Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Cleveland Whiskey
Overview of the Distillery
Cleveland Whiskey is located in South Flats in Cleveland, Ohio, and is known for combining technological methods with traditional distilling craftsmanship. The brand's Pressure-aged® technology enables finishing spirits with secondary woods such as Black Cherry, Apple and Sugar Maple, and the company has achieved broad retail distribution as well as a number of awards.
History
Tom Lix began experimenting with technology-based methods in 2009. After several years of development, Cleveland Whiskey launched its first public batch in 2013. Since then, the company has grown to a 65,000 sq ft campus, sold over a million bottles, and been represented in thousands of retail locations. Cleveland Whiskey has also been granted two U.S. patents and worked with international partners, including through the joint venture Ella Spirits.
Raw Materials and Production
Key production characteristics include Pressure-aged® finishing technology, use of secondary wood pieces for finishing (e.g., Black Cherry, Apple, Sugar Maple), a combination of science and craftsmanship, and a focus on reproducible flavor profiles through controlled finishing.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Many expressions from Cleveland Whiskey rely on finishing with secondary wood species rather than solely traditional casks. Black Cherry, Apple, and Sugar Maple are used as finishing materials in a controlled Pressure-aged® process. The products are made without added sugar, syrup, artificial flavors, or color.
Whiskies
The range includes traditional bourbons, wheated bourbons, rye, and a flavored variant. Several products are named after the wood finish they receive, for example Black Cherry Wood, Apple Wood, and Sugar Maple. The lineup includes both standard proof expressions and full proof versions as well as special releases, and the products are distributed in Ohio and selected national markets, as well as directly from the distillery shop in Cleveland.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Reserve | Bourbon | Bourbon listed as Black Reserve (100 Proof). | Core Range | |
| Eighty-Seven | Bourbon | Bourbon named Eighty-Seven (87 Proof). | Core Range | |
| Black Cherry Wood | Bourbon | Pressure-aged® finish with Black Cherry wood; finish: Finished with Black Cherry wood pieces using pressure-aged® technology. | Bourbon finished with Black Cherry wood (94 Proof). | Core Range |
| Black Cherry Full Proof | Bourbon | Pressure-aged® finish with Black Cherry wood; finish: Finished with Black Cherry wood pieces using pressure-aged® technology. | Full proof version of Black Cherry. | Limited |
| Wheat Penny | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated bourbon named Wheat Penny (94 Proof). | Core Range | |
| Wheat Penny Full Proof | Wheated Bourbon | Full proof version of Wheat Penny. | Limited | |
| Rye | Rye Whiskey | Rye whiskey listed as Rye (90 Proof). | Core Range | |
| Apple Wood | Bourbon | Pressure-aged® finish with Apple wood; finish: Finished with Apple wood pieces using pressure-aged® technology. | Bourbon finished with Apple wood (92 Proof). | Core Range |
| Sugar Maple | Bourbon | Pressure-aged® finish with Sugar Maple wood; finish: Finished with Sugar Maple wood pieces using pressure-aged® technology. | Bourbon finished with Sugar Maple wood (92 Proof). | Core Range |
| Bridge & Main | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated bourbon named Bridge & Main (90 Proof). | ||
| Magic Rabbit | Flavored Whiskey | Flavored whiskey named Magic Rabbit (70 Proof). |
The Whiskyes' Style and Flavor Profile
A throughline across the range is the use of specific wood finishes; several bottles carry names like Black Cherry, Apple, and Sugar Maple, indicating fruity wood finish directions. The lineup also spans bourbons, wheated bourbons, and rye, providing variation in body and style across the expressions.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery offers public tours on Fridays and Saturdays for groups of up to 15 people. A tour costs $15 per person, typically lasts 60–90 minutes, and includes a whiskey tasting. There is free on-site parking, a ramp at the main entrance, and guests are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes. The distillery does not have a finished bar or restaurant area, but a gift shop is open during the distillery's hours.
The stated hours are Thu & Fri: 12pm–5pm; Saturday: 11am–3pm. Tours: Friday 6:00 PM; Saturday 3:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
Cleveland Whiskey prioritizes the combination of science and craft by using proprietary Pressure-aged® technology to create reproducible flavor profiles. The company emphasizes the use of secondary wood species for finishing and a policy of not adding sugar, syrup, artificial flavors, or color.