Rum in The Buckeye State
Ohio-made rum has links to the state’s rich distilling heritage, intertwined with its strategic geography and the resurgence of craft distilleries where local rum thrives. Ohio, “The Buckeye State,” named for its abundant buckeye trees (whose nuts resemble a deer’s eye), boasts a long and varied distilling history, deeply rooted in the flow of the mighty Ohio River (meaning great water). This 981-mile artery, along with its fertile floodplains, the development of railroads, and established trade routes, provided vital links and transported distilling knowledge. Situated in the heart of the Midwest, Ohio shares borders with Lake Erie and several neighbouring states: Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the west, and Michigan to the northwest, making it a crucial crossroads. The Western Reserve (or New Connecticut), a 3.3-million-acre land in northeastern Ohio, was an extension of New England into the West.
Ohio’s rich distilling history has been overshadowed in the modern era by its southern neighbour, Bourbon County’s success. But Ohio is important in the American distilling story. This is where pioneers settled and developed know-how, traded along the Ohio River flowing into the Mississippi River and inspired new generations of distilleries.
Then, during the 1920s Prohibition era, there was a strong anti-alcohol movement and Westerville, just north of Columbus, was famously known as the world’s capital of Prohibition. But it was also an era of moonshiners and bootleggers, which influences some distillers to this day. For many years, Ohio’s laws were restrictive towards distillers. It wasn’t until 2011, when House Bill 243 was passed, that improvements were made, allowing micro-distilleries to open tasting rooms and sell samples.
Today, the craft distilling revival has matured, and distilleries can now operate restaurants on the same property to provide a vibrant visitor experience. This insider’s guide to Ohio rum follows the flow of Ohio’s many rivers from the Great Lakes Plain in the north across plains and landscapes south to discover the hidden gems of Ohio-made rum on this unmissable road trip.
Northwest Ohio
Bordering Lake Erie, Southeast Michigan, and Northeast Indiana, this region, once part of the historic Black Swamp, is now a haven for nature lovers. The Toledo region is famously known as the ‘Warbler Capital of the World,’ and locally made rum awaits nearby, offering refreshment for weary travellers.
Toledo Spirits
Established in 2013 in a warehouse in downtown Toledo that is historic for the townspeople. Their goal has remained the same ever since they first turned on their stills: to create high-quality spirits for craft cocktails. This includes a full lineup of bourbon, gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, moonshine and liqueurs. For rum, King & Dane is their brand, and Midwest-made King & Dane Silver Rum is made in small batches, two-time pot distilled from an authentic panela and dunder sour mash, resulting in a smooth and balanced rum with rich, bright tropical fruit notes. King & Dane Reunion Rum was created as a homage to the rich history and traditions of Caribbean rum-making and signifying a reunion. This is made the same as the Silver rum, two-time pot distilled from panela and dunder sour mash, then it’s rested in used charred white American oak barrels, freshly emptied of bourbon, for over 2 years.
Bellwether at Toledo Spirits is the cocktail bar and kitchen where you are welcomed and can try their rum in cocktails designed to showcase their spirits. There’s plenty of experience here, with regular bookable events, including tours and cocktail classes, plus a bottle shop to take a rum with you.
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Flatrock Distilling
Established in 2012 by owner Lawrence Pritchard III, a contestant on Discovery Channel Moonshiners Master Distiller Season 1. In 2023, they found a new home in the Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee, Ohio. The small batch distillery creates a range of spirits and flavoured moonshines. Kingston Taylor Maple Syrup ‘Rum’ has integrated Ohio-sourced maple syrup into both the thumper and wash during distillation on a traditional pot still. Their coconut rum has a rum mash of brown sugar, maple syrup, raisins, and molasses. Along with the distillery, there’s a bistro-style restaurant, bar, and bottle shop, all under one roof. The restaurant serves their house-made spirits, and the bar creates cocktails that showcase their spirits.
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Northeast Ohio
From Lake Erie’s influence with rolling terrain and the Cuyahoga Valley, there’s a climate of warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, especially near the lake. The transition into the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau, with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, highlights the area’s natural beauty. Key attractions include Cleveland’s cultural scene, the historic West Side Market, renowned museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the outdoors of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Western Reserve Distillers
A family-owned Organic Craft Distillery produces spirits in Lakewood. It was founded in 2014 by Kevin and Ann Thomas and their son, Jake. It’s Ohio’s first and only USDA-certified organic craft distillery. In 2017, they added a restaurant to the distillery. They produce vodkas, gins, and some bourbons. Whiskeys are distilled using 100% organic grains from Twin Parks Organic Farm, about 75 miles away.
