 142 Gin line, as well as Virginia Moon White Whiskey. KO Distilling operates within the beverage manufacturing industry as a regional craft producer focusing on traditional whiskey styles and gin, and maintains a visitor-centered site that offers tours and tastings alongside its production activities. The company’s recent activity includes strong results at the 2026 First Landing Cup, where Bare Knuckle Cask Strength Rye Whiskey and Battle Standard 142 Gin earned Best in Class and Gold Medals, along with Best in Show recognition. Based in Manassas, the operation presents a small, hands-on profile with a public-facing facility that supports tours and tastings.

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