Service Bar at Middle West Spirits Distillery

Nice place, and nice service. Service was on the slow side but only because of limited staffing. $41 fish plate was tastey but extremely small, so were drinks. Honestly I spent over a hundred bucks with a tip but left very hungry. The fish was served on a comically large plate that enhances the small portion, but the flavor profile of the fish was very good - I like the tanginess of the sauce and it had a lot of seasoning. Filet was cooked well, and although the dish was on the oiley side it was very tastey. It came with pickled onions which were good. Probably wouldn't buy again though at 41 bucks. The pizza was much better value at 15 bucks for the food. Yes it was still small, but the quality of crust waa good and fellow diner recommended. For the price, I'd say it was alright.

Creative and delicious menu! Had the pork chop, the salmon, the hanger steak and stuffed quail for our meals. Appetizers were the fries and confit wings. Drinks were amazing too!

I hesitate to leave a review here as I’d much prefer to keep Service Bar off the radar for my own benefit. Service and ambiance were both fantastic. The food was surprisingly good compared to other restaurants attached to distilleries or breweries. I am not exactly a cocktail aficionado, but I would not consider myself an amateur whiskey drinker. The cocktails here are unbelievable. We ordered two of the more interesting concoctions on the menus, expecting them to be akin to what you put on pancakes. They were anything but. Spirit focused, thoughtfully crafted, and addicting. Don’t pass on Service Bar. Scratch that. Don’t go. You won’t like it. Best to stay away. 🤫

Service bar is a top tier experience- if you're missing this dining experience you're really missing something special. I would say this is one of the best restaurants in Columbus. The chef's staff, and tour staff are so knowledgeable. The cocktails are perfect and the duck wings and crème brûlée cheesecake are something you'll think about until you go back and get it again. Don't miss out

Lots to say about this dining experience, overall it was good. The good: -The atmosphere was nice, good lighting and okay space between the tables. Nice decor and accents. -Our drinks were very good and the perfect strength, well balanced, nice aesthetic. -The whipped cream on creme brulee was perfectly sweetened. -The Caesar salad dressing is some of the best I've ever had and the cheese is so fresh. The bad: -The marrow appetizer was overpriced for what it was, we (maybe) got 1.5 tablespoons out of both bones combined. They were prepared well and the sourdough was very good and charred perfectly. -We asked to share a Caesar salad, the kitchen did not plate it onto 2 plates. We were given the dish and had to wait for plates. -Not bad, but surprised to receive regular heinz ketchup with the duck fat fries, anticipated something housemade. -Shocked to hear our server did not know what an Irish coffee was, and never gave us an answer if we could order one or not. -My pappardelle pasta was so salty I almost sent it back, the size and texture of the noodles was great. -My spouse's mussels seemed over cooked but everything else was fine he said. What should be fixed: -The front of house is undeniably understaffed, we saw 2 servers the entire time we were there on a Friday night. The bartender and 2 other support staff were there helping to run food and clear our table. -Retraining the FOH staff is a must...examples missing from our service include; replacing silver ware when you take dirty ones from the table (we went without a few utensils), boxing up food away from the table should be standard practice for a restaurant of this caliber, checking in on the meal at least twice (we were only checked on once we were done eating). All-in-all I will go back, but it seems like a 50-50 experience, some stuff is good and some stuff is bad and it's a mix of the food and service. For $141 before tip, it's overpriced for what it is right now. Small, consistent improvements will make this place worth it.

We had an excellent meal and drinks at the beautiful bar. The pork cheek gnocchi is insanely good. It was one of the best bites of food I've had in recent memory. There was a perfect amount of heat as well as beautiful warming spices, and the cheek was so tender it fell apart when you touch it with the fork. The Rachel was also very good, and the kimchi played well with the other big flavors on the sandwich, while leaving a lingering heat that was very pleasant against the very savory smoked meat. While the communal seating may not be ideal for some, I think it is nice to be able to see and share the dining experience with those around you, and discuss the very inventive food and beverage. This place is definitely worth the price, and we will be back for more.

Took my mother here for Mothers Day dinner since waffles aren't her thing and was very disappointed. Hoping for a unique cocktail experience and cuisine, we were met with odd cocktail combinations and food that just didn’t sit well on the plate together. The menu was limited and not versatile. For the price point we wouldn’t return. Our server was great but their vodka had a very strong smell almost reminiscent of my college days.

