KO Distilling

Overview of the Distillery

KO Distilling is located in Manassas, Virginia and is run by friends Bill Karlson and John O’Mara. The distillery is behind Bare Knuckle whiskeys and Battle Standard 142‑gins, and combines locally grown Virginia ingredients with a modern, small-scale production philosophy. The site functions both as a production facility and as a local shop, where you can buy and pick up the distillery’s products.

History

The founders Bill Karlson and John O’Mara met as cadets at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and later worked in both the maritime sector and the defense industry. In 2013 they decided together to start a craft distillery with a focus on local ingredients and quality production. The team expanded in 2014, and after breaking ground in 2015 they established a modern production facility in Manassas. In 2015 they launched their first unaged spirits and gins, and in November 2016 produced their first aged spirit, Bare Knuckle American Wheat Whiskey. KO presents itself as part of the broader American craft movement and is highlighted among the craft distilleries found in Virginia.

Raw Materials and Production

KO works with local Virginia-grown ingredients and produces both whiskey and gin in a state-of-the-art facility. They started with unaged whiskeys and gins and quickly moved into aging and single-barrel releases. The team includes an experienced distiller with education and practical experience from other distilleries and educational programs, which contributes to a technically solid approach to production. The distillery’s production emphasizes small batches and handcrafted releases such as single barrel, cask strength and bottled-in-bond.

Aging and Cask Types

The distillery works with aging their whiskeys and offers single barrel and cask strength releases as well as a bottled-in-bond series. The webshop mentions the distillery’s used 53-gallon whiskey casks, which are also offered for sale, indicating the use of traditional whiskey casks in aging. The first aged spirit was completed in November 2016 and marks the start of KO’s aged range.

Whisky

KO’s portfolio primarily includes Bare Knuckle whiskeys in variants such as wheat, rye and bourbon releases, as well as Battle Standard 142‑gins. The range includes both unaged products, single barrel bottles, cask strength releases and a bottled-in-bond bourbon in the Distiller’s Reserve series. The products are sold in the distillery shop, via VA ABC channels and through select retailers in the local area.

Whiskey	Type / Series	Flavor Profile	Status
Bare Knuckle American Wheat Whiskey	American Wheat Whiskey	KO’s first aged spirit, produced and aged before November 2016 under the Bare Knuckle label.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels
Bare Knuckle Wheat Whiskey Single Barrel	Wheat Whiskey	Single barrel edition under the Bare Knuckle name, highlighted as a team favorite.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels
Bare Knuckle Rye Whiskey Single Barrel	Rye Whiskey	Single barrel rye edition in the Bare Knuckle series, noted among the team’s favorite releases.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels
Bare Knuckle Rye Whiskey Cask Strength	Rye Whiskey	Cask strength variant of Bare Knuckle Rye, highlighted in staff recommendations.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels
Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon	Bourbon	Bottled-in-bond bourbon released as Distiller’s Reserve and highlighted in the team's recommendations.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels
Bare Knuckle Straight Bourbon	Bourbon	Straight bourbon under the Bare Knuckle label, noted as a team favorite.	Current; Core range; Available via the distillery shop and VA ABC channels

Visit the Distillery

The public can visit KO Distilling at their address in Manassas and buy spirits at the Distillery Store, which operates as a specialty VA ABC store. Online purchases allow for in-store pickup or shipping within Virginia, and the distillery also distributes through select retailers in the Washington, D.C. area, who can ship to additional states. Contact information, including telephone and email, can be found on the distillery’s contact page for practical inquiries about purchasing and pickup.

Philosophy and Craft

KO prioritizes local ingredients, small-scale craftsmanship, and quality-focused production. The founders emphasize combining technical experience with local ingredients and offering releases such as single barrel, cask strength, and bottled-in-bond that reflect a craft-oriented approach.