NoVa distillery to expand, create 42 jobs

Prince William County-based MurLarkey Distilled Spirits will invest $8.1 million to move and expand its operations, with plans to create 42 new jobs over the next three years, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday.

MurLarkey will leave Bristow and establish a large new distillery and tasting room on the Manassas campus of Farm Brew Live,  a 12-acre entertainment complex with a brewery, restaurant and live music venue, located in Innovation Park, a mixed-use corporate research park. Founded in 2013 by brothers Mike and Jim Larkin and their cousin, Tom Murray, MurLarkey produces vodka, gin, whiskey and bourbon.

The distillery, which sources corn, rye and barley from Virginia farms, will increase its production eightfold over the next three years, leading to an additional $429,860 in purchases of 885,000 pounds of Virginia-grown grains.

“Virginia’s food and beverage industry continue to thrive as surging consumer spending and our world-class business environment combine to give company after company confidence that they can grow and succeed in the commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement. “With burdensome pandemic restrictions behind us, this growth and optimism is especially evident in our craft beverage sector as returning consumers bring newfound vibrancy to the industry.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Prince William County and MurLarkey to secure the project for Virginia, with a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. Prince William County will match the grant with local funds.

“MurLarkey is both humbled and honored by the amazing support we have received from our state, county and local community. We’re excited to expand upon and further enhance the guest experience which MurLarkey has become famous for,” Murray said in a statement. “What started as a second career/family business has evolved into something which truly touches people, something broader reaching; much more than a craft spirits brand, MurLarkey has become a true lifestyle brand leading Virginia’s bourgeoning Spirit Trail.”