Columbus, OH – Middle West Spirits, LLC – a fast-growing, locally-based distillery known for its unique artisan spirits – today announced a $3.1 million investment in the Columbus Region after a continual increase in demand for its lines of whiskey, vodka and bourbon. The investment includes expansion of its Short North production facility, the opening of a 23,000-square-foot warehouse in Milo-Grogan and the addition of 25 employees to its current five-person roster.
“Columbus and Ohio have played a tremendous role in our growth, and we’re thankful to keep growing here,” said Brady Konya, GM and co-founder, Middle West Spirits. “We’re proud of our Ohio roots and continue to invest in its future as a center of innovation for craft spirits.”
The investment includes the addition of new distillation equipment and the expansion of the Middle West production facility at 1230 Courtland Ave. in Columbus, along with building improvements to the company’s second warehouse at 470 E. Starr Ave. in Columbus. The expansion will help the company meet increasing demands domestically and keep pace with the growing popularity of American craft spirits in international markets.
The 25 new jobs, including production, warehouse, sales, marketing and support staff, will be added over the next three years. Hiring for some positions will begin immediately.
“We are excited about the opportunities the build out creates for our company,” said Ryan Lang, cofounder and head distiller, Middle West Spirits. “The new facility affords us the capacity to improve and innovate products to a level we could have only dreamt of in the past.”
In addition to the $3.1 million to be invested in warehousing and production, the company will add a fullservice tasting room, and has plans to announce additional investments in the coming weeks.
“Middle West Spirits is one of our great hometown brands, and we’re proud of their products and their success,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “We’re excited about the opportunities they’ve brought to Columbus, for both residents and visitors.”
Middle West Spirits is known for its OYO lines of vodka, whiskey and bourbon. Recently, the Wall Street Journal named its OYO Whiskey No. 2 in wheat-forward whiskeys that are “easy to love.” This follows the New York Times rating OYO Bourbon in its top 10 craft bourbons, and its OYO Oloroso Wheat Whiskey taking Gold and Best in Class recognitions in both the 2015 International Whiskey Competition and 2015 Beverage Testing Institute’s International Review of Spirits.