That’s the Spirit!
It’s time for Hoosiers to get excited about local spirits.
Since a 2013 law first allowed distilleries to sell their spirits directly to consumers, craft distilleries have emerged throughout the state. Now, tasting rooms and distilleries across Central Indiana create and sell the best locally made spirits straight to consumers.
Tracking this trend, Edible Indy created a round-up of five Indiana distilleries to watch in 2019. While new distilleries open their doors over the next year, these established distilleries will continue to expand their businesses. Keep reading to learn what makes each of these craft distilleries worth a visit.
![[Photo provided by Matt Lamping] 8th Day Distillery co-founders Matt Lamping (left) and Mason Lamping (second from right) craft rum and gin at their Circle City Industrial Complex distillery](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_portrait__large-2/public/images/article/article_details/8th-day-co-founders.jpg?itok=j0Q9ZqVV)
![[Photo provided by Matt Lamping] The Bottle Shop and Cocktail Bar at 8th Day Distillery offers a taste of the distillery’s own rum and gin](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_portrait__large-2/public/images/article/article_details/8th-day-bottle-shop-and-bar.jpg?itok=vREIwVkN)
8TH DAY DISTILLERY
Founded by brothers Matt and Mason Lamping in 2016, 8th Day Distillery opened a new tasting room and cocktail bar in 2018 that serves drinks made with the distillery’s own rum and gin.
Q: How did 8th Day Distillery get its name?
A: The name 8th Day Distillery came about organically when Mason Lamping (my brother) and I (Matt Lamping) set off to open a distillery. Mason was going to school full-time and I was working full-time in the corporate world. We would use our nights and weekends to investigate, plan and pursue making our dreams a reality. When pursuing a dream, you will stay up later and work a bit harder to make sure you are moving forward. So, with that extra time it became known as the eighth day. Let's face it: everyone always wishes they had more time to do something they love. So, why not call it 8th Day? What would you do with an 8th Day?
Q: What inspired your distillery dreams to become a reality?
A: For us, a draw to the industry was the ability to take an agricultural product and preserve it by turning it into a spirit. This tells the story of the product it was crafted from and allows it to be shared among friends and family, bringing people to the table to enjoy their time together.
Q: What opportunities will your distillery pursue in 2019?
A: In 2019, we are looking forward to releasing some of our first barrel-aged products along with a few other collaborations we have been developing.
8th Day Distillery Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar
1125 E. Brookside Ave.
Indianapolis 46202
![[Photo provided by David McIntyre] The West Fork Whiskey Co. tasting room can be found on a corner in the Kennedy-King neighborhood of central Indianapolis](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/west-fork-tasting-exterior.jpg?itok=VeiE6Tro)
![[Photo provided by David McIntyre] The West Fork Whiskey Co. tasting room pours flights and cocktails made from the distillery’s six hand-crafted whiskies and bourbons](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/west-fork-tasting-room.jpg?itok=yV3sWxbg)
WEST FORK WHISKEY CO.
Founded in 2014 by David McIntyre and Blake and Julian Jones, West Fork Whiskey Co. opened a tasting room in 2017 where customers can taste whiskey flights and craft cocktails right where the spirit is distilled.
Q: How did West Fork Whiskey Co. get its name?
A: West Fork Whiskey Co. is a subtle nod to the State of Indiana, specifically Central Indiana where the West Fork of the White River runs.
Q: What inspired your distillery dreams to become a reality?
A: One: We absolutely love whiskey. Two: We always wanted to start a company, but we just didn't settle on an idea until we were in our late twenties. We saw what happened in the craft beer market and the growth it’s seen, and we knew there would be a similar trend in craft distilling. Once we dug into the numbers, we saw what was possible, and I guess the rest is history. We cashed out our 401K’s, secured a loan, got licensed and started distilling on nights and weekends.
Q: What would you like Central Indiana residents to know about your distillery?
A: We sought out to make great whiskey at an affordable price, and do it only using Indiana grain, and we’ve accomplished that goal.
West Fork Whiskey Co.
1660 Bellefontaine St.
Indianapolis 46202
![[Photo provided by Alex Neff] Bartender Lauren Ballard crafts a No More Rhyming cocktail at Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_portrait__large-2/public/images/article/article_details/hotel-tango-bartender.jpg?itok=sIUK0osQ)
HOTEL TANGO ARTISAN DISTILLERY
The story of Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery begins with husband and wife Travis and Hilary Barnes, who founded their distillery in 2013 and opened their “eclectic Americana” tasting room that features a rotating cocktail menu in 2014.
Q: How did Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery get its name?
A: Our founder and CEO Travis Barnes is a three-time combat Recon Marine war veteran. The name Hotel Tango pays homage to his service by using the military phonetic alphabet, and (quite literally) stands for the name of our founders—Travis and his wife Hilary = Hotel Tango.
Q: What opportunities will your distillery pursue in 2019?
A: After four years, we're proud that Hotel Tango has grown and become more than an Indiana-based artisan spirits brand. We're not only available in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Texas, but next year, we'll be offered in Florida and (fingers crossed) a few others new markets, too.
