Old Line Spirits

Old Line Spirits was founded by two navy aviators who wanted to create bold new spirits of distinct character and unmatched quality. Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers. In different active duty squadrons, they were both stationed at the same base in at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, in Washington state.

After more than a decade of flying off of aircraft carriers and being stationed all over the world, they independently decided to settle down in the mid-Atlantic to focus on family, but ended up in the same Navy reserve Prowler squadron. Coincidentally, they were neighbors in Baltimore as well; Mark working in finance and Arch in engineering. With a healthy stint of travel and adventure behind them, sitting still in their new civilian desk jobs just wasn’t enough. Their shared love of whiskey and, at the time, a dearth of craft distilleries in Maryland led them to their true calling: starting their own distillery.

Driven by a spirit of adventure and camaraderie, Old Line’s spirits embody our mantra: Bold Stories, Bold Spirits. In February 2017, Old Line Spirits opened its doors to the public with great support of friends, family, and the Highlandtown neighborhood. Since then, its grown bigger by adding more barrels, installing a brand new still system, and, most recently, opening Maryland’s first full beer, wine, and spirits cocktail bar in a distillery, The Ready Room.

Old Line started with its flagship American Single Malt Whiskey, but never content to stay still, Mark and Arch quickly released other products that kept with their philosophy of high quality spirits that are unique: the very limited Peated American Single Malt, the Cask Strength American Single Malt, and a line up of Aged Caribbean Rums and a Vodka.

Other, much larger plans are tucked away to be broken out when the time is right…