History

Columbus, Ohio, was founded on February 14, 1812 on HIGH BANK at the edge of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. This historic site and the determination that accompanied the formation of Ohio's capital reflect High Bank Distillery Co.’s approach: an unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability. The distillery was founded by Adam Hines, Co-founder and Master Distiller, and his journey began after a moto-tour through Kentucky and Tennessee with his father. Along the way, Jack Daniel’s Distillery served as an inspiration for his love of brown spirits, which later became the foundation for High Bank. The history of High Bank ties the city’s origins to an unwavering craft spirit and a pursuit to produce spirits with integrity and care for the planet.

We are driven by a belief that people and the environment should be prioritized over profit. This is evident in our environmental-focused initiatives and our engagement in the local community, including partnerships through 1% for the Planet and our local FLOW partnership. Furthermore, the belief in openness and learning is evident in our Whiskey War universe and in the various tours and experiences.

Production / Manufacturing

High Bank combines traditional craftsmanship with modern blending and barrel aging to create its unique portfolio of spirits. Our approach includes: - Mash bills and blending: Our Bourbon is produced with a house-malted wheat-based mash bill consisting of five unique casks. Whiskey War is a master blend of three different mash bills – one high-rye and two bourbons – which come from MGP in Indiana and are blended in 300-gallon portions. These combinations yield characteristic notes and complexity. - Aging and maturation: Whiskey War and its derivative variants are aged for at least five years; Double Oaked undergoes another maturation in new oak barrels for an additional 6–12 months; Double Double Oaked and other variants follow similarly patient barrel-aging periods. - Special barrel- and port-integration: Midnight Cask Barrel Proof is a blend of Whiskey War Barrel Proof and an Australian Tawny Port aging, which adds hints such as plums and raisins together with the whiskey's core profile. Midnight Manhattan and Old Fashioned build on these base variants with port wine and bitters to create finished ready-to-drink cocktails. - Ecology and sustainability: Our vodka is produced from organic wheat and Ohio apples, and our packaging (eco-flasks) reduces glass usage by up to around 40% and requires less energy to produce. This is part of our More taste, less waste philosophy. - Product lines and expansions: In addition to our whiskey range, we produce Statehouse Gin (and Barrel Select versions), High Bank Vodka and various cocktail solutions and composite products such as Master’s Blend Experience and Whiskey Society memberships, which open the door to tastings, private tours and tailor-made blends.

Products / Whisky Series

High Bank Bourbon

750 mL | 46.50% alc/vol | 93 proof TASTING NOTES: A house-blended wheat-mash bill consisting of five unique casks. The nose offers malted chocolate and freshly sawn oak, while the palate offers sweet wheat, caramel, honey and candied nuts, with a finish of leather and dried apricot. Aged at least 6 years.

Whiskey War

750 mL | 44% alc/vol | 88 proof TASTING NOTES: A blend consisting of three mash bills (one high-rye and two bourbons) from MGP in Indiana. The palate offers pepper/spice and a sweet, rounded mid-palate with notes of gingerbread, allspice and vanilla as well as caramel. Aged at least 5 years. AWARDS: SFWS 2021, 2022, 2023 (Best Blended Whiskey in America – first time in the competition's history) and additional medals.

Whiskey War Double Oaked

750 mL | ~56% alc/vol | 113.5 proof A classic Whiskey War Barrel Proof that has undergone a second maturation in entirely new oak barrels (double oaked) – 6–12 months. TASTING NOTES: Oak, caramel, leather and pepper; notes of nuts and spices follow in the finish. Aged at least 5 years.

Whiskey War Double Double Oaked

750 mL | ~56% alc/vol | 113.5 proof Another intense variation of Whiskey War with full double extra aging in new oak barrels and a correspondingly powerful profile.

Midnight Cask Barrel Proof

750 mL | ~51% alc/vol | 102 proof TASTING NOTES: A blend of Whiskey War Barrel Proof and a port wine (Australian Tawny). Whiskey-forward profile dominates, followed by a beurre finish with dried raisins and vanilla. Aged at least 5 years.

Midnight Manhattan

750 mL | 35% alc/vol | 70 proof READY TO DRINK. A ready-made cocktail that blends Whiskey War, Tawny Port and bitters for an easy midnight drink.

Old Fashioned

750 mL | 35% alc/vol | 70 proof A ready-made Old Fashioned with Whiskey War Barrel Proof, simple syrup and bitters – citrus, rye-spice and pepper in a balanced blend.

Whiskey War Barrel Select

750 mL | ~59% alc/vol | 118 proof The Barrel Select series is born from using unique barrels and second aging (and sometimes third) to highlight the characters from special barrels. Releases follow specially selected batches and are often single-barrel or single-barrel releases.

Whiskey War Barrel Proof

750 mL | ~59% alc/vol | 118 proof TASTING NOTES: A malted-rye-heavy blend, starting sweet and finishing with white pepper notes and spice. Aged at least 5 years.

Whiskey War Cigar Cask

750 mL | ~58% alc/vol | 116 proof A signature edition, where Whiskey War Barrel Proof undergoes another aging in a Brazilian Amburana barrel. Notes of coconut, banana and tobacco develop into a long, sticky finish. Aged at least 5 years.

Statehouse Gin / Barrel Select

750 mL | 41% alc/vol | 82 proof Citrus-forward gin with a clear juniper and blood orange profile; distilled from organic wheat and Ohio apples and infused with a range of botanicals. The Barrel Select version is aged in special barrels and is single-barrel and unique for each batch.

Statehouse Gin Barrel Select

750 mL | 41% alc/vol | 82 proof The Barrel Select version is aged in one of the special Whiskey War barrels and provides a unique nose and palate-like flavor profile.

Vodka

1 L / 750 mL / 200 mL | 40% alc/vol | 80 proof TASTING NOTES: Clean and fresh with a hint of sweetness. Distilled from organic wheat and Ohio apples. AWARDS: Double Gold at SFWS 2022–2025; Best Vodka in the world (2025) at SFWS; Low-waste, eco-flasks (up to 40% less glass).

Economic and Experience-driven Initiatives

1% for the Planet – High Bank commits to giving at least 1% of revenue to environmental partners and actively participating in sustainable initiatives. Local collaboration with FLOW and the establishment of green initiatives have also been a central part of our business philosophy.

Visits / Experiences

Tours and Experiences

High Bank offers weekly public and private tours. Tours take place every Saturday at 4:30 PM with a price of $10 per person. Private tours can be booked for groups of at least 6 people. As part of the tour you get a tour of our history and production process with a tasting of our spirits.

Master’s Blend Experience

An in-depth course where you blend your own whiskey from our mash bills and have the opportunity to get the bottle signed and later place regular reorders as needed.

Whiskey Society

A membership program that brings together enthusiasts around our brown spirits with exclusive access to limited releases, private events and Meet & Greets with the Co-founder and Master Distiller.

Philosophy

High Bank stands for putting people and the planet before profit. In addition to the 1% for the Planet initiative, we actively work with sustainable packaging and local community engagement. We also share the history of Franklinton and High Bank as a source of inspiration and craft, and our approach is consistently defined by a passion for learning and sharing knowledge through tours, Master Experiences and The War Room episodes.

Awards and Events

We have received several medals and recognitions in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (including Best Blended Whiskey in America 2021–2023 and Platinum/Double Gold in later years) as well as other awards such as the John Barleycorn Awards and SIP Awards. We host ongoing events and launch new batches and Barrel Select releases, giving our customers the opportunity to experience a wide range of flavors and stories.