An Over-the-Rhine distillery and brewery best known for its gins and beers is branching out into bourbon for the first time.
On Friday, June 14, also National Bourbon Day, Northern Liberties Whiskey Co., produced and bottled by Northern Row Brewery & Distillery, will officially release its first bourbon. The brand’s name was inspired by the former name of Northern Row’s neighborhood, Northern Liberties, an unruly and independent zone just beyond Cincinnati’s original city limits and laws. Northern Row says the name is a tribute to the city’s defiant spirit and rich distilling heritage.
“Our goal has always been to build something authentic, something with soul,” Brenden Douglass, director of operations at Northern Row, said in a press release. “We’re proud to bring this bourbon to life here, in a place that’s always been a little wild, a little bold, and full of character.”
The six-year-old bourbon was distilled, aged and bottled entirely in-house at Northern Row. It will be exclusively available at the brewery and distillery starting June 14, starting with only a few hundred bottles in this first release.
“Every batch I’ve made has been crafted with care, but this bourbon was the first I designed completely from start to finish. It’s personal, and seeing it come to life after six years in the barrel is a powerful reminder that great things are worth the wait,” said distiller Josh Quattlebaum.
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery, 111 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine. More info: northernrow.com.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 10, 2025.
