History

Dayton Barrel Works is an artisan distillery in Dayton, Ohio, founded on the banks of an old canal and in buildings built during Prohibition. The company draws inspiration from Dayton's rich history and reflects it in their approach to raw materials and storytelling in spirits. They use slogans such as Settled 1796 as an homage to the city's beginnings and promise to awaken the stories of the past and shape the stories of the future. Over the years they have been recognized as one of the leading craft-spirit distilleries in the U.S., including as “Best Craft Spirit Distillery in the U.S.” in 2024 and among the top 2 craft distilleries in 2023.

Production / Manufacturing

Dayton Barrel Works focuses on sourcing raw materials of the highest quality – grain, yeast, casks, and botanicals – to create spirits that tell the story of who they were, who they are, and who they will become. In addition to whiskey they also produce other spirit types such as gin, vodka, and absinthe, and they experiment with different casks such as Armagnac casks and Colombian rum casks (e.g., Distiller’s Blend, which is aged in rum casks and further finished for five months). They also pay attention to small-batch productions such as Harper’s Siren gin.

Products / Whisky Series

Rubicon Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey

95 Proof | 47.5% Alc. Vol. – A balanced bourbon with spice and oak, notes of cherry and vanilla.

Rubicon Creek Straight Rye Whiskey

95 Proof | 47.5% Alc. Vol. – A rye-dramatic and spicy whiskey.

Distiller’s Blend

100 Proof | 50% Alc. Vol. – A careful blend of bourbon- and rye-forward, aged and finished in Colombian rum casks for an additional five months.

Rubicon Creek Fable 7-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

97 Proof – A 7-year-old straight bourbon in the Rubicon Creek line.

Myth Single Barrel Malt Whiskey

95 Proof – A malt whiskey in the Rubicon Creek collection.

Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Barrel Proof – 118.2 Proof | 59.1% Alc. Vol. – A single-barrel bourbon selected to highlight each individual barrel.

Altschul’s Straight Corn Whiskey

100 Proof | 50% Alc. Vol. – A white corn whiskey with sweetness and cherry notes.

Weiler Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

100 Proof | 50% Alc. Vol. – Dayton-based single barrel whiskey, in collaboration with Gerstner (cask-maker).

Rubicon Creek Myth Single Barrel Malt Whiskey

111 Proof | 55.5% Alc. Vol. – A single-barrel malt whiskey in the Myth series.

Miami Valley Straight Rye Whiskey

LIMITED RELEASE – a limited rye from Miami Valley.

Gerstner Craftsmanship Single Barrel Reserve

95 Proof | 47.5% Alc. Vol. – Dayton-based single-barrel, a collaboration with Gerstner (cask-maker); reflects local terroir and climate.

All of the above products are part of the Rubicon Creek Collection and variants that showcase Dayton Barrel Works’ focus on history, quality, and small-batch production. Their products have won numerous awards at the U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Championships and other critics' awards in the years around 2021–2024.

Visits / Experiences

Cocktail Bar and Distillery form the centerpiece of the Dayton Barrel Works experience: - Cocktail Bar offers private events and bookings. Opening hours for the Cocktail Bar: Thursday 5:00–10:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 5:00–11:00 PM. Thirsty Thursdays offer special prices on selected drinks and finger foods. - Daily events and private events: Mondays and Tuesday–Wednesday are closed for open sessions, but private events can be booked Tuesday–Sunday and room rental includes the entire cocktail bar, the forecourt and the backyard, with space for up to 130 people. - Menu: 원 – Both cocktails and spirit bottle-to-go, as well as the option to take home bottled products on bartender recommendations.

Philosophy

Dayton Barrel Works describes itself as a brand that revives the city’s history and creates new stories through their spirits. Their approach focuses on high-quality raw materials (grains, yeast, casks and botanicals) and on telling stories through spirits – that beverages are a way to experience the past, present and future. They emphasize small-batch production, craftsmanship, and local engagement to convey Dayton's unique culture through their products.

Status

Status: Active (produces whiskey and other spirits now).