I had a fantastic dinner with my wife tonight at Service Bar, in celebration of our eighth wedding anniversary. Our server, Andy, was excellent and proved invaluable in helping us decide, since there were several vegan options available on the menu. Our cocktails and appetizers came out very fast, and were incredible - the wonton and brassica dishes both featured beautiful plating and intense flavors, complimenting the 'Blood Sugar Magic' and 'Rosé Petal' beverages selected for our first round. For main courses we chose the Black Pepper Seitan and Panang Curry, which again arrived at the perfect moment and continued the meal without making us feel rushed. A second round of cocktails followed, with a 'Courtlandia' for me, and my wife selecting 'Rosemary's Daisy'. Dessert arrived again at seemingly the precise time it was meant to; a vegan 'Buckeye' that mystified our senses with its chocolate-peanut-maple flavors and textures leaving us dazzled. 10/10, would dine at Service Bar again. Slightly pricey if you take a tour of the entire menu like we did, but absolutely worth the experience!

If you have not been to the new Distillery and see what this brand family is doing you are missing out! The grain to glass program is second to none in the country.

This tour is interesting and we loved learning how much they've grown since our last visit. The tour ends with samples where we tried vodka, gin, and bourbon which was nice. They have more options which they are happy to give you samples of in the bottle shop.

The pork Milanese was perfection! It was a quiet Saturday night before Easter and we had to push our reservation a little later but the team there was kind, welcoming and awesome. The duck fat fries with the burger were delicious and the truffle aioli was extra yummy. The Manhattan was spot upon and the Cortland Sour (bourbon and wine. I know it sounds odd, but it was very, very delicious) love the design and layout of the place and felt fortunate to have it to ourselves. Absolutely recommend and will be back. Thank you to team there!

Dropped off a cake downtown to my son, on the way back home we decided to stop at Middle West Spirits because, well, I dont like baking... I needed a reward. We had never been there. They are located off a narrow side street and I was super happy to learn they have a HUGE private parking lot, so you don't need to worry about your car getting sideswiped. You enter through their store. The store is really nicely designed and merchandised. Its kind of a nice cozy foyer with book cases full of items. Past the store is a nice sized dining room. They have a bar area and lots of seating. They do have food there and the prices are super reasonable! But.... Dinner begins at 5 PM (reservations are helpful) and we got there at 4:15 PM. (They lost a star for not having appetizers that could be served earlier than 5) We decided to go in and have a couple of rye whiskeys on the rocks. The huge single square ice cube that it is served with was cool. I know thats weird, but it had this cool texture that was slightly different from other single huge cubes, which made me smile. I notice things like that. After sitting there I quickly figured out that this bartender makes a lovely bourbon, sour, it is actually pretty and looked delicious. I'll definitely get next time we visit. I cant wait to return!

Stopped in mid day for some samples and was impressed with their offerings. In particular, their rye done with pumpernickel rye stood out as noteworthy. Young guy serving up the samples was extremely informative and personable...so much so that we came all the way back across town to have dinner at the next door restaurant which is affiliated with the distillery. Was able to try an old fashioned there which was next level tasty and a pour or one their barrel aged bourbons which was excellent as well. Oh yes...the food was good as well, especially the pizza. If I lived in this area, I'd be buying their bourbons and going back to the restaurant next door, for sure.

Did a tour and dinner here with two other people and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Parking at MWS can be a bit difficult, but we were able to secure a spot in the lot. It's a super cute building from the outside, smaller than I thought on the inside from looking at aerial pictures. The bottle shop is small, but cute. The gentleman at the desk seemed very uninterested in speaking to us, being friendly, and barely looked up from his device. So that was kind of a crappy first impression. But out of everything that was probably the only sour note of the night. The tour was great- very informative, very behind-the-scenes. The tasting included their standard bourbon, vodka, stone fruit vodka, and their gin. I wish that it had included more bourbon or maybe one of their ryes instead of 2 vodkas or the gin, but I get playing to the masses. We had made a reservation ahead of time and got a great booth. We were the only ones in the restaurant at 6:15 on a Friday which seemed a little strange, but it picked up shortly after. Service was great, our server was very friendly. As far as food went, we got a little bit of everything- chicken sandwich, burger, Pappardelle, duck fat fries, Caesar salad, their cask flight, and an old fashioned. EVERYTHING was fantastic. The only thing that was slightly disappointing was the size of the Pappardelle dish, it was definitely too small. But everything tasted fantastic. Fries were great, bourbon was great. They had a really nice selection of their own spirits at the bar and I loved that. The bartender even went to the bottle shop to get a bottle to open because the bar didn't have one available- so impressed with that. Really enjoyed our time here and would definitely come back. I do wish their menu was a little bigger- it's only a handful of items- because the food was super delish. Would definitely recommend this place.

