If you haven't figured it our already, there’s no shortage of places to grab a craft drink in Prince William, Virginia, but one local distillery is proving that the county’s craft beverage scene is earning attention far beyond Northern Virginia.
Recently, KO Distilling brought home some major recognition at the 2026 First Landing Cup, Virginia’s annual spirits competition hosted by the Virginia Distillers Association. Their Bare Knuckle Cask Strength Rye Whiskey not only won “Best in Class,” but also earned the competition’s highest overall honor: the First Landing Cup.
But the wins didn’t stop there.
KO Distilling’s Battle Standard 142 Gin earned top honors in the gin category, while additional gold medals were awarded to the distillery’s Reserve Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Bare Knuckle Cask Strength Straight Wheat Whiskey. According to the distillery, no other Virginia distillery took home four gold medals during this year’s competition. So yeah, it's a pretty big deal.
Why This is Major for PWC
What makes the recognition even more exciting is how deeply rooted the distillery is in Virginia. Co-founder Bill Karlson shared that the grains used in KO’s spirits are sourced from Virginia farms, helping create a product that is both locally made and distinctly Virginian.
Located in Manassas, KO Distilling has become a staple of Prince William's growing craft beverage scene. Visitors can stop by the tasting room Thursday through Sunday to sample award-winning spirits, sip handcrafted cocktails, and learn more about the distilling process during tours.
From breweries and wineries to distilleries crafting nationally recognized spirits, Prince William, Virginia continues to make a name for itself as a destination for local flavor and unique experiences. Trails like the Steins, Vines & Moonshine Trail make it easy to turn a tasting into a full weekend adventure.
And with newer additions like MurLarkey Distilled Spirits expanding to the NOVA Live campus in recent years, the momentum behind Prince William County’s craft beverage industry continues to grow. But MurLarkey's accomplishments and wins deserve their own shout out 😉
A big congrats to KO Distilling! We are so proud to call you one of our own.