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.
High Bank Distillery Co.
About the Distillery
High Bank Distillery Co. is located in Columbus, Ohio, and combines an active guest experience with actual spirit production. Since 2017, the core areas have been blended whiskey, small batch bottlings and barrel proof releases, while guests can experience a pub environment, restaurants and purchase bottles in its own shops.
History
The story starts with Adam Hines' motorcycle trip in 2006, where his encounter with rickhouses and Jack Daniels sparked an interest in brown spirits. He later became a co-founder and Master Distiller for High Bank, which opened in Columbus in 2017. Since its inception, the distillery has built a local business with a distillery pub, retail locations and restaurants, and has earned national recognition through repeated wins at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as participation in competition categories in 2025.
Raw Materials and Production
High Bank uses blending as a central production principle in a craft-focused way. The company assembles small-batch blends and selects casks for barrel-proof bottlings and barrel-select releases. The Master Distiller role is central in both batch composition and selection of single-barrel picks. In addition to whiskey, High Bank also produces vodka, gin and ready-to-drink products. Technical details such as mash bills, yeast selection, distillation type and water source are not specified in the supplied information.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation includes blending from multiple casks and the use of finishing methods. For example, Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon is described as a blend of 10 casks with an average age of six years. Product communications also mention double-oaked variants and barrel-select bottlings, and selected batches are bottled at full barrel strength.
Whiskeys
The portfolio consists of a core range of Whiskey War blended products in several variants (including barrel proof, double oaked and barrel select), a limited Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon, as well as spirits in the form of vodka and gin and ready-to-drink cocktail products. Some releases are launched in their own retail locations and in select stores.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiskey War | Blended whiskey | Core blended whiskey series from High Bank, repeatedly recognized at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. | Current; Core range | |||
| Whiskey War Barrel Proof | Blended whiskey (barrel proof) | Barrel proof variant within the Whiskey War family, entered for competition at SFWSC 2025. | Current; Core range | |||
| Whiskey War Double Oaked | Blended whiskey (double oaked finish) | Double oaked finish; finish: Double oaked | Whiskey War variant with a double cask finish noted in the product list. | Current; Core range | ||
| Whiskey War Barrel Select | Blended whiskey (barrel select) | Barrel select edition within the Whiskey War family. | Current; Core range | |||
| Whiskey War Cigar Cask | Blended whiskey (cigar cask variant) | Special variant in the Whiskey War family with cigar cask designation in the product list. | Current | |||
| Whiskey War Old Fashioned RTD | Ready-To-Drink (cocktail) | Ready-made Old Fashioned in RTD format, entered for competition at SFWSC 2025. | Current | |||
| High Bank Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon | Bourbon (barrel proof) | 60.1 % | 6 years (average) | Blend of 10 barrels | First Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon from High Bank, blended from 10 casks and bottled at full barrel strength. Batch #01 was released in limited quantities at its own retail locations and selected stores.; Nose: Caramel buttercream & dried donut; Palate: Maple pecan pancakes; Finish: Sugared cornflakes, nutmeg & oak | Limited; Available at High Bank Co.'s retail locations (Grandview, Gahanna & Westerville) and selected OHLQ stores at launch |
| High Bank Vodka | Vodka | Vodka is part of High Bank's product portfolio and was entered in the competition at SFWSC 2025. | Current | |||
| Statehouse Gin | Gin | Gin category in High Bank's portfolio, including barrel select variants mentioned on the website. | Current |
The Whiskeys' Style and Flavor Profile
The composition of documented tasting notes points to three recurring directions: sweet, bakery-like caramel layers (caramel buttercream and dried donut), rich syrupy/nutty sweetness (maple and pecan), and warm spice (nutmeg). Additionally, there is a pronounced oak component in the finish, which complements the barrel-proof format. These directions are documented in the description of Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon and reflect the distillery's approach to intense, cask‑matched blends.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery offers guided tours every Saturday at 4:30 PM at their Grandview location. Each tour costs $10 per person, is limited to 12 participants, includes tastings and requires advance reservations. Participants are asked to arrive 10 minutes before start. Private tours can be booked for groups of at least six people, and visits can be combined with brunch or dinner in their restaurants.
The stated opening hours are guided tours every Saturday at 4:30 PM. Arrive 10 minutes before start.
Philosophy and Craft
High Bank emphasizes craftsmanship and careful ingredient selection, with an explicit commitment to putting people and the planet before profit. The company is involved in 1% For The Planet and places emphasis on quality, blending and local customer experiences over mass production.
Sustainability
- Participation in 1% For The Planet.
Awards and Recognitions
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Best Blended Whiskey In America (2021, Winner, Whiskey War)
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Best Blended Whiskey In America (2022, Winner, Whiskey War)
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Best Blended Whiskey In America (2023, Winner, Whiskey War)
Latest News
HIGH BANK COMPETES FOR “BEST IN CLASS” IN THREE SEPARATE CATEGORIES AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST SPIRIT COMPETITION – Oct 27
High Bank participated in SFWSC 2025 with several products entered for Best in Category, including Whiskey War, Whiskey War Barrel Proof, High Bank Vodka and Whiskey War Old Fashioned RTD. The text also mentions earlier wins in 2021–2023.
HIGH BANK’S LONG AWAITED BARREL PROOF BOURBON DROPS THIS JANUARY – Jan 6
Release of High Bank Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon, a limited-release blend from 10 casks with an average age of six years and bottled at 60.10% alc/vol (120.20 proof). Batch #01 was sold in its own retail locations and in selected OHLQ stores.