Service Bar is a MUST TRY! Outstanding eclectic mix of cocktails and food pairings. Exceptional chef and inventive cocktails highlighting the best examples of their distilling prowess. What an Exceptional Experience - The Special Dinners are a "must attend" for any gastro connoisseur. We just participated in their "prix fixe" collaboration dinner with Black Radish Creamery. A fantastic blending between Service Bar's chef, Middle West's innovative mixologist, and the Black Radish Cheesemonger. Great ambiance in a private dining area, 4 delectable courses, and we made a few new friends.

My son and I and an absolutely wonderful experience last evening. The welcoming from the manager was terrific with a huge smile. We chose to sit at the bar for the conversation and suggestions. The drinks were so delicious with the talented staff. J T knew how to make a great cocktails. We enjoyed all the appetizers. We started out the endive cups which had many flavors on a leaf. The walleye rillettes was a winner and a wonderful surprise. The pork chop with the seasoning provided a tender delicious bite with every cut and the cedar plank salmon was was cooked to perfection with moist center and crispy outside. The biggest surprise was the chef coming out to describe the bourbon cake we ordered and he wanted us to add the bourbon infused ice cream to complement the cake. It's not often that the chef want to check the interest of a patron and how might he make the evening special and perfect. I can't say enough about the wonderful ambiance these talented staff members created for the evening. I'm from San Diego, California and service bar at Middle West Spirits is a diamond!

It's a shame that the products are so good (especially the bourbon cream) because the staff has been SO rude every time we have visited the bottle shop. The other day my fiancé and I stopped by the bottle shop to stock up on a few bottles (we live out of town and figured we should buy directly from the business as opposed to a big box store). Immediately upon entering the bottle shop, the employee didn't look up or greet us and instead walked out of the bottle shop on his cell phone. A few minutes later when he retired (still on his cell phone) we asked a few questions and each response was a short one word yes or no, still not looking up from his phone. We decided just to leave and buy what we needed at a grocery store where the staff is much more friendly and a really willing to answer any questions we have. We were hoping that our past bad experiences with Middle West were flukes, however, now that it happened yet again we have decided we won't be going back. The only reason my review is for 2 stars and not less is because their products are pretty good.

The manager at Middle West Spirits was really great and allowed us a tasting before they opened. Wonderful spirits as we tasted 3 of their select line of their liquid gold whiskeys. Sorry but I can't remember their names but they were most enjoyable. Hey, make reservations for dinner! The staff was a lot of fun . Thanks to the staff for a marvelous experience.

Delicious spirits! Good people! Yummy food! Yep...you have to go to middlewest! The tour was fun. The food was so good...every time...maybe my favorite in Columbus. Always great service.

No tastier way to support our local businesses than buying their ABSOLUTELY Delicious Bourbon Cream! It has been my go-to coffee creamer on cold weekend mornings & is perfect straight up.

Booked a tour at Middle West Spirits and the entire experience was 5 stars. Justin was our tour guide and he was fun and informative about the distilling process of high end spirits. I've attended other tours in CBus and this beats em hands down. Why....because you receive 4 generous tastings of bourbon, vodka, gin and stone fruit vodka. The tour is $10, besides the tastings you also receive a choice between 2 signature full size cocktails and half off appetizers in their well appointed restaurant. The distillery is impressive. Two floors with the second floor being 6 stories high. The spirits themselves are high end. Extremely smooth and delicious. I like grey goose but their OYO vodka was the winner in smoothness and taste! Definately worth checking this place out if you appreciate a well made spirit!

Great cocktails, ambiance was what you'd expect, outstanding service. Highly recommend you request Tika as your server

I love many of Middle West's products but I recently decided to try their bourbon cream and was blown away! This is easily drinkable straight but makes for a great cocktail mixer as well!

Thanks a lot, guys. You really nailed it today. My girlfriend got me a tour and tasting for Christmas. You even sent her a confirmation that it was today from 4-5 pm. When we arrived at 3:55 pm, the doors were locked and nobody would answer the phone. She is embarrassed and disappointed. That was very unprofessional of you, to say the least. We had to turn around and head back to Galena. Nothing like driving an hour round trip in the pouring rain for no reason at all.

Horrible experience- we purchased tickets for a tour/ tasting for NYE only to show up and the place was closed! We hung out with the awesome bartender next door where we met another couple this had happen to! The bartender called the MWS owner to tell him about this issue and yet when WE reached out to try and make it right, there was no attempt to returns calls. We paid for tickets in advance, babysitters and Ubers for 2-40 min drives on NYE and didn't get to have that experience we paid for. My BIL posted on their website & not only did they not make it right, they removed his comment! Horrible way to run a business!

