Motherwell Distilling Opens Alexandria’s First Distillery Since Prohibition

Alexandria, VA – In a city defined by its historic cobblestones and colonial architecture, a new kind of history is being barreled on Pickett Street. Motherwell Distilling Co. has officially planted its flag in Alexandria’s West End, bringing the city its first operational distillery since before Prohibition.

The engine driving this ambitious venture is not a corporate conglomerate but a tight-knit quartet of Alexandria residents and longtime friends: Vince and Marcy Crisler and Adam and Andrea Bennett. Their journey is a story of shared heritage, community investment, and a passion for crafting spirits that bring people together—literally.

The Motherwell name itself is a nod to deep industrial roots. Vince and Marcy Crisler grew up in Logan, Ohio, a small town of 7,000 nestled in the Appalachian foothills. During the Industrial Revolution, Scottish immigrant Robert Motherwell established an iron and steel business in Logan that became central to the town’s identity.

“We were looking for something local, but not so hyper-local that we couldn’t grow,” Marcy said, explaining the name selection. “Motherwell combines two great things… the whole idea of a well, and the water, and everything that goes into it.”

The distillery’s branding reflects this connection. Its logo—inspired by a historic Motherwell Iron and Steel bridge still standing in the Logan fairgrounds—is a visual bridge itself, connecting their Ohio origins to their new Alexandria chapter.

While this is Alexandria’s first Motherwell, the team is already experienced. They launched their first distillery in Logan in 2020. The decision to expand “home” to Alexandria, where they have all lived since 2004, was born from a desire to be hands-on with the community they love.

“We have an amazing team back in Ohio… but we’re not there. We can’t touch it, feel it, or smell it,” Vince says. “We were jealous.”

Bringing the business to Virginia, however, meant scaling up. While their Ohio facility runs a 150-gallon still, the new Alexandria operation boasts a massive 1,000-gallon still. “Every time you run it, we’ll fill up three barrels,” Vince notes.

What truly distinguishes Motherwell Alexandria is its foundational connection to residents. It’s a true community distillery. The founders raised capital through a unique community fundraising approach, resulting in roughly 60 local owners. This group includes couples, friends, and, notably, a contingent of 20 dads from the Del Ray neighborhood.

This hyper-local ownership is intentional. “Our business model is not: can we sell across the US, get really big, and sell off?” Vince emphasizes. “How do we stay hyper-local and focused on the community?”

For Marcy, this is the most rewarding aspect. “I really think our community focus has been the rewarding part for me,” she says, noting their early support for local organizations like Senior Services of Alexandria, local PTAs, and their deeply valued partner, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

Motherwell enters the market with a portfolio that includes “Brickwater” bourbon and a forthcoming rye. Still, the founders’ philosophy emphasizes quality above all and is intent on balancing craft and creativity.

“No matter what, we have to make good products. We need people to come back,” Marcy asserts. To achieve this, Motherwell utilizes a strategic blending process, combining hand-picked, aged sourced spirits with their own distillates, ensuring a smooth, high-quality product right from the launch.

The creativity shines through in finishing details, such as finishing their Alexandria bourbon in rum barrels transported from their Ohio distillery. This technique literally mingles the flavors of both states. Future plans include gin, vodka, and a potential Virginia apple brandy—a nod to Adam’s family heritage in Winchester.

The chemistry of Motherwell isn’t just in the still; it’s in the partnership. The four founders possess complementary strengths that drive the business forward:

• Vince (Head Distiller): The “even-keeled” problem-solver who manages recipes, production, and navigates complex regulations.
• Marcy (Community Relations): The “people person” who builds connections, manages events, and ensures the distillery remains a community pillar.
• Adam (Operations): The logistical engine who “gets things done,” managing everything from equipment acquisition to insurance.
• Andrea (Finance): The financial anchor who manages vendors, coordination, and long-term financial planning.

Though they first connected as neighbors while raising their families, their relationship has evolved into something much deeper. Andrea notes, “We now consider ourselves more like cousins, a shift that has laid the groundwork for the trust needed to navigate the complexities of launching a startup.”

Opening a distillery in a city that hasn’t hosted one in nearly a century came with unique challenges. The founders worked extensively with Alexandria’s zoning and permit offices, essentially educating local officials on the fire codes and storage regulations specific to modern distilling.

“They’ve never permitted a distillery before,” Vince says. “It’s been a learning process for all the folks in the city… but they’ve been really great to work with.”

Despite the “archaic laws” surrounding high-proof spirits, the team has found strong champions in the community and city leadership, including Council Members John Chapman and Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, the latter of whom carried a recently passed state bill (SB 424) aimed at modernizing craft distillery regulations.

With spirits now arriving on Virginia ABC shelves and available in local establishments like Pork Barrel BBQ, the future looks bright. Long-term dreams include a potential second location—a tasting room and bottle shop—on King Street.

For Adam Bennett, the venture offers something even more profound than business success. Reflecting on a rye whiskey they created in Ohio called “Common Ground,” he captures the distillery’s ultimate mission.

“In today’s society, especially in this country, there’s a lot that we can argue about,” Adam says. “But can’t we agree that that’s a damn good spirit that tastes good? That’s the kind of thing that brings people together.”

Situated in the West End of Alexandria, Motherwell Distilling Co. is available for private bookings. You can find information regarding ABC store stock and upcoming tasting events by following @motherwelldistilling on Instagram.