History

Bear Wallow Distillery is located in Gnaw Bone, Indiana. The family is owned by Susan Spagnuolo and the distillery is described as one of the few woman-owned distilleries in the country. The history tells that Bear Wallow Distillery was founded in March 2012 after a foodie road trip, and in March 2012 Bear Wallow Distillery was formed. We became part of the small group that worked to change the laws in Indiana and were the first new distillery to open in Indiana after the Artisan Distillers Act was passed in July 2013. After a year of permits, construction and equipment setup, production began in May 2014 and the doors opened to the public on August 1, 2014 in Nashville, Indiana.

Production / Manufacturing

The aging process takes place in new, handmade, charred American white oak barrels that we purchase from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, KY. According to federal law, all of our bourbon and rye whiskey are aged in new, handmade, charred American oak barrels which we purchase from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, KY. Smaller barrels accelerate maturation and larger barrels slow maturation, and therefore we use 53-gallon barrels for our normal aging and 25-gallon barrels to speed up aging and achieve about 2 to 3 years of aging in this format. We typically fill 53-gallon barrels for each batch, but most barrels are 25 gallons and you achieve full aging in this smaller format after about 2 to 3 years and equivalent to 8 to 10 years in larger barrels. When we blend and bottle, the bottles are often watered down from barrel strength (120 proof plus) to around 100 proof and each batch yields around 1000 bottles. From time to time, and especially in certain editions, we find barrels that are particularly exceptional and then we bottle them directly at full barrel strength without blending with other barrels. These single barrel offerings are not always available but when they are selected they go fast.

Products / Whisky Series

Gnaw Bone Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 100 proof, mash bill 65% corn, 25% wheat, 10% malted barley. Aged in new, charred American white oak barrels and offers notes of toasted grain, smoke, caramel-vanilla and a dark amber color. According to the producer it is our No. 1 best-selling whiskey. Liar's Bench Straight Rye Whiskey – 100 proof, 55% rye, 35% corn, 10% malted barley. A lower rye content makes it smooth with a slight pepper burn on the back of the palate. Aged in the same new, charred barrels as the bourbon and is heavy and full-bodied with good mouthfeel and finish. Wolf Creek Four Grain Whiskey – 100 proof, 40% corn, 40% wheat, 10% rye, and 10% malted barley. The flavor combines sweetness from wheat and spice from rye, as it is aged in used Gnaw Bone Bourbon barrels. The aging takes longer because the barrels are used, but the barrels still account for around 75% of the flavor. It has a nice deeper color and resembles Highland Scotch or Irish whiskey in character, but it is not as heavy or sweet as Gnaw Bone Straight Bourbon. It is good neat or in cocktails. Bear Trap Whiskey – 120 proof, unaged white whiskey. 65% corn, 25% wheat, 10% malted barley. Bear Trap is described as the smoothest and creamiest in the lineup and is also the highest-proof whiskey they sell. It shows the effect of not having been aged in new barrels compared with Gnaw Bone Straight Bourbon. Hidden Holler Corn Whiskey Moonshine – 80 proof, 85% corn and 15% malted barley. Indiana-style moonshine that is unaged and is labeled as Corn Whiskey Moonshine. We also produce Hoosier Hooch and Bear Wallow Moonshine in this series. Hoosier Hooch Corn Whiskey Moonshine – 100 proof, 100% corn. Pure corn moonshine with a distinct corn flavor. Single Barrel Limited Editions | Barrel Strength – individual barrels selected and bottled at barrel strength, typically between 90 and 120 bottles per batch and not always available, but sell quickly.

Visits and Experiences

A tasting flight costs 8 USD and includes tastings of up to 6 of our 19 different whiskies. Seasonal craft cocktails are also available for around 10 USD. Farm-to-Fifth Tours are offered on Saturdays at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00; reservations are not required and the price is 25 USD per person and includes a full tasting flight. Group tours can be arranged as needed. The plan indicates that tours will not be available until March 2026.

Philosophy

Bear Wallow Distillery is family-owned by Susan Spagnuolo and is described as one of the few woman-owned distilleries in the country. They hold certifications Farm Distillery (Indiana), Indiana Artisan and Indiana Grown and place emphasis on using exclusively Indiana-grown grains. Production takes place in small batches with a focus on craftsmanship and a farm-to-fifth approach throughout the process from mash to distillation and aging.