For almost the entirety of whiskey’s existence, there have been distilleries that make the stuff, and other companies that buy and bottle it. These latter entities might do nothing to the whiskey but proof it down, or they may go to greater lengths by finishing or blending it. They’ve been called by many names: rectifier, merchant bottler, non-distiller producer. And sometimes: independent bottler.

What defines an independent bottler (or IB) is, first, the fact that it's independent, operating outside the strictures of a big conglomerate. But also essential are certain practices and values—namely, curation and transparency.

Scotch has a long tradition of independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenhead’s, Adelphi, and Signatory. These companies buy whisky from distilleries and bottle it under their own labels—usually as single barrels—with full information about the source and liquid, including distillery name, age statement, cask type, and other details. Independent bottlers are a great resource for rare scotch hunters as well as drinkers looking for more flavor diversity from their favorite distilleries.

Although IBs are well-established and understood in the UK, the tradition is relatively new to the American whiskey scene. This makes sense given that until the 21st century, there were just a few whiskey distilleries in the U.S. With the blossoming of craft spirits, however, and the thousands of distilleries that now operate in all fifty states, opportunity has arisen for American whiskey–focused IBs. But education—for both the industry and the drinker—is required.

“Independent bottling means a very specific thing in Scotland and in the United States that term is used very, very loosely,” says Nora Ganley-Roper, co-founder of Lost Lantern, which is part of the newly formed American Independent Bottlers Guild.

The Guild formed to bring American whiskey IBs together to create standards of identity, which will help create better understanding for consumers who may only be familiar with the negative connotations of “sourced whiskey.” It also aims to provide clarity for potential collaborators. “The idea was to eventually have it become a resource for distillers, so that when they're selling whiskey [to an IB] they understand how it might be used in the end state,” Ganley-Roper explains, noting that partnership with distillers is a key value underpinning the independent bottler model.

The Guild’s standards of identity for IBs include, among other points, “to highlight the craft of the original distillery,” which means, according to Ganley-Roper, “a level of attention to detail when it comes to the underlying product and the decisions that the distilleries make.” In other words, IBs are concerned not just with how the whiskey itself tastes, but how it’s made, what ingredients or barrels were used, and other aspects of the distillery’s process that created those specific flavors.

This distinction gets at the heart of what sets IBs apart from both blenders and non-distiller producers. (The Guild’s website has a handy chart to further clarify differences among the three entities.) For a blender, the focus is on the unique whiskies they can create through the blending process. Non-distiller producers, meanwhile, keep the story squarely on their own brand. They may be transparent about sourcing the whiskey (usually from one place) but their focal point is elsewhere.

An IB actively curates the whiskies it offers as a core part of its business model and identity—a process that can include rejecting barrels far more often than selecting them. “Telling people that we're curators very quickly allows them to grok the concept and then we can build on top of that if needed,” Ganley-Roper says. Often aiming to highlight whiskies that are outside the norm, IBs create a more diverse landscape for drinkers to explore. They may showcase distilleries with otherwise limited reach, allowing consumers to discover a great craft bourbon or rye from a state thousands of miles away.

There are currently just a few independent bottlers working with American whiskey, but the number has grown in the past five years. As the concept becomes more familiar to a U.S. audience, it has the potential to become much bigger. After all, Scotland, for all of its IB activity, has around 150 distilleries. In the United States, there are over 3,000. That’s a whole lot of interesting and unique whiskey to discover.

The Leading Independent Bottlers of American Whiskey

Lost Lantern

Ganley-Roper and her husband, Adam Polonski, bottled the first Lost Lantern whiskey in 2020, after laying the groundwork—including visiting dozens of distilleries across the country—in the preceding two years. Since then, the company has offered bourbon, rye, American single malt, and other whiskies from around 40 partner distilleries, achieving almost instant-sellout status with cult favorites like Ironroot Republic, Tom’s Foolery, and Corbin Cash. The company’s motto is “shining a light on the independent spirit” and to that end, it only works with craft distilleries that the founders have personally vetted.

Single Cask Nation

One of the earliest movers in independently bottled American whiskey (its Whisky Jewbilee—exclusive Wild Turkey—is a highly desirable rarity), though it’s well-respected for single malt scotch offerings, too and was, in fact, acquired by the parent company of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (which also bottles some American whiskey) in 2024. The U.S. distilleries Single Cask Nation works with range widely from MGP and Wilderness Trail to Balcones and Westland, and beyond, with bourbon, rye, American single malt, and even light whiskey represented. Founders Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin also host the highly informative One Nation Under Whisky podcast, which is a must-listen for whiskey fans interested in the broader global industry.

Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co.

Started in 2018 by Rex Williams and Daniel Whittington, the cohosts of YouTube channel Whiskey Vault, Crowded Barrel has been funded by fans who call themselves the Whiskey Tribe. The Austin, TX–based company makes its own whiskey but also bottles liquid from a host of other distilleries, including Bardstown Bourbon Co., Gulf Coast Distillers, and the now-defunct Manatawny Still Works (collectible alert!). Members of the Tribe, and the public, can try what’s on offer at the Fang & Feather tasting room.

Two Souls Spirits

James Estrada, cohost of the Whiskey Uncut podcast, founded Two Souls with Chris Civetti in 2021. The company casts a wide net for bourbon, rye, and American single malt (and occasionally other styles, like a unique honey spirit aged in a bourbon barrel), working with distilleries in California, Wisconsin, its home state of Florida—and everywhere in between. Two Souls has a knack for naming its bottlings, with recent offerings including Grape Ape (10-year-old Yahara Bay rye aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels), Notorious C.O.B. (5-year-old Jimmy Red corn bourbon from High Wire), and Give ‘Em the Wheater (8-year-old bourbon made at J. Carver).