# Hidden Ships Distillery Named Business of the Year by the Topsail Chamber *By Mark Fitlin · 2026-10-08 · Dorado Rock News, NC Market & Distribution* A Surf City distillery just took home the top local business honor from the Topsail Chamber. Here is what we know about the award and why it matters to North Carolina spirits fans. ## Hidden Ships Distillery Business of the Year: A Surf City Moment Every so often a local honor lands that says as much about a community as it does about the winner. This time, **Hidden Ships Distillery Business of the Year** is the headline coming out of Surf City, where the Topsail Chamber recognized the distillery with its top business award. The distillery is owned by Andrew and Amy Szwejbka, and it sits in Surf City on North Carolina's coast. That is the core of the story, and it is worth slowing down on, because a business award from a local chamber is a different kind of recognition than a medal from a tasting panel. It comes from the people who live, work and run shops down the road. Below, we walk through what the sources report, what a chamber award like this generally means, and how North Carolina spirits fans can look for Hidden Ships at their local ABC store. ## What the Sources Report The Topsail Chamber, which is the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, named Hidden Ships Distillery its Business of the Year. The announcement appeared as part of the chamber's annual awards, and it was shared by local voices congratulating the distillery on social media. A regional magazine covering the Topsail area has also written about the distillery's spirits scene in a feature. - **Who won:** Hidden Ships Distillery - **Who gave the award:** the Topsail Chamber - **Award:** Business of the Year - **Where the distillery is:** Surf City, North Carolina - **Owners:** Andrew and Amy Szwejbka ## Why a Chamber Award Carries Weight A chamber of commerce is a membership group of local businesses, and its annual awards tend to reflect how a company shows up in its own town. That can mean being a good neighbor, bringing visitors through the door, hiring locally and joining in community events. A Business of the Year title is chosen from among many other local shops, restaurants and service companies, not only from other distillers. For a distillery, that matters. Craft spirits live and die on relationships: with the folks who stop in, with the restaurants that pour the bottles, and with the town that decides whether to adopt a new neighbor. Winning a title from the chamber that represents all of those businesses suggests the distillery has found its place on the island. ## The Topsail Island Backdrop Topsail Island is a barrier island on the southeastern North Carolina coast, and Surf City is one of its best known towns. The area fills up with beachgoers in warm months and settles into a quieter rhythm the rest of the year, which makes year-round local support especially valuable for a small business. North Carolina has a growing list of distilleries, from the mountains to the coast. Each one works within the state's ABC system, where spirits reach the public through local ABC stores. That setup shapes how a coastal distillery grows, and it is one reason community recognition counts. When neighbors know your name, they ask for you by name at the store. ## What It Means for NC Spirits Fans If you are a drinker who likes knowing where your bottle comes from, this is a nice reminder that spirits in North Carolina are made by real owners in real towns. Andrew and Amy Szwejbka run the Surf City distillery, and the local business community just put their names at the top of the list. If you are headed to the coast, it is a good excuse to plan a stop in Surf City. If you are inland, it is a good excuse to ask about Hidden Ships when you are next at the ABC store. Keep in mind that availability varies from store to store, so the counter staff can tell you what they can bring in. ## Our Note From Dorado Rock We welcomed Hidden Ships Distillery to the Dorado Rock family in an earlier post, and we are glad to see the distillery recognized close to home. You can read more on the [Hidden Ships Distillery brand page](https://doradorockllc.com/brands/hidden-ships-distillery). For bar and restaurant owners and ABC board buyers, a hometown award is also a useful signal about a brand's standing in its community. If you are curious about Hidden Ships for your list or your store, reach out to Dorado Rock and we will point you in the right direction. ## How to Find Hidden Ships in North Carolina Look for Hidden Ships Distillery at NC ABC stores, and ask your local ABC store what they can order for you. Browse the brand page for the latest on what is connected to the distillery in our portfolio. As always, enjoy responsibly, and this is for adults 21 and older. Congratulations to Andrew, Amy and everyone at the distillery. --- [Read on doradorockllc.com](https://doradorockllc.com/blog/hidden-ships-distillery-named-business-of-the-year) · [All posts](https://doradorockllc.com/blog)