This 5-star review is a year overdue after stocking up on hand sanitizer early on in the pandemic. At a time where hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and Lysol were all out of stock at once, a friend told me about Middle West Spirits in our home town, Columbus. I've long since moved from Columbus, but I still support a couple local and small businesses from there because they all need our support. Shipping was faster than expected for my 12-pack box of liquid hand sanitizer, and it survived the long journey to FL well in tact. The smell of the hand sanitizer is strong, but to me that's a good thing. It doesn't leave a residue or a layer that feels like dirt. It also doesn't dry my hands out, which is important. Kudos to Middle West Spirits for adapting to the ways the pandemic has changed our lives. If I needed more hand sanitizer, I'd order from them again, but for my small household, a 12 pack was more than enough to last. I hope MWS is still doing well!

A nice tour of a local distillery. I have been on numerous distillery tours when we do vacation, so it was nice to a local one for once. Positives: the tastings are done throughout the tour which a nice change. Most of the ones I have been on wait to do the sampling until the end. Negatives: I thought the price to buy a bottle might be cheaper with the tour as some tours give a discount. I would have liked more of the stories from the early years. A number of the tours I have gone on, I had an owner doing the tour so I got the stories and passion for the product. So I know this is difficult to replicate when the tour guide was not there in the beginning. I love hearing the passion and sense of pride in a product. But it still was good and any question could be answered.

Took a tour at OYO and sampled some of the tastiest gin I have ever had. Everything is beautifully crafted and the attention to detail and pristine. I wasn't able to stick around and dine in. I will definitely come back to enjoy some food and cocktails!

Hands down, the boys at Middle West do what it do baby! The OYO brand is one of a kind. I literally have a bottle at my house at all times. The Vanilla Honey Bean is my absolutely favorite and is very fun to use when mixing cocktails or just straight up in a glass, resting softly in my hand. I've had the pleasure of meeting both Brady and Ryan and they're super cool. If you're into learning more about the spirit making process, you'll fall in love with their tours. *Side Note* at the end of the tour, you get to sample their full line up. Yum!

I've done the distillery tour with tasting twice here now and it's always a lot of fun. On our tour today was a photographer from the Wall Street Journal who's apparently doing an article on the place. These guys are the real deal. Ryan (the owner/tour guide) is knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. The free samples of their vodkas and whiskies don't hurt either!

After getting to finally to use my Groupon tonight I was very impressed by the experience and the history of the distillery. I don't believe that the owners should be held responsible for the actions of their staff previously, but I can't give them 5 stars because I still feel thrown off by that experience. However, if you are looking for a date night idea I highly recommend doing a tour and making sure you make the reservation at Service Bar weeks in advance. Cool atmosphere and friendly in house staff

I found our about this company from the Cirque du Yelp this past October in Covington, KY. I was really amazed by the smoothness of the vodka. I tried both of the flavors that they provided for the event (4 total: a whiskey {wish they had that...yum!}, stone fruit {cherries, peaches, etc.}, vanilla bean, and straight vodka). From other vodkas that I've tried, most have a over abundant flavoring. Unlike most of them, the vanilla bean vodka did not! It was smooth and refreshing. Also, what made the tasting go to the nth degree, the garnish that the representative bar staff were using was crystallized ginger, which exploded the flavor more and made the overall experience extraordinary. I'm a big fan and will be hoping that The Party Source or Jungle Jim's will be offering this vodka, if they are not already doing so! Happy New Year to all! Bottoms up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekAXPCphKXQ&ob=av3e http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT7EcNHovJ8&feature=relmfu Steve Murphy

THIS is why Columbus is my favourite city ("greatest city of all" - props to Cheryl H. for that one :) No matter how strong my wanderlust is, no matter how many cool things I see and do, or where I've lived or will live around the country and the globe, the most impressive thing about Columbus, Ohio compared to all others is endeavors like Middle West Spirits - a liquor microdistillery and purveyor, yes, but also a small agro-business (their term), a locally-conscious, environmentally-conscious, sustainable, and all around just... gawdamm!, GOOD couple of dudes doing something they love and giving back to (and educating!) the immediate community. And it's something inherently - Ohio - about the way it's done. Does it get better than this? No, it does not. I went on the distillery tour today with a bunch of my fellow Yelpers (love!), and didn't really know what to expect, but was duly impressed. Ryan, one of the owners/distillers, gave us an incredible, in depth, and very care-filled history to the process, including a description of all the laws that have to be changed just to have people like us inside the building (oh, Ohio!). One of the things that endeared me most to their project was the integrity with which Ryan and his partner-in-distillery Brady approach it. They don't cut any corners - if there is something that needs changed - for example, having tastings in the distillery - they approach the feds directly and get the law amended. And the due process is worth the wait. I actually had to cut out a bit early and missed the best part - the tasting! But I've had the OYO (O-why-o) vodka before at Knead, and it's fantastic - it tastes like a smooth whiskey almost, which is just incredible. Ryan mentioned that the OYO vodka just came in 7th in the WORLD at a recent competition, against big name imports like Grey Goose - how amazing is that??? It's the most incredible vodka I've ever tasted, and as a whiskey drinker, that means a lot. So, of course I am very interested to see how their whiskey turns out. When the green is in my favor I can assure you I will be buying bottles of this fine liquor as gifts (to others AND to myself - squee!). The love with which this whole process of distillation - the actual vodka (and now whiskey!) - is evident in the final product. We watched as Ryan dipped a just-bottled and corked bottle of local- honey and fair-trade-vanilla vodka into wax and stamped it with the Middle West Spirits seal (which actually almost made me shed a tear, not gonna lie). The sense of historicity ("Oyo" being the original pronunciation of the Ohio River, if I recall correctly; the hand-done sealing wax, etc), local product use and pride, community, and the emphasis that Ryan placed on Ohioans (and Americans in general) understanding local ingredients and their connection to the land and to place... it was enough to hook this historian for life. You can be sure that if I could give more than five stars, I would. I'll be back, Middle West. And I'll recommend the bloody 'ell out of OYO. Simply amazing. Every aspect. Eff yeah, Ohio!

