{"data":{"type":"company_profile_ai","id":22139,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:22139","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers","retrieval_urls":{"canonical":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers","json":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers.json","markdown":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers.md","ai_json":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers.ai.json","ai_text":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers.ai.txt","changelog_json":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers.changelog.json","schema":"https://wefunder.com/.well-known/ai-profile-schema.json"},"updated_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","generated_at":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"company":{"id":22139,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:22139","slug":"james.bay.distillers","name":"James Bay Distillers","tagline":"We distill and produce world-class gold-medal award-winning whiskies and gins","elevator_pitch":"We produce super-premium whiskies and gins, all with gold-, silver- and other awards. All are sipping spirits, perfect neat or over ice - not requiring a mixer. We are expanding wholesale accounts, online sales and export opportunities in 7 countries. We are the only craft distillery to also operate a US-based free-trade zone to benefit from both US and Canadian spirits regulations. We are also the only craft distillery with UK permits to import, blend and bottle our own Scotch releases.","location":"Everett, WA","website":"https://www.JamesBayDistillers.com","total_amount_raised":77005,"total_investors":66,"is_funded":false,"is_active":false},"key_claims":[{"claim_id":"claim-total-raised","text":"Total raised on Wefunder: 77005","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-total-raised","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-09T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-total-investors","text":"Total investors: 66","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-total-investors","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-09T05:00:15Z"}],"verified_facts":[{"claim_id":"claim-total-raised","text":"Total raised on Wefunder: 77005","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-total-raised","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-09T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-total-investors","text":"Total investors: 66","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-total-investors","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-09T05:00:15Z"}],"company_claims":{"tagline":"We distill and produce world-class gold-medal award-winning whiskies and gins","elevator_pitch":"We produce super-premium whiskies and gins, all with gold-, silver- and other awards. All are sipping spirits, perfect neat or over ice - not requiring a mixer. We are expanding wholesale accounts, online sales and export opportunities in 7 countries. We are the only craft distillery to also operate a US-based free-trade zone to benefit from both US and Canadian spirits regulations. We are also the only craft distillery with UK permits to import, blend and bottle our own Scotch releases.","story":"We started in 2014 - in Virginia!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After searching for a location in Canada in Alberta \u0026amp; British Columbia, we're excited to be at Paine Field, in Everett, WA since 2018. \u0026nbsp;We're at an ideal spot for production and sales, export ventures and close to a community that understands and favors organic, authentic, honestly crafted fine spirits.\u0026nbsp;In 2014, we soon found that many distilleries from New York to Georgia had a vision of bourbon and moonshine. \u0026nbsp;Well, we like those spirits but we wanted a less crowded market with more growth potential.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We looked for a location suitable for international, export-quality spirits.\u0026nbsp; We found that ideal spot, in the Pacific Northwest, in the region bounded by British Columbia and Washington State.Ernie and Leigh in Vancouver, BC at Olympic Park after a venture cap presentationIn 2015 we looked at Alberta, Canada due to the relatively open market in the province.\u0026nbsp; By 2016 we had focused on British Columbia due to their preferential tax advantages.\u0026nbsp; In 2017, we received Canadian work permits, and moved to BC to get this project going!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At that time we also filed our initial Reg D 506(b) paperwork with the SEC and took in our first investors.Yes, we sold our house and moved to Canada!!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And then back to the USA!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We are 110% committed to success of the distillery!\u0026nbsp; Above you see the BC ferries on Vancouver Island headed to the BC mainland, and then a short drive to the US. \u0026nbsp;In early 2018 we found Paine Field in Everett, WA to be the ideal spot for us.\u0026nbsp; Our hard work searching paid off! \u0026nbsp; We leased our site, and started the typical 21 months of Federal and state permitting!\u0026nbsp; We sold our first whisky in September 2019 in conjunction with \"Tanktoberfest,\" with our neighbors at the museum driving and firing real tanks along the runway!The local museum, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines might have airplanes, but our flights are more fun! \u0026nbsp;Also in 2018, we took steps to comply with IRS Code Section 1202 - which means all of investors' capital gains are tax free at exit or acquisition.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Let's read that again:\u0026nbsp; free of capital gains taxes.\u0026nbsp; \"Some restrictions apply,\" of course, as is often the case, but we are well-advised by CPAs.While working on US Federal permits, we also obtained UK permits to import bulk scotch and create our own blends of scotch whisky - from the more sweet and floral to the heavily peated and phenol.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As far as we know, we're the only craft distillery on the west coast with that permit from \"Her Majesty's Revenue \u0026amp; Customs Office.\"\u0026nbsp; Our three UK approved Scotch whisky labels - a late 2020 and 2021 project!Since September 2019 when we released 88-proof Galloping Goose Canadian Whisky, our bourbon recipe single-grain whisky, the \"Goose\" has earned four gold medals.\u0026nbsp; Our Cadboro organic chocolate infused whisky has a gold- and a silver-medal, and both our Lochside Summer Gin No. 5 and Gintrigue Barrel-aged gins have medals also!