Western Reserve Premium Organic Silver Rum is a clear rum made in small batches. The Black Pearl Molasses used as the base for their silver rum is from Louisiana, where local farmers grow, harvest, and process the organic sugar cane. Once the dark molasses arrives at the distillery, it’s then fermented and double-distilled in their handmade copper pot still. The rum is then aged in their own fresh bourbon barrels to develop flavour. Finally, it’s filtered to a clear colour to be enjoyed on the rocks or served in a classic Daiquiri. You can enjoy at the distillery restaurant and bar, where they also host cocktail classes and offer tours and tastings.
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Lake Erie Distillery
Lake Erie in Willoughby, Ohio, was founded in 2016 by Fred and Cathy Wisen. The couple started the distillery after visiting distilleries in the South and wondering why they couldn’t make high-quality spirits in Ohio. They spent 2 years developing the distillery, experimenting with ageing in American oak barrels. Developing an environmentally conscious process, they sourced local, organic, and all-natural ingredients and the first bottles were sold in late 2021. They wanted to be as traditional as possible with the bourbon, and the rest of the line focused on products that no one else had. Lake Erie Jamaican-style rum is made from the third run of Blackstrap molasses, cane sugar and yeast from the Caribbean. They run the stills in a pot still mode to bring over all the flavour from the mash. It’s put into stainless steel drums for 2 weeks to allow the alcohol to mellow and combine. A touch of molasses at the end to enhance the aroma, and it’s ready for the bottle. This Jamaican-style rum is designed to emulate rum from the island. They have a sustainable first approach, so when you visit their tasting room, you’ll find hyper-local beers and menus. Visitors can enjoy craft cocktails with Lake Erie rum in the tasting room, where there’s a lounge and a small kitchen.
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Doc Howard’s Distillery
Founded in 2016 by Kenneth “Doc” Howard, a retired engineer, the distillery is located in Perry Township, Lake County. From beer and winemaking to researching distillation in a retirement project that now produces 7 varieties of whiskey and two types of rum. Doc Howard’s Golden Rum starts with cane sugar and molasses to create a golden rum. Then, he infuses the rum with natural oak flavours. This allows them to keep the traditional rum flavour and yet keep it light. Doc Howard’s Spiced Rum starts out with cane sugar and molasses, just like the Golden Rum. Then, natural whole spices are added to create a unique spiced rum. This flavourful and sweet rum is balanced for any cocktail or drink. You can visit the tasting room and enjoy a tour. The rum is available in stores throughout Northeast Ohio.
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Seven Brothers Distilling Company
Seven Brothers Distilling Co. was officially founded by Kevin Suttman in 2010 in an old red barn in Northeast Ohio, about 30 minutes east of Cleveland. At the time, distilleries were not legally permitted to have tasting rooms, so Seven Brothers operated by selling primarily through liquor stores. The distillery set itself apart by using local ingredients whenever possible and utilising Vacuum Distillation, a unique process that lowers the boiling point of alcohol and preserves delicate flavours often lost in distillation. One of their first spirits to hit the market was Erie Island Spiced Rum, aged lightly with cherrywood and infused with a distinctive spice blend, including vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon, in addition to Ohio apples, along with traditional rum spices.
By 2022, laws had changed, allowing distilleries to open tasting rooms. Seven Brothers relocated to Harpersfield, Ohio, along Route 307 in the Grand River Valley Wine Region. The new facility, surrounded by wineries, now features a tasting room and cocktail lounge specialising in craft cocktails such as the Angry Sister. The distillery produces a wide range of spirits, including vodka, rum, brandy, bourbon, gin, and agave spirits. As for the name, founder Kevin comes from a family of seven brothers (and one sister) and continued the family tradition of alcohol production by establishing Seven Brothers Distilling Co.