Took the Distillery Tour last night.. Loved it. Great facility, The staff was remarkable, and the product, well that speaks for itself. Erik was the name of our our guide and he knew his stuff! I walked in thinking I knew a thing or two about bourbon whiskey but after leaving you could have called me John Snow because I knew nothing. My favorite spirit was the OYO Whiskey, with a honorable mention to the OYO Barrel-Finished Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka. Do yourself a favor and take the tour. You will never look at vodka's or whiskey's the same. *The only reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars because they do not have a liqueur license yet so I couldn't partake in near the quantity I would have liked. But I will revise to 5 stars once the city issues there license. Which will hopefully be soon.

Went in for a tasting. Presenter was very knowledgeable and friendly. The building was beautiful and they recently opened a restaurant. Off the beaten path but worth a stop. Beautiful bottles and tasty product

So a couple of years have passed since my last review - and you know what? These guys haven't changed one bit. They are the NICEST people and STILL love their jobs. I was on the hunt for their bourbon barrel maple syrup, and they went out of their way so I could get it. I haven't tasted it yet, but I'm sure it'll be just as wonderful as their other products.

OK now I've taken the "whiskey class" which the distiller educates you about the industry, while somehow getting us to pay to do his manual labor!!!! Worth it!! Got to start a batch of whiskey while tasting a bunch of different whiskeys and learning why they taste different. All in all, this place is awesome, the owners are fully invested in the product and its all Ohio sourced and made. Frequent this place and buy their products!! You can't go wrong.

Came to this place on a whim and was blown away. This is the kind of place that pays attention to detail and it makes all the difference. My husband had the cheesy brisket crunch and it was perfectly balanced and seasoned. I had the radiatori pasta with some kind of meat and cream sauce and it was well seasoned with a mix of creamy, salty, savory and comforting. The cocktails we creative and had unique flavors of the made on site spirits. Our order took a while so the bar manager gave us a quick tour of the distillery and a discount. I appreciate that they took action to prevent a problem rather than scramble afterwards. It does get busy so make a reservation, we didn't have one but we're quickly seated at the bar. Lastly the aesthetic is beautiful

I went to Middle West Spirits for their Open House Collaboration with Jeni's Splendid. First off, it was a great event. Well done! Second, Middle West Spirits is a really cool business venture! Really down to earth local people making good booze. I like it! The distillery was amazingly clean. (maybe they spruced up for the event?) Probably not, because I hear they do tours every Weds. So, they have to keep on their toes. I'd like to take one of those tours since they were sooo busy during the event last night I couldn't figure out what any of the cool gadgets were for. On to the drinks. They have a really great bottle design and logo that makes me want to buy AND a reasonable price tag for artisan small batch vodka at $34 a bottle I believe. Right now, They have just their flagship vodka, which they were sampling at the event. As a vodka lover I can say that OYO has the MOST flavor of any vodka I've ever had. While one would think that means you would want to drink OYO neet or on the rocks vs. mixed, I would choose the latter. I was not loving the flavor of the vodka, but could imagine it making a great classic mixed drink (Moscow Mule at Mouton). So, alas I did not buy a bottle for myself. BUT, I am really looking forward to trying their vanilla bean (soon to be released) which smelled much smoother than the flagship OYO. They are also coming out with a whiskey, for those whiskey lovers. I realize not everyone can love everything so you should definitely try OYO for yourself and get a tour of their cool distillery! I like Middle West and am looking forward to their company growing in our community. PS: they also sell cool t-shirts with their brand on it!

