Spirits Sales Manager

Creature Comforts Brewing Co.; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. seeks a Spirits Sales Manager to lead Georgia and South Carolina sales efforts from Atlanta. You will build market plans, manage distributors, and drive placements in on-premise and retail channels through education and strategic launches.

You will train distributors, develop incentive programs, and maintain strong relationships with bartenders and account managers to expand our spirits footprint.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of spirits sales experience with supplier, distributor, or brand ambassador roles.
• Deep knowledge of cocktails, spirits production, and menu placements across categories.
• Experience launching new spirits brands or limited releases is a strong plus.
• Established relationships in the Atlanta bar/restaurant community preferred; Savannah/Charleston a plus.
• Knowledge of the three-tier system and distributor management.

Responsibilities

• Build and own the Georgia and South Carolina sales plan to hit annual volume, distribution, and placement targets.
• Prioritize Atlanta as the primary market, with Savannah and Charleston as secondary markets.
• Lead in-market launches of new spirits, including gins and small-batch releases, with sell-in plans and distributor education.
• Train distributor sales reps on products, applications, and selling stories; conduct market work-withs.
• Manage allocations of small-batch releases and coordinate with production, logistics, and finance for timely launches.
• Earn cocktail menu placements and back-bar positioning with priority accounts while building bartender relationships.

Skills

Spirits sales

Distributor management

Key account development

Cocktail knowledge

CRM & reporting

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Job Family:

Manager

Reports To:

Senior Director of Curiosity

Exemption:

Exempt

Position Purpose:

The Spirits Sales Manager drives sales and distribution growth for Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s spirits portfolio across Georgia and South Carolina. Based in Atlanta, this role builds account and distributor relationships, earns placements in bars, restaurants, and retail stores, and brings the portfolio to life through product education and launches. This person owns territory sales results and translates the Senior Director of Curiosity’s strategy and annual targets into effective market plans.

Job Description

• Territory Strategy & Sales Leadership: Build and own the Georgia and South Carolina sales plan to hit annual volume, distribution, and placement targets set by the Senior Director of Curiosity, and report progress by brand monthly.
• Build strategy around clear market priorities: Prioritize Atlanta as the primary market, followed by Savannah and Charleston, and adjust time and investment as market performance and opportunity change.
• Build and maintain a prioritized target account list for each market.
• Lead in-market launches of new spirits, including three gins and a recurring calendar of small-batch releases, with sell-in plans, account targeting, and distributor education for each.
• Recommend structure and hiring for a growing spirits sales team, and identify the next markets for expansion.
• Portfolio & Category Expertise: Serve as CCBC's in-market spirits expert across every category in our portfolio, including bourbon and American whiskey, gin, aperitivo and amaro, liqueurs, and brandy.
• Position each product against its competitive set and know where it fits on a cocktail menu, a back bar, and a retail shelf.
• Share market feedback on pricing, packaging, and consumer response with CCBC's product and brand teams to inform future releases.
• Distributor Management: Own day-to-day spirits management with Savannah Distributing Company in Georgia, working alongside the Senior Director of Curiosity.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day spirits contact for our South Carolina distribution partner.
• Train distributor sales reps on our spirits, their categories, cocktail applications, and selling stories, and conduct regular market work-withs.
• Build and run distributor incentive and sales programs within state regulations.
• Secure time in distributor sales meetings and keep our spirits a priority within their portfolios.
• Inventory, Orders & Load-In: Coordinate purchase orders, load-ins, and launch timing between CCBC's production, logistics, and finance teams and our distributors so product arrives on time and in the right quantities.
• Monitor distributor inventory and depletions by brand, and forecast needs to prevent out-of-stocks and aged inventory.
• Manage allocations of small-batch and limited releases across accounts and markets.
• On-Premise: Cocktail Bars & Restaurants: Earn cocktail menu placements and well and back bar positions at priority accounts.
• Build lasting relationships with bartenders, bar managers, and beverage directors, and become a trusted resource in the craft cocktail community.
• Deliver staff trainings on our spirits, their categories, and signature serves.
• Develop signature cocktail programs with accounts in partnership with CCBC's recipe development team.
• Off-Premise: Retail & Chain: Secure and grow placements at independent package stores and chain retailers.
• Execute in-store tastings where permitted, displays, and merchandising.
• Support chain account presentations alongside distributor chain teams.
• Events, Samplings & Activations: Plan and execute on-premise events, samplings, guest bartending shifts, and brand activations that drive trial and build reputation.
• Represent our spirits at trade events, cocktail festivals, and industry gatherings across the territory.
• Work with CCBC's social and photography teams so activations produce content for our brands.
• Compliance, Reporting & Budget: Know and follow Georgia and South Carolina alcohol laws governing sampling, promotion, pricing, and trade spending.
• Track depletions, placements, and program results by brand and market, and deliver a monthly territory report.
• Manage the territory budget for samples, point of sale materials, and events, and measure return on that spend.

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of spirits sales experience with a supplier, distributor, or as a brand ambassador, with a track record of growing distribution and menu placements.
• Deep knowledge of cocktails, cocktail history, and spirits production across categories, including whiskey, gin, aperitivo and amaro, liqueurs, and brandy. Bartending experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience launching new spirits brands or small-batch and limited releases is a strong plus.
• Established relationships in the Atlanta bar and restaurant community strongly preferred. Relationships in Savannah or Charleston are a plus.
• Working knowledge of the three-tier system and distributor management, including depletion data and distributor programming.
• Knowledge of Georgia and South Carolina alcohol regulations, or the ability to learn them quickly.
• Confident presenter, equally effective with a five-person bar staff and a fifty-person distributor sales meeting.
• Highly organized and able to manage many accounts, events, and orders at once. Comfortable with CRM systems, spreadsheets, and depletion reporting tools.
• Self-directed, with the judgment to build structure and process for a new sales function.
• Industry certifications (BAR, WSET, CSS, or similar) are a plus.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Valid driver's license for the state where work is performed, a clean driving record, and reliable transportation.
• Regular travel to Savannah, Charleston, and throughout Georgia and South Carolina is required, with overnight travel up to 25-40% of total work time. Travel and lodging expenses are covered.
• Evening and weekend work is a regular part of this role, driven by events, activations, and the rhythm of bar service.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to lift and carry cases of glass bottles and event supplies weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to load, transport, and set up event equipment such as tents, tables, and portable bars.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, including multi-hour events.
• Must be able to bend, kneel, squat, and reach overhead for merchandising and event setup.

Disclaimer

The job description provided here is intended to outline the general nature and key responsibilities of this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks, duties, and responsibilities that the employee may be required to perform. The employee may be asked to perform other duties as required. Furthermore, the duties and responsibilities of this position may change at any time, with or without notice, based on the needs of the organization.