About Us! the 3 generations

Responsibly Vodka was built on family, legacy, and the belief that sharing a drink should bring people together — not tear them apart.

Our story begins with Raymond Butler, a former illegal moonshiner, proud American, and Vietnam veteran. After serving his country, Raymond suffered severe PTSD and long-term health complications related to Agent Orange exposure. Despite the hardships he faced, he never lost faith in the American Dream. He believed deeply in family, hard work, and living life to the fullest — and he loved bringing people together.

What started as an idea to spend quality time together as father, son, and grandson became something much bigger.

Three generations of Butlers came together to open the distillery:

• Raymond Butler (grandfather)
   
• Charles Raymond Butler Jr. (father)
   
• Charles Raymond Butler III (son)
   

In the beginning, we focused on moonshine, honoring our roots and family history. But as we grew, we realized the moonshine market was not the path that would allow us to build the business into something sustainable and scalable. So we made a bold decision to pivot — and that decision led us to vodka.

For Charles Raymond Butler Jr., the meaning behind the brand runs even deeper.

As a former contractor in Iraq and later a law enforcement officer, he worked many difficult and heartbreaking cases. He saw firsthand how alcohol abuse — especially DUI-related tragedies — could end lives and devastate families. Those experiences impacted him on a personal level and shaped the mission behind the brand.

He didn’t believe the answer was giving up drinking altogether.
He believed in something more meaningful:

That belief became our name — and our purpose.

Responsibly Vodka is more than a spirit. It is a family-built brand created with pride, purpose, and respect for the people who share it. It represents our values: family, freedom, hard work, and making the most of life while looking out for one another.

Sadly, Raymond Butler passed away in January 2021 due to health complications connected to his Vietnam service. But his spirit, grit, and belief in the American Dream continue to live on in everything we do.

Today, Charles Raymond Butler Jr. and Charles Raymond Butler III continue building the brand he helped inspire. Responsibly Vodka has grown statewide and is currently available in Georgia and Tennessee, with expansion into additional states underway.

We are proud to carry forward a three-generation legacy — and we’re just getting started.