OFTB Welcomes Oak & Grist
I’m excited to welcome Oak & Grist Distilling Company as a new client.
Located in Black Mountain, NC, Oak & Grist has spent the last decade building something increasingly rare in American spirits: a true grain-to-glass distillery. Every whiskey and gin begins with locally grown and malted barley, much of it sourced from farms and producers within driving distance of the distillery itself. The result is a lineup of spirits that feels deeply tied to Western North Carolina and the people who grow, malt, ferment, distill, and serve them.
The story starts with co-founder and head distiller William Goldberg, whose background in sustainable agriculture led him down an unexpected path. After a trip to Scotland and mentorship from master distiller Edwin Dodson, a longtime veteran of the Scotch whisky industry, Goldberg returned to North Carolina with a vision: create American single malt whiskey that draws from Scottish tradition while expressing the character of Appalachia.
That philosophy still guides the company today.
Oak & Grist is one of the few distilleries in North Carolina making spirits entirely from scratch: brewing, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling their products in-house. Their focus on single malt whiskey sets them apart in a market dominated by bourbon, while their Genever gin has earned a devoted following among gin enthusiasts looking for something a little different.
Oak & Grist is also integral to the fabric of its community, offering a genuine “third place” in a world where those spaces are shrinking. The distillery regularly hosts tours, free tastings, educational programs, cocktail workshops, and community gatherings like dance parties and craft nights. They work with local farmers and suppliers, collaborate with nonprofit organizations, and have built a business that feels connected to place in a neighbor-to-neighbor way that many brands talk about but few actually practice.
As Black Mountain continues to quickly grow as a destination for food and beverage, Oak & Grist has become the region's most interesting producer. Their tenth anniversary is approaching in 2027, and there is a lot more to their story that I look forward to telling as we work together in the coming months.
