Perched precariously outside of Bexley, Middle West Spirits’ new distillery resembles a towering whiskey highball.
Travelers on Interstate 70 or Alum Creek Drive will not miss the 75,000-square-foot enterprise with its glass-encased tower.
The $38 million distillery is a significant improvement over the kiddie bar, benefiting the corporation and the Ohio liquor industry alike. The distillery is ranked by the Middle West as the biggest independent distillery in the nation and among the top ten in all of North America.
As one of the three founding members of the now-100-strong Middle West team, Josh Daily, remarked, “We’re growing fast as a company and as an industry.” The company has been around for 16 years.
The most striking example of the expansion of the liquor business in central Ohio and the state as a whole is Middle West’s new distillery, which began production in September.
The American Craft Spirits Association reports that there are 82 craft distilleries in Ohio, surpassing the number in Kentucky, the home of bourbon. A somewhat lower figure of 69 distillers is reported by the Division of Liquor Control of the Ohio Department of Commerce. According to the Crafts Spirit Association, the number of distilleries in Ohio has increased dramatically from 59 in 2018 to 39 in 2016.
Although being a small part of the state’s total sales of 16.8 million gallons, distillers in Ohio saw an 11% increase in sales from 2022 to last year, with 195,601 gallons sold.
The number of U.S. craft distillers nearly doubled from 1,439 in 2016 to 2,753 last year, driven in large part by interest in craft whiskey among youthful drinkers, according to the group.
“Middle West has been a shining example of how small independent brands can succeed in a market that is so heavily dominated by large global players like Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, and the like,” said Alexandra Clough, a representative for the American Crafts Spirits Association.
Successful businesses have a unique perspective, are deeply rooted in their communities, and, of course, provide products and services of unmatched quality. This is abundant in the Middle West, and they have graciously shared their knowledge with the artisan spirits market, allowing new independent players to emerge.
Middle West is a seasoned pro in the artisan distilling industry, which has just seen a boom. When Daily first opened its doors in 2008, it was the 56th distillery in the country. The way he describes it, “We’re one of the old new guys.”
If there are fifty times as many artisan distillers in the country as there are seats at this standing-room-only bar, how can whiskey producers possibly stand out?
The Alum Creek location is ideal for expansion.
A future in proportion, partners, and products is what the Middle West envisions.
Both the original distillery on Courtland Avenue in Weinland Park and the new Alum Creek facility are being maintained by the distillery. The new distillery will be utilized for whiskey production by the Middle West, while the Courtland plant will continue to be used for clear spirits like gin and vodka.
According to Daily, the Alum Creek location was ideal for the enterprise. It has the essential utilities, water, and truck service, and it was once the home of Oberfields’ concrete block, so it can handle the enormous weight and size of the distillery’s boilers, cookers, and fermenters.
Still, some alterations were necessary, no matter how flawless the structure was. The operation’s 60-foot-tall copper still necessitated the addition of a top to a portion of the building.
Despite being one of the ten biggest distilleries in North America, Jennifer Yunt, director of marketing for Dailey and Middle West, will not divulge the distillery’s capacity. At this time, the distillery is only making the company’s staple spirits: wheat whiskey, straight wheated bourbon, pumpernickel rye whiskey, and whiskey aged in casks that had previously contained sherry or port.
Middle West can age more whiskey and make it for other companies using their recipes because of the distillery’s capacity.
Middle West’s CEO and founder, Ryan Lang, spoke about how the company has worked with partners throughout the entire process. “Now that our expansion is complete, we are excited to continue these partnerships.”
According to Middle West authorities, the company has manufactured whiskey for a wide variety of clients, including Old Line Spirits in Baltimore and Horse Soldier in Florida.
Several prizes have gone to the company’s whiskey, and its management is certain that this will help it expand. Soft red winter wheat, a grain native to Ohio, is particularly important to the whiskey’s production because of its high vanilla content and fatty, starchy nature, according to the distillery. Ohio farmers under Middle West’s care tend to 25,000 acres of cropland, which also yields barley, rye, corn, and other grains used to make whiskey.
“Controlling the process from farm to glass allows us to get what we need,” according to Daily.
The addition of a tasting room and retail center to Middle West’s already impressive 15-acre location is just one more way the company plans to attract customers.
“We’re considering incorporating more hospitality features,” Daily stated. “What that looks like yet, we don’t know.”
Similar to craft breweries, most craft distilleries depend significantly on sales made on-site, therefore they need to provide some kind of hospitality, such a tasting room, restaurant, tours, or retail store. According to state data, distillers in Ohio made $9.7 million from on-site sales last year, which is around half of the $19.3 million they made from off-site sales.
On Courtland Avenue, you may find Middle West, the biggest distiller in the state, running a retail store and restaurant called Service Bar. Watershed and High Bank are among the other local distilleries that run eateries.
Middle West has a new distillery and distributes its wares in 43 states, making it the dominant distillery in central Ohio. However, central Ohio is home to no less than seven distilleries, and another is on the way. These establishments are all developing independently. The Alum Creek location is ideal for expansion.
Beginning and growing distilleries in central Ohio
Following its acquisition by Marussia Beverages USA last year, Watershed intends to expand regionally. Watershed distributed in seven states since its founding in 2010. According to the corporation, the distillery has three floors, three thousand square feet of space, two copper stills, and over seventy employees.
The popular Whiskey War brand from High Bank Distillery is set to launch its third restaurant in central Ohio, and the distillery has already increased its capacity through two expansions of its Gahanna facility.
Craft distillers are few and far between; Echo Spirits makes rum, which is unique; 451 Spirits tries out whiskey tastes like stout and rice; and Noble Cut makes flavored whiskeys and limoncello liqueur.
A distillery is set to debut this year in an 1870s-era structure on East Powell Road, just north of Worthington Road, by two Delaware families who created DoG Distilling Co., the youngest child at the bar.
The Distillery of Galena, or DoG for short, is trying to carve out a niche for itself by offering a friendly, rustic atmosphere.
The company was started by Kevin Webb, Lauri, and friends Wes and Kelley Stark. “Our initial vision is to make this a nice little destination, a place where people could come and hang out and relax,” Kevin stated. “We’re hoping our location, out of downtown a bit, will help us stand out.”
Since making whiskey takes a very long time, DoG is beginning with vodka, including flavored vodkas. Although Webb and his partners aim to begin making a profit by the third year of the company, he is well aware that the distilling industry does not provide a direct path to financial success.
“It’s quite expensive to get one up and going,” according to him. “It’s not as easy as making cookies or cupcakes.”
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