StateSide Urbancraft is a vodka company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that originated as a passion project between two brothers distilling vodka in their basement. The company has expanded to include hard seltzer and hard iced tea as well as bourbon.[1][2]
 | |
| Company type | Distillery |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverages |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Matt Quigley, Bryan Quigley |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | Pennsylvania |
| Products | Vodka, Bourbon, Hard iced tea, Hard seltzer |
| Website | www |
History
editStateSide Urbancraft started as a passion project by two brothers Matt and Bryan Quigley who, in 2013, while in high-school, decided to start distilling Vodka in their basement out of a homemade still made out of an old keg and chemistry lab equipment. When their father found the homemade still, he thought that the pair where making drugs and kicked them out of the house. The two then landed a distilling fellowship at the Michigan State University and consulting jobs at a polish based distillery before founding their own company in 2015 with the desire to fill the niche of domestic American vodka.[1][3]
StateSide Urbancraft vodka is known for its swing-top bottles, and the fact that each batch is blessed by an in-house rabbi.[4][5] A portion of all proceeds from StateSide vodka is donated to various progressive causes, such as the Human Rights Campaign and the Michael James Jackson Foundation.[2] StateSide beat out Ketel One and Grey Goose to become the official vodka of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[6]
In 2017 the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board lifted regulations on the sale of liquor in the state, namely allowing liquor companies to sell their product in-house in tasting rooms. In response StateSide Urbancraft promptly opened the Federal Distilling Room next to their distillery.[7] In 2018 StateSide Urbancraft opened its second ever showroom in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. That year StateSide reported selling 25,000 cases of vodka, and were expecting the number to double by 2019.[8] During the COVID-19 lockdowns StateSide Urbancraft largely shifted to an online ordering and delivery system, as the state owned wine and spirit stores shut down.[9] The company also shifted to producing hand sanitizer.[2]
In 2019 StateSide Urbancraft partnered with Scarpetta Philadelphia, a famous pizzeria in Philadelphia, to start producing vodka infused pizzas.[10] When Ben Simmons was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Boston Celtics in 2022, StateSide Urbancraft offered a promotion where they would give anyone who gave them a Simmons jersey a $25 gift card. The jersey would then be donated to local homeless shelters.[11] StateSide has also filled the niche of "health-conscious vodka" blending their vodka with electrolytes, and highlighting its gluten free nature.[12]
In 2023 Men's Journal ranked StateSide as the 6th best cocktail vodka in the United States, comparing it to Tito's.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "The StateSide Story". statesidevodka.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Baker, Irene Levy (2 March 2022). "Philadelphia Distilleries Doing Good". thephiladelphiacitizen.org. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ Dougherty, Morgan (16 April 2023). "High class cocktails and nostalgic childhood snacks – Stateside Vodka Bar has it all". WPHL-TV. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Best Vodkas to Enjoy in Cocktails and on the Rocks". Men's Journal. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ Adams, Pete (20 December 2022). "Ask a Bartender: How Do I Stock My Bar Cart With Local Booze?". Philadelphia. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Baker, Brandon (25 July 2016). "With official DNC vodka title under their belt, local distillery wants to take place of your Ketel One". phillyvoice.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ Russock, Caroline (15 August 2017). "High spirits: where to drink locally in Philly". phillyvoice.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Locklin, Kristy (22 August 2018). "Stateside Urbancraft Vodka showroom opens for sampling in Lawrenceville, with bar service on the horizon". nextpittsburgh. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Here's how you can buy booze online during the COVID-19 shutdown". WPVI-TV. ABC. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Cummings, Sinead (20 March 2018). "You can get vodka-infused pizza in Philadelphia now". phillyvoice.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Bennett, Max (14 February 2022). "Philly Vodka Maker Offering Gift Cards For Ben Simmons Jerseys". Patch Media. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Melamed, Samantha (30 August 2017). "Vodka as health food? Stateside in North Philly cleans up the spirit's bad rap". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 10 April 2024.