\u0026nbsp; In fact Lochside Summer Gin No. 5 is rated more highly than some notable regional and national gins (and UK gins too!).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Here's our spirits family photo:Our current family photo - we're so proud!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And yes, we have trademarks!\u0026nbsp; \"Galloping Goose,\" recalls a former railway on Vancouver Island; \"Cadboro\" is named for a Hudson's Bay schooner that sailed Puget Sound back in the day; \"Summer Gin\" is well, just a lot of fun, and \"Gintrigue\" is gintriguing and ginspirational! \u0026nbsp;Here's some of the awards we've won in the past 9 months:It's more than distilling - it's about sales and growth.\u0026nbsp; Sales are based on superior quality spirits which are fun and easy to use, full of taste.\u0026nbsp; From the start, we made a commitment to produce only top-shelf, super-premium spirits, given that we can compete on quality, but smaller companies lack the scale of economy to compete on price. That means we don't make any well products, and no discount spirits. Our goal is that each spirit carries its weight as a sipping whisky or gin. All are great served neat or over ice. Mixers are not required, but with superior spirits, our cocktails are also very tasty. Here's two fun recipes: \u0026nbsp; Two of our fun cocktail recipes! In February 2020, we took the same COVID hit which many producers have, but since then we have seen sales continue to grow.We now sell 3 products at Total Wine (all 12 stores in Washington State), 2 products through the Virginia ABC Store system and through local Everett area liquor stores.\u0026nbsp; Our spirits are carried by SpiritHub and are listed on Drizly.\u0026nbsp; We are actively soliciting new accounts in the Puget Sound region.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Of course, we sell online direct-to-consumer\u0026nbsp; with the Spirits360 platform, and ship to Washington State, Alaska, Nevada, North Dakota and the District of Columbia.\u0026nbsp; (You can order a bottle today!)\u0026nbsp; We are currently also in talks with a distributor in Texas, and discussing export contracts in Asia.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Naturally, we sell at the distillery, offer tastings and cocktails - we have never closed during COVID, and still followed all the rules. \u0026nbsp; We have space for several groups up to 6-persons each, and can host tastings by appointment after our normal hours of 12-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Clicking on the photo takes you to our online sales site! We are now at that mid-point in a startup's growth, where we have significant third-party validation, a dozen or more awards, established distribution and true proof of concept.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It is time to keep expanding distribution in the US and through exports.\u0026nbsp; We have initiated export outreach in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and China using resources of our local Department of Agriculture.\u0026nbsp; Our Lochside Summer Gin No. 5 is now in Toronto, London and South Africa for export promotion with the USDA and the Distilled Spirits Council of the US.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We are discussing terms with two Canadian importers.Potential for market growth with the right quality:We think there is excellent capacity for growth in this market based on the quality of our spirits and third-party analysis of the craft spirits markets through the end of this decade-- 8% to 35% CAGR, depending on the region.\u0026nbsp; Each of our spirits is authentic, produced in small batches and contains organic ingredients whenever available.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; For example, the cacao used in our Cadboro whisky is not only organic, but also sustainable, renewable and traceable.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;We could visit the farm in Ecuador where it came from if we wished!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We use certified organic ingredients whenever available.Using quality materials produces better spirits:Premium quality spirits also calls for using exceptional equipment, made in the U.S.A.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Our stills, shown below, are produced in Missouri with American labor and inputs.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We used a \"closed system\" where the spirits exit the still directly in a closed pipe to the collection tank.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;This allows us to hold 240 gallons of spirits in a \"zone\" instead of the 60-gallon limit in an \"open\" system where the new make whisky or gin falls through the air into a container.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We have four federally-approved zones in which we can store and work on our spirits.\u0026nbsp; We can distill in one zone and also proof, bottle and label in a second area, while our spirits can age and rest in still another area.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;We reserve one zone for our Scotch whisky projects.Here's our 230-gallon hybrid still, an electric bain-marie (water bath) style.\u0026nbsp; Pulls 44,000 watts on startup - we joke that she \"dims the lights at the airport!\" when we turn the switch on!Our next steps also include additional products. \u0026nbsp;For example, we will soon have a barrel-aged Galloping Goose whisky, held for a year in 500-liter Amontillado sherry butts, each of which is 40 years old!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We have huge and wonderful flavors in that upcoming release, now pending labels.\u0026nbsp; And we have more gins, whiskies and some specialty products planned in addition to our Scotch whiskies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We release products when they are ready, and each must meet our same standard:\u0026nbsp; top-shelf, super-premium quality.