BLACK BAND Distillery Announces Strategic Partnership with Pound & Penny Spirits, Marking the Brand’s First Expansion Beyond Illinois

Peoria, IL – Aug 4, 2026 – BLACK BAND Distillery today announced a long term strategic partnership with Pound & Penny Spirits, the premium sales and brand building platform launched by Virginia Distillery Co. Pound & Penny has selected BLACK BAND as its exclusive partner in the Bourbon category, supporting the distillery’s first expansion outside its home state of Illinois.

The partnership represents a major milestone for BLACK BAND, which was founded by Peoria native and Principal Distiller Chris Ober with a singular purpose: to restore Peoria’s place in American whiskey. Once home to 73 distilleries and known nationally as the “Whiskey Capital of the World” before Prohibition, Peoria went more than a century without a craft whiskey distillery of its own. BLACK BAND changed that in 2021, opening as the city’s first craft distillery since Prohibition and reestablishing Peoria’s legacy through grain to glass production.

With a portfolio built entirely in Peoria—including BLACK BAND Bourbon, Four Grain Bourbon, and Straight Rye—the distillery works exclusively with certified organic Midwest grain and naturally filtered water from the Sankoty Aquifer. BLACK BAND maintains both USDA Organic and OU Kosher certifications and now holds substantial inventory of whiskey aged five years and beyond, providing the maturity and supply required for disciplined, sustainable market growth.

“From the beginning, our goal was to build a distillery worthy of Peoria’s history,” said Chris Ober, Founder and Principal Distiller. “We’ve spent years establishing BLACK BAND the right way—deliberately, patiently, and with a commitment to authenticity. As we expand beyond Illinois, we wanted a partner who understands how to build brands for the long term without compromising standards or purpose. Pound & Penny brings that discipline, and we’re proud to move into this next chapter together.”

Pound & Penny Spirits will lead commercial strategy across national sales management, distributor development, pricing and route to market planning, account execution, field sales, marketing support, and long term brand building. The platform works with a highly selective portfolio of category exclusive premium spirits brands, including Cierto Tequila.

“BLACK BAND is exactly the kind of brand Pound & Penny was created to champion,” said Andrew Meissner, President of Pound & Penny Spirits. “Chris has built something rare in American whiskey: a distillery with authentic production credentials, a meaningful origin story, and the aged inventory required to grow the right way. BLACK BAND is deeply rooted in Peoria, yet its relevance extends far beyond it. We’re honored to bring the Whiskey City story to new markets.”

BLACK BAND has earned Double Gold and Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was the only craft producer to win Best in Category in two categories at the 2026 ASCOT Awards, including for its Straight Rye.

BLACK BAND’s rollout beyond Illinois will begin later this year in select Pound & Penny and distributor partner markets.