My Favorite Whiskey in the market is made by OYO Middle West Spirits extremely flavorful, at the same time strong. It's really a fantastic addition to any liquor cabinet. I've never been on any of the tours, however I hear its a good time. I strongly suggest trying it out if you haven't already. So far I've gotten a bottle of their liquor for: My birthday Valentines day and last Christmas and every time Its the best gift hahaha

Came here recently for a tasting event at the distillery. All I can say is wow. I was very impressed with everything about this place. The owners are incredibly nice and the tasting was very informative. They have an amazing attention to detail and quality. They have an impressive set of equipment and in addition to the tasting, they gave us a bit of a tour and explained how they make the spirits. The building is very neat. The tasting was amazing. Their dedication to quality is evident when you taste their products. Imagine my surprise when we went to buy a bottle and found that they are only roughly 32-35$. I have paid two to three times this much for something with a quarter of the flavor and quality that Middle West Spirits delivers. I've never had a favorite distillery, but now I do.

At Middle West, you can walk in and buy a bottle of their award winning OYO vodka, and soon you'll be able to buy a bottle of their new whiskey, which will be for sale in just a few short months. You can even get yourself a Middle West T-shirt if you're so inclined. However, I am telling you not to stop there. Get a couple of friends. Call ahead. Ask for a tour. Let Brady or Ryan take you through their business, as they show you the entire process from getting the raw grain to bottling and sealing the final product. It's a fascinating use of a few hours as they take you through everything, explain the hows and whys of the distilling process, share their philosophies behind the business, and give you glimpses of their future - both in terms of products they're working on for the future, and how they intend to keep shaping and expanding their space as they move forward. In just a few months, they plan to complete an on-site grain silo and mill so they can give local farmers a better price for directly purchased wheat. In the next year, they plan to have the facility run off their own solar panels, and to sell their surplus electricity to the city and their neighbors. Soon, thanks to a collaborative project with OSU, they'll start selling used mash and waste cuts of alcohol to local farms and businesses. Every step of the way they're working to make their project more sustainable and more valuable to their community. But the best reason to take the tour is to see the passion that these guys have for what they do - in Ryan's case, it's literally a tradition that has been passed down in his family for generations, and the pride he takes in each bottle, every step of the way, is amazing and inspiring.

I called Middle West to see if they would be interested in teaming up with us for our Movember fundraising efforts. To say they were enthusiastic is such an understatement. In just a few short days, we went from a possible tour and tasting to raise money to a full blown kickoff event during one of Columbus's biggest events, Highball! I am so thankful to Brady and team and would love to work with them again! They truly value their customers, community and above all else really love what they do!

I've been obsessed with OYO Stone Fruit for quite some time, but today cemented my belief that Middle West is one of Columbus's true treasures. I spent the day gift shopping and swung by Middle West to pick up a bottle not realizing that they were not open on the weekend. One of the owners, Brady, happened to be putting something in his car and offered to help me without me even having to ask. Unfortunately they were out of the regular vodka and the gift recipient I was buying for is a martini drinker. Brady not only let me know where I could find it in stock but gave me a gift bag and ribbon free of charge. Fantastic vodka and top notch service that goes above and beyond expectations? Middle West may be my new favorite local company.

I may be the lovey kind of drunk, but I fell in love with Middle West Spirits before my first sip. So, why should you buy OYO instead of your usual? 1) Its all about Ohio - From the grain to the glass bottle, MWS supports Ohio economies and Ohio workers. 2) Environmental Impact - they recycle many of the 'waste' products of distilling, such as selling spent mash back to farmers as animal feed, and using the acetone byproduct to clean up. 3) Quality. Seriously. Schedule a tasting and tell me this isn't the best vodka you have ever had. I challenge the biggest skeptic to find a better vodka for $34. 4) Whiskey!!! OK, its not available yet, but coming in March. Beautiful, delicious, Whiskey. BTW, I wait with bated breath for gin... On a personal note, I bought a bottle of the Honey Vanilla OYO vodka. Its. so. incredible. I've had a neat glass every night since I visited. Its made with the same Ugandan vanilla beans as Jenny's Ice Cream. The smell is like heaven, and the taste is balanced and so warm. I want to live in that bottle. Thanks so much for a fascinating, fun, wonderful tour!

I want to bathe in a vat of OYO Vanilla Honey Bean vodka. Oh, and the regular vodka is tits, too. Thank you, Middle West, for making amazing booze in the 'bus.

