KO Distilling

Virginia’s Fighting Spirit

Former US Merchant Marines and Navy Reservists Bill Karlson and John O’Mara weren’t content with sitting idle after their retirements, so in 2013 they began their journey to create craft spirits with local ingredients and high-quality methods. Bill and John’s backgrounds in engineering inspire their advanced distilling processes, and their passion for great spirits drives their attention to quality and detail. KO Distilling opened its tasting room to the public in 2015, and it has been a welcoming destination for spirit tastings, cocktail flights, guided tours, private functions, and special events ever since. KO’s award-winning Bare Knuckle Whiskeys and Battle Standard 142 Gins are all certified Craft Distilled, Kosher, and Virginia’s Finest.