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;We're all business, but we do have fun! \u0026nbsp; Here's our \"model employee\" and mannequin ready to welcome guests at the front door! \u0026nbsp;Open Tues-Sat: 12-5pm. Closed Sundays and MondaysNow we're ready for you to join with us as we expand sales in the US and move into export markets!We expect 2021 will be a banner year as we move ahead towards our production goals and expansion of markets. \u0026nbsp; With exceptional whiskies and gins - it's always a perfect landing!PS:\u0026nbsp; In case you wondered how close we are to the flightline! Whether it's Navy jets, the museum's MiG-33 or Boeing's Antonov 124...we hear it! \u0026nbsp; For a real-time view of our nearby runways, try this link.","quick_facts":["Our Galloping Goose Canadian whisky is a popular double-gold and 4x gold-medal award winner","Our sales are increasing month on month, and year-on-year growth is over 200%","We have raised $747,000 with 19 accredited and sophisticated investors under SEC's Reg D 506(b)","Our gold-medal Summer Gin No. 5 rates higher than national brands from Chicago, Virginia and the UK","Our gins are listed for export in the UK, Canada, South Africa \u0026amp; 4 Asian countries by USDA \u0026amp; others","Our strong team includes top level bankers, advisers and industry experts, both in the US and abroad"]},"computed_metrics":{"total_amount_raised":77005,"total_investors":66,"team_size":2,"featured_investor_count":1,"faq_count":5,"recent_post_count":0},"quick_facts":[{"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"Our Galloping Goose Canadian whisky is a popular double-gold and 4x gold-medal award winner","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-1","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Our sales are increasing month on month, and year-on-year growth is over 200%","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-2","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"We have raised $747,000 with 19 accredited and sophisticated investors under SEC's Reg D 506(b)","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-3","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Our gold-medal Summer Gin No. 5 rates higher than national brands from Chicago, Virginia and the UK","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-4","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Our gins are listed for export in the UK, Canada, South Africa \u0026amp; 4 Asian countries by USDA \u0026amp; others","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-5","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Our strong team includes top level bankers, advisers and industry experts, both in the US and abroad","citation":"https://wefunder.com/james.bay.distillers#claim-fact-6","observed_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","expires_at":"2026-06-15T05:00:15Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":15793,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:15793","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"equity","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2020-12-15T23:45:38Z","funding_closed_at":"2021-05-01T05:03:05Z"},"investor_memos":[],"team":[{"id":223203,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:223203","name":"Ernest Troth","title":"President","role":"founder","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/etroth"},{"id":1130078,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1130078","name":"Leigh Troth","title":"VIce President","role":"founder","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/leigh.troth"}],"featured_investors":[{"id":5141,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:5141","name":"George Ptasinski","bio":"Experience in helping small business, non-profits, and start ups with business and legal consulting. 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We anticipate 2021 revenue to be 2-4x 2020 as we look at solidifying existing domestic markets, opening new domestic markets and reaching into export markets (with more than a dozen current active contacts in Asia and Canada). We current sell and ship to 5 states: Washington State, Alaska, Nevada, North Dakota and the District of Columbia. We sell also to local liquor stores. Our Galloping Goose whisky and Summer Gin No. 5 are both at the State of Virgin..."},{"question":"The pitch deck (labeled 4 December 2020) lists Berle \"Rusty\" Figgins as the master distiller. There is a statement from Fynoderee Distillery in August announcing his appointment as their master distiller and his family's relocation to the Isle of Man - is this no longer the ca...","answer":"Hi, Alex, Rusty is one of our best and smartest advisors, since November 2014, and he has in fact earned the title of master distiller more than many in the industry. We used his title in our listing as a point of reference. We last talked with him in October (email) and late December 2020 (LinkedIn). A redacted version of our financials were used in the distillery-startup classes he taught at his distillery in eastern Washington, as they were developed by us in discussion with other distille..."},{"question":"I have a couple of questions, can you explain the equity position in the company? the 2018 \u0026amp; 2019 statement of equity in the financials were the same, however in the balance sheets in 2018 \u0026amp; 2019 equity changed nearly $260K lower. Did you pay off early investors or red...","answer":"Thanks for the careful reading, Terrence, we appreciate you noticing that the table for 2019 Statement of Equity was included by mistake in the 2018 Management Report during our final scan to PDF. \u0026nbsp;The has now been included and we have sent the corrected version to WeFunder for online viewing.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Also in the Balance Sheet format which we sent to WeFunder, we noticed that the line item for fully paid in capital was dropped, though it was included in the narrative section (page 6 ..."},{"question":"Hello Ernest, I've invested in over 42 company's. I think if you offered perks at the 100 dollar level, you would get more funds. Why? Because most investors can only invest 2,600 a year in total funds. So, if you offered hat's or t-shirt or something like that, you would get ...","answer":"Thanks for the idea, Peter, I appreciate your input. I hope you'll also look at and consider our other incentives of bottles/cases of whiskies and gins - including some new releases as they come up!"},{"question":"Hello Ernest, I was comparing your actual 2020 revenue with the projections from your Financials (slide 12) in your deck. Obviously, the revenue projections are just that, projections. Do you have an updated view based on the actual 2019 \u0026amp; 2020 revenues? Thanks.","answer":"Hi Mark, good question, and we are building that estimate now. We have 2 pending export contracts in Korea, 1 in Japan and more in Mexico which we want to include in the estimate. We were also approached this week by a third buyer in Canada for the Ontario and Quebec markets. Any and all of these export sales will be dramatic and allow us to keep the same growth curve. We previously mentioned that our estimate is conservatively 2-4x 2020 figures, but with export contracts based on customer st..."}],"recent_posts":[],"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-08T05:00:15Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-02-06T01:17:55Z","as_of":"2026-06-09T03:03:55Z","confidence":"medium"}}}}}}