The "Vodka" is technically more like white whiskey, but I'm not complaining. It's crazy delicious. Yeah, I said it... it tastes GOOD! Usually, V is brewed to taste like nothing, but MWS distills theirs to this gorgeous minerally finish that makes it taste like super-expensive water from somewhere on top of an Alp. And it makes you thirsty, and you want more, and then you're hammered. Neat, barely chilled is the best way to experience this bliss. Their infused Vodka (honey vanilla bean) tasted like candy corn to me, which was good, but not my favorite - plus vanilla beans don't come from Ohio, which, invalidates the "philosophy" of this otherwise really well thought-out clever mission. The aged whiskey has been okay, but they need to keep it in the barrel a little longer, it tasted kind of young, but yummy. Ohio-made, all of it, sourced here, distilled here, bottled here, named after here, sporting a big buckeye tree on the bottle. (They were working on getting the bottles blown in Ohio, last I checked, which would also be awesome, since they now come from Italy). It's the best-made premium spirit I've bought in a while, and worth every penny. The guys who run this shindig are amazing men, and if you can stop in for a tour of the place, do. You'll fall in love.

Awesome people, cool location, excellent idea, flawless execution, 100% local and exceedingly well priced. Did I mention they sell the best vodka I've ever had in my life? It actually has flavor, and doesn't play on gimmicks of super filtration. Instead they use good ingredients and go for quality over quantity. I'm buying their vodka for half the people I know this Christmas. It is just that good. Get some now!

I was a fan of the idea microdistillers long before I set foot in their distillery or tasted their product, and with every step of the way, I've found more and more to love about MWS and their product Oyo (pronounced Oh-why-oh). Since then I've tasted and purchased their wonderful spirit distilled from Ohio red winter wheat no more than 4 blocks from my house and purchased at the small shop located at the distillery. The owners Brady and Ryan care about putting out a distinctive product that showcases the best Ohio has to offer. The product, Oyo is some of the best vodka that I've ever tasted and has lots of character compared to most vodkas I've tried. You can also tour the distillery (call ahead, public tours are generally on Wednesday), meet Brady and Ryan and discover for yourself what it takes to make this awesome spirit. I'm eagerly looking forward to their next project. Bravo and 5 stars.

Overrated. Is OYO bad? No. Is it great? No. Its fine. It does have the novelty factor of being distilled in the Short North, which is cool, but its product is just fine at best. The Vodka is decent, but its far from Vodka. It has far to much flavor on its own to be considered "Vodka." I'm not saying it tastes bad, its just not vodka. The Whiskey, however is truely Mediocre. I waited in line to buy the third release when it became available and it really lacked in depth and flavor. Again, it didn't have a bad flavor, it just didn't have much of it at all. Admitedly, I've never tried a subsquent release. The Vanilla honey Vodka was good, though its not something I'd drink on its own and would be better as a mixer. The Stonefruit may be great, but I've never actually tried it. Personally Watershed is my go-to Columbus Vodka and Gin.

Middle West Spirits is run by some really great people who are trying to do some really great things. Even if they never make another batch of booze they have positively affected our state and our community by getting some laws relaxed, allowing for new business to be created. Already, other distilleries around Ohio are popping up and producing money for our economy simply because they are able to open thanks to Middle West. These gents are using Ohio grain and Ohio honey, further influencing and helping the Ohio economy. Now besides all the good they are doing, the do make one hell of a product. I used to say that if I was to open a bar, vodka would NOT be in it. Vodka is just a pointless product with no intrinsic value or flavor. Now, I am reformed. If I was to open a bar, the ONLY vodka I would sell would be OYO Vodka. I love their product! It is the first and only vodka that I can drink neat. Flavorful and robust, yet mixable. If you want your classic clear flavorless spirit, you can keep it. If you want to get drunk just to get drunk, go buy your Grey Goose and Everclear. But if you want to enjoy the art of imbibing like wine connoisseurs and scotch aficionados, you need to give their product a try. I think my personal favorite in their line is the OYO Honey Vanilla Bean Vodka. For the most part, I hate flavored Vodkas even more than regular ones, but OYO Honey Vanilla Bean is different. You still have the subtlety of the OYO Vodka yet a smooth, pronounced Honey flavor is detectable, followed by a beautiful oily vanilla that coats the throat. Mmm, delicious. All in all, this is the type of company that you want in your city! Putting money into the local and state economies while making a superior and unique product that is bound to grow in popularity.

