Overview: Midwest Grain Products has officially stepped out of the shadows with the launch of its first branded bourbon, Chapter One: Out of the Shadows. Simultaneously, the Lawrenceburg facility is reverting to its original name from Ross & Squibb Distillery, signaling a major shift in brand identity for the Indiana-based producer.
The Full Story
For years, the presence of “Distilled in Indiana” on a bottle label served as an open secret among whiskey enthusiasts. The Lawrenceburg facility quietly produced bourbon and rye for bulk sale to other companies for more than a decade. Now, the company is putting its own name front and center with the debut of MGP Chapter One: Out of the Shadows. The ten-year-old, 111-proof bourbon debuted at last weekend’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, with a wider release beginning in early October.
The tagline on the new bottle speaks volumes: “The distillery behind the curtain is revealed.” Ian Stirsman, master distiller at the Lawrenceburg facility, noted that while the MGP name carries significant weight within the industry, the everyday consumer did not necessarily know it. This release marks the first time the company is shouting “This is from us” and putting the MGP name actually on the label. The campus stretches for about a mile along Tanners Creek, which flows into the Ohio River near Cincinnati.
Production & Profile
The bourbon is intended as the beginning of an ongoing series, with future releases likely to follow annually. It is made from MGP’s classic high-rye bourbon mash bill of 60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley, and aged for a decade in Warehouse G. Delicate aromas of wild honey and marshmallow fluff waft from the glass. The profile features rich, creamy custard and caramelized sugar, with just enough peppery bite to temper the sweetness.
The production process utilizes Great Miami aquifer water at a constant 56 degrees that is used throughout the distillation process, including for cooling. The facility has sixteen active stills and uses a house yeast strain originally cultivated in the 1940s. Once barreled, the whiskey ages in historic brick and concrete warehouses that ring portions of the campus, many dating to earlier eras of the distillery.
Brand & Industry History
Distillation on the site dates to 1847 with the Rossville Distillery, followed later by Squibb. Much of the present-day facility owes its scale and setup to spirits giant Seagram, which arrived in 1933 and rebuilt and expanded it primarily to produce its Seagram’s Seven Crown whiskey. At its peak in the 1970s, Seven Crown was one of the best-selling spirit brands in America, moving millions of cases annually. The complex includes sixteen active stills and has the capacity to make not only bourbon and rye, but also gin, vodka, and neutral spirits.
What This Means
This release signifies a transition from anonymous bulk production to direct consumer recognition. Ian Stirsman explained that what was once a thing nobody talked about has become a badge of honor for most customers. The new bottle reveals the distillery behind the curtain, allowing enthusiasts to recognize the source of barrels that many upstart whiskey brands built their reputations around.
Consumer Takeaway
The Chapter One: Out of the Shadows bourbon offers a well-composed whiskey mature without tasting overly oaked, and impressively lively and nuanced. Priced at $70, it represents the best of what MGP does, offering a direct connection to the largest American distillery many people have never heard of.
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