M&O Spirits
Brief overview of the distillery
M&O Spirits is a small craft distillery in Ashville, Ohio, that makes bourbon, whiskey and potato vodka in very small batches. The basis is Ohio-grown corn and Ohio-made charred white oak barrels; the products range from cask-strength bourbons to a 4x distilled white wheat whiskey and seasonal releases.
History
M&O was started by friends McLaughlin and Orozco, who began experimenting with distilling in McLaughlin's basement in 2014. After several years of development and knowledge-building, the distillery released its first official release in 2020. Since then, M&O has established itself in a 1,750-square-foot storage building and built a small, but award-winning portfolio, while producing around 20 barrels per year. The company is working to increase storage capacity through plans for a rick-house to support future growth.
Raw materials and production
M&O works with Ohio-grown grains — corn, wheat and rye — combined with Canadian malted barley. Production takes place in very small batches: the distillery notes an annual production of around 20 barrels (about 1,500 bottles). A notable part of the production portfolio is the 4x distilled Ta-Da! white wheat whiskey. Aging takes place in Ohio-made charred white oak barrels, and the distillery also makes cask-strength bottlings, sold directly from the distillery. The process is presented to visitors on guided tours, where you can see the entire distillation process and sample from the barrel.
Maturation and barrel types
M&O uses Ohio-made charred white oak barrels for aging their whiskey and bourbon. Several of their releases are cask-strength bottlings, indicating direct barrel-to-bottle releases without dilution for certain variants. To increase the possibilities for longer and more varied aging, the distillery plans to build a rick-house.
Whiskeys
The range primarily includes bourbon variants (including cask-strength bottlings such as Batch 27), a version called Smoke, a Black edition, a 4x distilled white wheat whiskey (Ta-Da!), seasonal products like pumpkin-spice whiskey, and a premium potato vodka. Some releases are distillery-exclusive, and production is deliberately small, making many bottles local specialties sold directly from the distillery.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batch 27 Cask Strength | Bourbon | Charred white‑oak barrel | Cask-strength bourbon, highlighted in competitions; one of the bottled cask‑strength variants that has earned prizes. | Core range; Exclusive at the distillery |
| Smoke | Bourbon | Charred white‑oak barrel | Bourbon released as part of M&O's lineup, noted among prize-winners. | Core range |
| Black | Bourbon | Charred white‑oak barrel | One of the bourbon variants in M&O's portfolio, highlighted by competitions. | Core range |
| Pumpkin‑spice (seasonal) | Flavoured whiskey | Seasonal pumpkin‑spice whiskey as part of M&O's more experimental and seasonal offerings. | Seasonal release | |
| Ta‑Da! White Wheat Whiskey | White wheat whiskey | White wheat whiskey distilled four times (4x) as part of M&O's lineup. | Core range | |
| Premium Potato Vodka | Vodka | Potato vodka marketed as premium in M&O's product range. | Core range | |
| Distillery-exclusive cask-strength bourbons | Bourbon | Charred white‑oak barrel | Cask-strength bottlings that are sold only at the distillery; Batch 27 is an example of this type of release. | Available only at the distillery |
Besøg destilleriet
The public can visit M&O on guided tours by appointment. Tours cost $15 per person, are designed for groups of 4–10 adults, and include a tour of the distillation process, tastings directly from the barrel and the opportunity to purchase products after the tour. Booking is via phone or email, and tours are offered at agreed times.
Filosofi og håndværk
M&O emphasizes local ingredients and small-scale craftsmanship; they use Ohio-grown grains, Canadian malted barley, and Ohio-made charred barrels. The distillery's identity is built on supporting local farmers, small batches, and direct contact between producer and customer.
Priser og anerkendelser
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Best American Craft Spirit (2023, Winner)
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Craft Distillery of the Year (2023, Winner)
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Batch 27 Cask Strength awards (2023, 2x Double Gold, Single Gold, 96/100, Batch 27 Cask Strength)
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Smoke bourbon awards (Double Gold, 5x Single Gold, Silver, 90/100, Smoke)
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Black bourbon awards (Double Gold, 2x Single Gold, Black)