NG Distillery

NG Distillery is a craft spirits business founded by Noel Garcia Jr. and based in Harvard, Illinois. Garcia, who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, studied Mechanical Engineering at Brooklyn Tech High School and attended Alabama A&M University. His background includes experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries, where he learned whole-hog cooking and studied distillation at Nevada's first legal distillery. Before establishing NG Distillery in 2023, Garcia spent years refining processes in product development. The distillery was founded to redefine the art of savoring spirits, inspired by Garcia's Caribbean heritage and American ingenuity, with a tasting room slated to open in Thornton, Illinois in Winter 2023. The distillery produces a range of small-batch premium spirits and flavored liqueurs. Their product lineup includes Noel Garcia Bourbon (45% ABV), Vintage 1945 Bourbon Whiskey (45% ABV), Spiced Gin (50% ABV), Citrus Contemporary Gin (50% ABV), Rum (50% ABV), and Vodka (40% ABV). The Spiced Gin is a Caribbean-inspired spirit featuring notes of clove, star anise, cinnamon, and fennel seed, while the Citrus Contemporary Gin highlights fresh citrus over a juniper base. Their rum offers caramelized sugar and gentle spice notes, and the vodka presents subtle hints of citrus peels, cacao nibs, and cracked peppercorns. NG Distillery engages in controlled self-distribution within Illinois, serving retail customers and licensed establishments. The distillery does not ship spirits directly to consumers; purchases are fulfilled through distillery pickup or local delivery within Illinois. The business also offers programs such as the Batch Buyers Club and provides services including private barrel selections, custom bottled programs, and strategic spirits consulting. Garcia has expressed plans to expand distribution by partnering with Black-owned distributors and increasing retail presence. NG Distillery is recognized as Illinois's first Black- and Latino-owned distillery. Noel Garcia's vision for the distillery extends to paving the way for other overlooked entrepreneurs in the industry, with an aim to create a platform for aspiring brand owners. He emphasizes that the distillery's spirits are crafted to compete with leading brands, seeking to ensure Black- and Latino-owned brands are represented on top shelves.