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Towpath Distillery
The nano distillery opened in 2021. Founded by Anthony Piscazzi, great-grandson of one of the area’s most successful prohibition-era bootleggers, Rocco “Roxy” Piscazzi. Silver Rum was the 2nd release in February 2022. This silver rum is fermented and distilled in-house in small batches of 500 – 800 in 750ml bottles. The base is a Distiller’s Grade Molasses similar to Black Strap, and they distill 3 times in a copper Pot Still. In 2024, they released a Spiced Rum using Silver Rum as the base and flavouring with hand-scraped vanilla beans, freshly peeled oranges & other herbs and Spices. Truly delicious by itself or in a cocktail. They also make a seasonal Holiday Spiced Rum with all the flavours of the Christmas Season. This once-a-year limited release is one of the top-selling Ohio-made rums every year. Head Distiller David Sheffer is an Akron Native who spent over 13 years in Napa making wine and working in the barrel industry. He is an expert blender and has a vast knowledge of the science behind barrel selection, usage, and all things related. Towpath will release some barrel-aged products in 2026.
Located inside its sister restaurant, The Merchant Tavern, all spirits are available to sample or to enjoy in a cocktail. Both Silver & Spiced Rum are available online or through state agencies in Northeast Ohio. While there are no tours of the distillery, you can see the whole thing from most of the bar & dining room tables. They are currently building a tasting room and larger distillery in Akron’s North Hill neighbourhood, to open in 2026.
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Central Ohio
Gentle hills, natural beauty and hidden gem rums await. Dive into wildlife at the renowned Columbus Zoo, then escape to the sprawling, bison-filled Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Wander through the floral artistry of Franklin Park Conservatory, ponder the ancient mysteries of the Newark Earthworks and visit a local rum distillery and sip cocktails.
Iron Vault Distillery
Founded by John Bassett, his wife Lori, and his friend Sam Thacker in 2017 and opened in 2018 in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio. They specialise in heirloom bourbons, single malt whiskeys, gin, vodka and rum. They use the word Vault in the name to reflect the history. Iron Vault has two types of rum; one is a clear rum, and the other is an aged rum that they call Reformatory Rum, as they are close to the old Ohio Reformatory for men in Mansfield, Ohio. This is the same prison used to film The Shawshank Redemption. The rum is twice distilled, and what makes it special is the second distillation, which includes dunder to bring more flavour. Both rums come from the same liquid. For the Reformatory Rum, the ageing occurs in barrels that contain their signature bourbon and Single Malt, which helps mellow the spirit and boost the flavour experience. Samples can be enjoyed in their tasting room at the distillery, and you can buy bottles onsite.
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Echo Spirits Distilling
In Columbus, Echo Spirits is the story of two guys who didn’t quit their daydreams. Analytical jobs with weekend creative outlets, especially homebrewing. Homebrewing led to distilling, and distillery tours led to “Hey, we should open our own distillery”. They opened in October 2019 with the first spirit, a white rum. All of their rum is currently distilled from panela using a craft-distiller favourite, the hybrid pot still. They distill all of the rum in-house, including Echo Spirits White Rum, Pineapple Rum, Spiced Rum, Queen’s Share Rum, and a few other special releases over the years. In 2022 and 2024, they were named one of the Top 10 Best Craft Rum Distilleries in the US.
The annual Echo Spirits Queen’s Share Rum release is a distillery favourite each year. They save the feints from distilling all the other rums, re-distill them, and barrel-age, typically in a used bourbon barrel, although they have a few other experiments ongoing. The most recent batch was 3 years and 4 months old and released at barrel proof. One barrel a year is released, and when it’s sold out, it’s gone until the next fall.
The in-house cocktail bar, The Bar at Echo Spirits, has been named ‘The Best Cocktails in Columbus’ for two years running. Heavily featured are their spirits, particularly rum. The bar staff have been working with the rums longer than anyone, so it’s fair to say they’ve learned a thing or two. Outside of its own bar, Denmark on High is one of the best craft cocktail bars in the city and has featured Echo Spirits rums since it opened. Huli Huli Tiki Lounge just to the north has Echo Spirits rum on their menu, as well as during a yearly ‘May The Fourth’ menu takeover weekend.
