8th Day Distillery
About the Distillery
8th Day Distillery is a local craft distillery in Indianapolis' Factory Arts District on the Near East Side. Founded by Matt and Jaime Lamping in 2015, the site produces small-batch spirits with a local focus and operates a Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, offering seasonal drinks, bottles and cans. The distillery combines bourbon, rye and corn whiskey production with rum, gin and community-oriented events.
History
The story begins in 2015 when Matt and Jaime Lamping signed a lease, bought equipment and started filling barrels with bourbon. After the initial production phase, gin and rum were introduced to the market, and the products quickly found their way to local bars, restaurants and shops in Indianapolis. In 2018 the couple opened Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, a space with a rotating seasonal menu concept, pop-ups in collaboration with local partners and quarterly exhibitions by artists. In addition to making spirits, the company has targeted work on building a local community around its products and events.
Raw Materials and Production
The distillery works in small batches with clear mashbills for its whiskies: bourbon is a three-grain blend (70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malt), rye whiskey consists of 58% rye and 42% corn, and corn whiskey is made from 100% Indiana corn. Bourbon and rye are double distilled, while corn whiskey is described as pot-distilled. For the rum, molasses and sugar come from a seventh-generation plantation in Louisiana. The production also includes special methods such as redistillation of tails-cuts to Queens Share Rum and a Single Barrel Program.
Aging and Barrel Types
Maturation takes place primarily in 53-gallon oak barrels with specified char levels for certain releases: bourbon is aged in Number 4 char 53-gallon barrels for about 36 months, while rye is aged at least 36 months in Number 5 char 53-gallon barrels. Queens Share Rum is produced by redistilling tails-cuts and then barrel-aging, and it is bottled at cask strength. These barrels and char levels are central to the wood influence the distillery highlights.
Whiskies
The whiskey lineup consists of a straight bourbon, a rye whiskey and a corn whiskey as core bottles, all small-batch produced and listed in the product overview. In addition to whiskey, the distillery produces gin, navy-strength gin, rum and liqueurs as well as a range of RTD cans and non-alcoholic variants. The range balances classic American whiskey traditions with local ingredients and experiments in rum and redistillation.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Age | Barrel and Char | Tasting Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 36 months | 53 gallon oak barrel and Number 4 char, 53 gallon oak barrel | Three-grain straight bourbon, double distilled and aged in Number 4 char 53-gallon oak barrels for about 36 months. Tasting notes mention brown sugar, smoky leather, orange marmalade and toasted oak.; Nose: Brown sugar, orange marmalade, toasted oak; Palate: Smoky leather, toasted oak | Active; Core range |
| Rye Whiskey | Rye | Aged at least 36 months | Number 5 char, 53 gallon oak barrel | Rye whiskey double distilled and aged at least 36 months in Number 5 char 53 gallon oak barrels. Highlights spice and vanilla notes.; Nose: Black pepper, vanilla; Palate: Rye spice | Active; Core range |
| Corn Whiskey | Corn whiskey | Mashed, fermented and pot-distilled from 100% Indiana corn. Suggested serving noted as pairing with sodas and citrus. | Active; Core range |
The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskeys
Common features in the flavor profile include a pronounced oak and toasted oak character combined with sweet notes like brown sugar and vanilla, along with spicy notes such as black pepper and rye spice. Citrus elements (orange marmalade) and a light smoky/leather note appear on some releases. These directions recur across several products and reflect the use of charred 53-gallon barrels and the chosen mashbills.
Visit the Distillery
Visitors can book guided Tour & Tasting experiences, where you see the distillery’s production areas, learn about fermentation and distillation, and see where the barrels are stored. The tour includes a guided tasting, an engraved 8th Day glass and 10% discount on merchandise, bottles or cans. Reservations are required, at least 6 participants to book, and tours must be planned 30 days in advance. The facilities are ADA-accessible; participants must be 21+ with valid ID. No refunds.
The stated opening hours are Thu 4:00 PM–9:00 PM, Fri 4:00 PM–11:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM–11:00 PM, Sun 3:00 PM–8:00 PM, Mon 4:00 PM–9:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery’s stated values revolve around 'honestly local': using locally sourced raw materials, artisanal small-batch production and engagement in the local community. They prioritize seasonal menus, collaborations with local businesses, and quarterly art exhibitions in their Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar.