Belle Of Dayton

About the distillery

Belle Of Dayton is located centrally in Dayton, Ohio, and is a small, family-run distillery that since 2012 has worked in small batches on a handcrafted 350-gallon copper pot still. In addition to vodka and gin, they produce barrel-aged spirits under the name Detrick. The distillery combines local ingredients and longer steeping times for botanicals with a bar, the Van Buren Room, where guests can sample and pick up their bottles.

History

The story begins in 2012 when brothers Mike and Murphy LaSelle established Belle Of Dayton. They quickly focused on small-scale production and craftsmanship, and over the years their spirits have earned several international awards. In the mid-2010s, the vodka was recognized in competitions, and in 2017 their gin earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Since then the portfolio has been expanded with barrel-aged bourbon and rye under the Detrick name, with single barrel and full-proof releases having been part of the range, and the distillery continues to combine local references with small-batch craftsmanship.

Ingredients and production

Production takes place in small batches on a custom hand-built 350-gallon copper pot still. Vodka is distilled from 100% corn, and the gin base is a spirit produced from both corn and rye. Botanicals for gin steep in the pot for 18 hours before distillation, and the actual gin distillation uses a steam-injected, vapor-infused copper column with a fire plate to retain botanical aromas. Water addition uses mineral-rich, naturally filtered water from Dayton’s Miami Buried Valley aquifer. These methods — long steeping times, pot distillation, and vapor infusion — form the core of their craft.

Maturation and cask types

Barrel-aged bourbon releases are marked as aged in hand-toasted 53-gallon white oak casks. The distillery offers single barrel and full-proof single barrel releases, which point to selections and releases from individual casks. The documented use of 53-gallon white oak casks is central to their aging practices for bourbon.

Whiskeys

The portfolio ranges from unmatured spirits such as Belle Of Dayton Vodka and Belle Of Dayton Gin to barrel-aged products under the Detrick name. In the shop and in the Van Buren Room, notable examples include Detrick Single Barrel Bourbon, Detrick Full Proof Single Barrel Bourbon, Detrick Single Barrel Rye, and Detrick Straight Rye Whiskey. The products are sold via Van Buren Room, online channels, and local retailers.

Whiskey style and flavor profile

The documented tasting notes emphasize several recurring elements: fresh citrus and lemon notes (especially in gin and vodka), sweet layers such as honey, marmalade, and toffee in vodka and bourbon, as well as spicy rye notes with pepper/peppercorn. The gin’s aromas clearly contain juniper notes and herbal notes from coriander and other botanicals. Together, this gives a relatively consistent aroma and flavor profile across the products.

Visit the distillery

Belle Of Dayton offers guided tours and tastings, which can be booked, as well as the Van Buren Room where you can enjoy cocktails made with the distillery’s spirits and pick up purchased bottles. There is also a gift shop. The opening hours focus on evenings and weekends: closed Mondays and Sundays, open Tuesday–Thursday evenings, longer hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

The stated opening hours are Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM; Wednesday: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM; Thursday: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM; Friday: 5:00 PM - 1:00 AM; Saturday: 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM; Sunday: Closed.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

The distillery's stated approach is artisanal and small-scale: they work with a traditional emphasis on craftsmanship and ingenuity, reflecting American craftsmanship. The choice of a custom pot still, use of local botanicals, and long steeping times are concrete expressions of their production priorities.

Awards and accolades

• Double Gold Medal (2017, Double Gold, Belle of Dayton Gin)

• Gold Medal (2017, Gold, Belle of Dayton Gin)

• Silver Medal (2017, Silver, Belle of Dayton Gin)

• Gold Medal (2023, Gold, Belle of Dayton Vodka)

• Platinum Medal (2015, Platinum, Belle of Dayton Vodka)

• Silver Medal (2015, Silver, Belle of Dayton Vodka)

• Silver Medal (2014, Silver, Belle of Dayton Vodka)