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451 Spirits
2015 Chad Kessler, the owner and distiller at 451 Spirits, started in 2015 in the Clintonville neighbourhood of Columbus, Ohio. The craft distillery has been operating for over a decade and makes a line of spirits, including rum. Writer’s Block Rum is distilled from molasses and their first foray into the rum world. Rather than introduce a plain white rum or traditional spiced rum, they looked towards other botanicals. To create this dry nod to the Mojito, it’s first double-distilled base rum before infusing with mint and lime and then redistilled. All components are distilled separately and then blended back together, batch by batch, according to taste. Pipe Dream Rum is inspired by tropical climes. The rum begins life as the same molasses as the Writer’s Block rum and then gets laid down in barrels until it is deemed ready. Extra-long fermentation with natural bacteria present creates an added depth of flavour. Batch 1 was aged in a single brand-new charred American Oak barrel. The use of a fresh barrel imparted a lot of flavour in a relatively short time. Future releases will vary between batch and barrel size, but the goal is always the same: to produce outstanding rum in the Midwest. Quad Barrel Rum was Pipe Dream Rum re-casked in Belgian-style Quad barrels for another year. The distillery and gallery are where art can come in a glass or on a canvas. They offer tours, tastings and bottle shop service.
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Endeavor Brewing and Spirits
In the Grandview area of Columbus, Endeavour is Ohio’s first brewery distillery. The Fifth by Northwest operation began as a brewery in 2017 before adding a small in-house still to produce gin, vodka, rum and whiskey in 2020. It started with beer. The trio behind the brewery, Scott Talmage, Tyler Provo and Cameron Lloyd, drew inspiration from their collective international adventures. Endeavor Brewing and Spirits White Rum is unaged and distilled from turbinado sugar. Endeavor Brewing and Spirits Cask Rum is the original white rum aged with a combination of French and Brazilian oaks.
Guests can sip Endeavor’s line of spirits at the bar or taste them in the cocktail menu. The cocktail program is switched up every quarter. Dogs are always welcome inside and out. Tuesday is Trivia, Wednesdays are Bingo & Brews, and the third Thursday of each month is Lego Night with a live band.
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A.M. Scott Distillery
A.M. Scott Distillery in Troy, just north of Dayton and west of Columbus, bottles Googan Island White Caribbean Rum is distilled from molasses and sourced. Googan Island Barrel Aged Caribbean Rum is aged in oak barrels, and Googan Island Spiced Caribbean Rum.
Motherwell Distilling
In the scenic Hocking Hills of southeastern Ohio, this craft distillery started in 2022 behind 58 West, a restaurant in a former mid-century car dealership. Named after the Motherwell Iron and Steel Works in Logan, Ohio, in the late 19th century. Everything in the distillery is done by hand with true craftsmanship. On any day, they may be running bourbon, rye, or a rum mash. Motherwell’s Canal Boat Rum honours Logan’s Hocking Canal history. Master distiller Vince Crisler, a fan of the high-ester rums of Jamaica and Barbados, developed his own rum recipe based on years of research. It starts with Panela from Columbia, yeast from Norway, and a dunder recipe developed for over 5 years. Made in a hybrid pot still with a column and bottled at 85 proof, the rum is available at the distillery and at the OHLQ Store in Logan inside Kroger’s. The latest release in February 2025 is Old Boat Single Barrel Overproof Rum, their first aged rum. It’s Canal Boat Rum, aged in a Motherwell’s Common Ground Bourbon barrel and bottled at 108 proof. This rum is only available at the distillery, which you can visit. But operating hours are limited, so check when they’re open and enquire about a tasting appointment.
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Southwest Ohio
The prominent Ohio River carves scenic valleys, offering ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Cincinnati, a hub of culture and history, boasts a thriving arts and culinary scene. A must-visit is the world-renowned Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Enhancing your visit are the local rum producers. From riverboat cruises to riverside parks, the city’s allure is undeniable.
Five Stories Rum
The family-owned Northern Row Brewery & Distillery in Cincinnati, Ohio, began brewing in 2018. The brewery is located in a historic building that was built in 1895. Originally an icehouse and storage space, the brewery began distilling and ageing their own spirits in 2017 and produces craft gins, rums, malted whisky, vodkas, and bourbons. The Five Stories name relates to the building and the layers of flavour they create there.
