MurLarkey Distilled Spirits will enter a long-term lease with Villagio Hospitality Group to construct a new 25,000 square foot building on the Farm Brew LIVE campus. The news was accompanied by the presentation of Prince William County’s first Agricultural and Forestry Industries Development Grant (AFID) from Governor Youngkin’s office, with a total value of $500,000 for MurLarkey’s expansion.
The recent announcement ceremony included the award presentation from Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr as well as remarks from Senator Jeremy McPike, Delegate Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann B. Wheeler and Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson.
"MurLarkey has always had the pioneering spirit, so it's no surprise they are Prince William County's first AFID Facility Grant award," said Wheeler. "We are thrilled to embrace and invest in agribusinesses that make our county a destination for residents and visitors from around the region."
The expansion represents nearly $8.1 million in new investment, 42 new jobs, and over the next three years will lead to an additional $429,860 (885,000 pounds) in purchases of Virginia grain. The company sources 100 percent of its grain from Virginia farms through their signature MurLarkey’s Farm To Flask® Initiative.
“When we started distilling in 2013, we knew we wanted to bring our brand of spirits to a bigger audience with the help of a partnership like what we have found with Villagio,” said Thomas Murray, co-founder and CEO. “After an evolution of this idea, we were sold by the vibrancy of the Farm Brew LIVE campus, the incredible commitment to the neighborhood, and the opportunity to celebrate our second decade with an enhanced experience in our new space.”
The company, currently located in Bristow, will establish a large new distillery and tasting room on the campus of Farm Brew LIVE in Innovation Park, Manassas. Drawing over 10,000 visitors weekly, the 12-acre entertainment area is home to 2Silos Brewing, the Black Sheep restaurant, and a live music venue.
“I am thrilled to welcome MurLarkey Distilled Spirits,” said Marcus Silva, president and CEO of Villagio. “MurLarkey’s incredible spirits, brand loyalty and unique guest experience will be an enormous added attraction to our campus.”
Groundbreaking on the new facility will occur this fall, and the MurLarkey team hopes to relocate staff and resources by the end of 2023 at the new campus. The move will mean increased production throughout the rest of their tenancy in their current building.
“After winning multiple awards for our vodka, gin, bourbons, and whiskeys, we now have the confidence and experience to dive deeper into the aging market, which we see as the market trend right now,” says Jim Larkin, co-founder and COO. "Our production line will quadruple, and our overall enterprise will grow eight-fold with this expansion."
In addition to supporting Virginia farmers through a major increase in production, the company will continue to offer all its spent grain to local farmers free-of-charge for use as cattle feed. The company also received a Prince William County’s Human Rights Commission 2021 award for providing more than 3,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to the community during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"MurLarkey has been a solid steward of our community for almost 10 years,” said Lawson. “I want to congratulate Tom, Jim, and their tastemaker Papi, for continuing this success story while growing new jobs and new opportunities for Virginia’s farmers."