Q: What's your favorite cocktail made with one of your spirits?
No More Rhyming (our house Old Fashioned) - see recipe here
Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery
702 Virginia Ave.
Indianapolis 46203
![[Photo provided by Alex Neff] At Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery, customers can enjoy a seasonal cocktail menu with over a dozen craft drinks](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/hotel-tango-artisan-distillery_0.jpg?itok=nKm7jCqy)
![[Photo provided by Alex Neff] Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery founders Hilary and Travis Barnes created the company based on Travis’ military background](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/hotel-tango-founders_0.jpg?itok=EO_nky_a)
![[Photo by Sarah Belle Photography] Oakley Brothers’ Distillery opened its new tasting room in 2017](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_portrait__large-2/public/images/article/article_details/oakley-brothers-tasting-room.jpg?itok=kSnmMHtQ)
![[Photo by Sarah Belle Photography] Oakley Brothers’ Distillery barrel ages its Flyover Small Batch Whiskey made with 100% Indiana-grown corn](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_portrait__large-2/public/images/article/article_details/oakley-brothers-small-batch-whiskey.jpg?itok=KM3oeq5w)
OAKLEY BROTHERS' DISTILLERY
Brothers Jerrad and Jason Oakley founded their distillery in 2013 and then grew their business in 2017 with a tasting room that highlights their spirits such as rye bourbon whiskey, apple pie moonshine and more.
Q: How did your distillery get its name?
A: That one’s easy since it started out with just us brothers. We officially opened in 2013 in a small building with a 100-gallon still and a General Distillery license allowing us to only distribute. Then, in 2017, we opened our doors at our new location in downtown Anderson as an artisan distillery able to sell out our front door with a full tasting room.
Q: What inspired your distillery dreams to become a reality?
A: We were trekking Machu Picchu leaving our busy lives behind us enjoying the world and thought, why not? We both were at a place in our lives where it just made sense. Both of us either had our own companies already or had in the past, so being entrepreneurs wasn't a new concept. Not too long after that, we were taking a motorcycle trip and got stuck on the side of a mountain for a few hours, which is when we created our business plan and things just fell into place from there. It was a slow start as we were living in different states, but once we obtained the building, it became a fast-paced adventure.
Q: What opportunities will your distillery pursue in 2019?
A: We plan on releasing more spirits not only at the distillery itself, but also on a distribution level throughout Indiana. We're also going to have more merchandise on the market and going to be collaborating more with C.T. Doxey Brewing Company creating some interesting drinks.
Oakley Brothers’ Distillery
34 West 8th Street
Anderson 46016
![[Photo by Sarah Belle Photography] At Oakley Brothers’ Distillery, customers can try cocktails made with all of the small business’ craft spirits as well as specialty flatbreads](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/oakley-brothers-distillery.jpg?itok=dmT8g3Jc)
![[Photo by Sarah Belle Photography] Brothers Jerrad (left) and Jason (right) Oakley opened a tasting room for their Oakley Brothers’ Distillery in 2017](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/the-oakley-brothers.jpg?itok=NX7z3hHE)
![[Photo provided by Clay Kinnick] Hard Truth Hills Distilling Co., part of the Big Woods brand spread throughout Brown County, sits on 325 acres of wooded hills](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/hard-truth-distilling.jpg?itok=-Di7rYlf)
HARD TRUTH HILLS DISTILLING COMPANY
Hard Truth Hills impacted the craft distillery scene in 2015 as the first Indiana distillery to make agave spirits. A tasting room opened in 2018 to offer distillery tours as well as craft cocktails and a restaurant.
Q: What would you like Central Indiana residents to know about your distillery?
A: Hard Truth Distilling Company is headquartered at Hard Truth Hills, a destination distillery property in Nashville, Indiana on 325 wooded and hilly acres. Hard Truth developed this property with the intention of preserving the natural beauty of Brown County. With this new distillery, which opened in August of 2018, we became the largest craft distillery in Indiana and now we are focused on showing people how cool of an experience Hard Truth Hills has created.
Q: What opportunities will your distillery pursue in 2019?
A: In 2019, Hard Truth wants to continue producing and storing a lot of bourbons and whiskeys. Along with our production of whiskey, we want to continue to disrupt the industry with new products that will be released in 2019. So far, our Cinnamon Vodka has been great for us and has shaken up the Indiana Vodka market, and we want to continue to build on that success.
Q: What's your favorite cocktail made with one of your spirits?
Crimson Sour - see recipe here
Hard Truth Hills Distilling Company
418 Old State Road 46
Nashville 47448
![[Photo provided by Clay Kinnick] At Hard Truth Hills, a restaurant and bar serve campfire-themed entrees and craft cocktails made with the distillery’s own gin, rum, vodka and cinnamon vodka](https://edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/sites/default/files/styles/ariticle_landscape__full/public/images/article/article_details/hard-truth-restaurant-and-bar_0.jpg?itok=roYWNBP8)