Okay so I dined here this past Friday evening for my cousins birthday dinner. First of all, the reservation was set for 8:30 for a 10 top, we weren't seated until nearly 9:00 thank god we told the birthday girl to come late. I understand that it was packed and busy, so I knew the drinks and food would be a while which is not a big deal. I order the "Mind F!ck" cocktail and I LOVED it in fact I ordered 2. The reason I truly give the place only 3 stars, is due to the quality of service. I sensed that our server was overwhelmed, and I'm not sure if she forgot to put my order of food in or if it was a kitchen mistake but I didn't even get my food until 15 mins after everyone had theirs and were basically done eating. By the time I got my food, I was 2 cocktails deep I wasn't even that hungry for my food at that point BUT the few bites that I did have of the sesame dumplings were great, very unique flavor. Overall, I would like to come back and hopefully experience better service but I don't recommend having large parties here.

Dude. they make the best vodka I have ever had. normally vodka makes me gag. it tastes like medicine to me. or like college. if you closed your eyes and sipped some of middlewest's OYO vodka, you might think it was some new-fangled whisky variety. it has a flavor, unlike most vodkas for which quality is judged by smoothness and lack of flavor. on top of the awesomeness of the product itself, the gents who run this place are fantastic. I've experienced tours of the distillery from both the businessman and his master distiller partner, and they are both incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about alcohol, business, and the distilling process. also, SCIENCE!!! they talk about the science behind it!!! additionally, they're advocates for local products and changing arbitrary, antiquated alcohol policy in Ohio. Did I mention that their vodka is made from using almost 100% Ohio products? how awesome is that? they've recently come out with a honey-vanilla infused vodka, which is like sweet sweet candy. they're also working on a whisky, which is also pretty tasty, but not as life-changing as their vodka.

I'd never tried Middle West Spirits' wares until I was invited on a private tour for a friend's birthday. I'd highly recommend the tour itself. It's an interesting discussion of the company's origins, their distillation process and a history of distilled alcohol. It takes about an hour, and ends with a tasting. Our tasting included all three of Middle West's products, as well as a small sample of Grey Goose for comparison. Middle West's OYO vodka redefined what vodka tastes like for me. Instead of a mouth-burning, rubbing alcohol flavor, OYO has a light grain flavor and warms your chest, reminding you why it's the Russians' favorite way to keep warm in the winter. Compared side-by-side with the Grey Goose, there really was no contest. The honey-vanilla infused vodka is equally smooth, ending in a delightful aftertaste of Ugandan vanilla bean. I used to think I didn't like whiskey, but then I met Middle West's whiskey. It's so smooth, with none of that stuck-in-your-throat, coughing, tastes-like-a-firepit flavor. Just easy, woody spiciness with a pleasant afterburn. This stuff tastes like fall. It's hard to get, too. Follow Middle West on facebook to get updates about when they are releasing a batch, and try to put some on reserve as quickly as you can. I got three bottles from the last batch, and it sold out in something like two hours. Not only do I love their products, but I love that Middle West operates in the Short North in Columbus, uses locally-sourced ingredients and materials, and works hard to keep Ohio in everything that they do. I love having bragworthy places in my town, and Middle West is definitely on the list.

Went here on a Groupon. Got there late because the local traffic and traffic lights are a nightmare at 6:00pm on a Friday. Leave plenty of time! The owners are really passionate about spirits. They live and breathe for the product, not the profits. They hope for profits, but the product is more important. At least to them, but probably not their accountant! Very small place, cramped but the tour (really a talk) was very nice. They could go into much more detail than most would understand but kept it high level so even a non-drinker like me could grasp most of the details. The products they have reflect their passion. Tasty, even to me. Way too strong for me, but most people tolerate the alcohol better than I do! I bought a bottle of their honey vanilla bean. We drove over 100 miles for this tour/tasting. It was worth the drive. Recommended.

Not the best quality product for the pricepoint, in comparison to similar products. Overall: C-

I will start this review by saying that the tour was very nice and quite informative. Despite the extreme temperatures we experienced, our group really enjoyed the information that was provided. The poor customer service did not start until the tour was over and we were to receive our cocktail that came with the tour. Our personal group had 6 people in it including myself. We wanted to sit at a booth but were told only 5 people could sit there and no exceptions. We advised the waiter that we were ok with sitting close because we were just getting drinks and appetizers. They refused to let us sit in the booth. After much deliberation with the hostess, we were told we could sit at the community table. It was happy hour so we planned on each ordering an appetizer. We were then told that we could only order 2 appetizers because of our party of 6. We asked to speak with a manager because what difference would it make if we were 6 separate individuals coming for happy hour? Would they limit the amount of appetizers we could order? What if I wanted to try every appetizer on the menu? Would they tell me no? I have never dined at a restaurant where they limit the amount of food you can order. I am a Columbus, OH native and try to support all things Ohio. I was super proud to bring my uncle from California to this distillery only to be disappointed in the service we receive. Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed! I will NOT be returning to Middle West spirits or purchasing the OYO liquor. If you visit, please be prepare for several stipulations and rules that will possibly ruin your experience.