Five Stories White Rum is a unique dunder-style rum that highlights the rich flavours of molasses and Panela sugar. It’s made using their own in-house dunder culture and a slow, 6-week fermentation. This yields an earthy Caribbean-style spirit while emphasising the sweetness of the rich molasses and the caramel notes from the cane sugar. There are no sweetening or artificial colours after distillation. Instead, they blend in a small amount of their barrel-aged rum to add another level of complexity to the spirit. They feel that the spirit should be authentic to what comes off the still. Five Stories Coconut Rum is a small batch rum aged and blended with their in-house roasted coconut to make this all-natural, coconut-flavoured rum.
In the taproom and kitchen, there are classic cocktails like the Mojito, and they recommend trying the Preacherito serve, which is the Five Stories Rum and their own Preacher peach and apricot fruit beer. For food, there’s farm-to-table from Chef Monroe. There’s a pet-friendly outdoor courtyard, and the bar serves cocktails with their rum.
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Cincinnati Distilling
Located in Old Milford, Ohio, it started in 2017 alongside March First Brewing. together, they are Cincinnati’s only brewery, cidery, and distillery. Distilling, blending, and creating spirits in an early 19th-century building, it was previously known as the Millcroft Inn. It’s home to the first distillers in the area. Ohio’s first distiller in 1794 was Christian Waldschmidt, who started a community at a site on the Little Miami River. They produce Cincinnati Whiskeys, Voltage Vodka, Red Sky Gin and Cooper Island Rum.
Cooper Island Premium White Rum is made from 99% Caribbean Molasses and 1% Ohio Apple. There’s Cooper Island Premium Spiced Rum and Cooper Island Coconut Cream Rum. In 2021, Cincinnati Distilling Company acquired the Stillwrights brand from Flat Rock Spirits. They also hired James Bagford, co-owner and head distiller of the distillery, to ensure the continuation of the rum and Stillwrights Spiced Rum. It’s a destination distillery welcoming visitors year-round for events, tours, tastings, and cocktail classes, and you can enjoy the restaurant, rooftop bar (open seasonally), event space, museum and art gallery.
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Karrikin Spirits
Cincinnati-based craft distillery/brewery and event space in Fairfax was founded in 2017 by a group of 7 passionate. The region is referred to as Whiskey Hollow by Ferris, a local farmer and corn whiskey maker. The Karrikin name comes from karrikins, the elements found in the smoke from a forest fire that trigger the regeneration of that forest. Centuries after Whiskey Hollow, Karrikins helped bring distilling back to this very location on Cincinnati’s east side. The distillery produces spirits, sparkling spirits, non-alcoholic sodas, and beer. Gin is a mainstay, but they produce rum. Karrikin Spirits has the largest copper pot still in the state of Ohio, custom-built by the Vendome Copper & Brass Works in Louisville. Distilling rum, Karrikin Spirits Shuga Rum is their white rum, and their barrel-aged expression is Karrikin Spirits Barrel Aged Rum.
For visitors, the industrial-hip building is a locale for craft beer & spirits, serving global plates & distillery tours. You can visit to enjoy craft spirits, cocktails, and beer in their location in Ohio and Kentucky.
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Beyond the distillery tasting rooms already mentioned, here are some other excellent places to sip Ohio-made rum at good establishments.
Where to Enjoy Rum in Ohio
Cincinnati: Japp’s – Since 1879, Longfellow, Northside Yacht Club, The Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club, Knotty Pine Bar, Tiki Tiki Bang Bang
Cleveland: Rum Runners, Porco Lounge & Tiki Room, Velvet Tango Room
Columbus: Sacred Palm, Denmark, Law Bird
Cuyahoga Falls: Tiki Underground
Dayton: The Century Bar
Kettering: Rum Runners Cafe
Milford: Cooper Island Rum Bar
Powell: Huli Huli Tiki Lounge
Wadsworth: Crafted Cocktail Company
Ohio has many attractions for visitors, and now there are even more reasons to go. From stunning waterfalls, museums, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and numerous hidden gem rum experiences to make your trip even more memorable. Ohio has several rum-related events, including Tiki Weekender, the Ohio Rum Society’s Monster Mash Rum Bash, and the Rotary Club of Tiffin’s Rotary Ribs, Rock and Rum Festival. Embark on the Ohio Distillery Trail and discover the charm of local distilleries and their communities.
For more general travel advice on Ohio Tourism
For travel planning, use our Ohio Rum Map
Thanks to the brands for contributing to this article and the use of images. Other image credits go to Canva Pro and user contributions.