New area distillery approved for retail sales

Shawn Measel, James Bagford and Brad Measel (left to right), the owners of Flat Rock Spirits in Fairborn, will launch seven new brands of spirts that will be available under their Stillwrights brand, at five local grocery and liquor stores starting June 1. LISA POWELL / STAFF

Credit: Lisa Powell

Credit: Lisa Powell

Shawn Measel, James Bagford and Brad Measel (left to right), the owners of Flat Rock Spirits in Fairborn, will launch seven new brands of spirts that will be available under their Stillwrights brand, at five local grocery and liquor stores starting June 1. LISA POWELL / STAFF

The area’s newest craft distillery — Flat Rock Spirits in Bath Twp. near Fairborn, which bottles under the Stillwrights brand and label — will roll out seven of its products at five Dayton-area retail outlets on June 1.

“This is a culmination, a big milestone, but it’s also just a start,” said Brad Measel, who co-owns Flat Rock Spirits with his brother Shawn Measel and cousin James Bagford. The business partners came up with the distillery concept four years ago, and navigated the complex maze of state and federal licensing and regulations that accompany the opening of a distillery.

The seven products, which became available for sale earlier this month at the distillery’s tasting room and gift shop at 5380 Intrastate Drive near I-675 and Ohio 444, include Stillwrights Straight Bourbon, Key Lime Pie Moonshine, Margarita Moonshine, Apple Pie Moonshine, Peach Cobbler Moonshine, Cinnamon Moonshine and Traditional Recipe Moonshine.

Three more products — Silver Rum, Bourbon-Barrel Rum and Spiced Rum — will be added to the retail lineup later this summer, probably in early July, Measel said.

The spirits will be available for sale to the public starting June 1 at Arrow Wine & Spirits’ Washington Twp. store, Belmont Party Supply in Dayton, Air City Drive-thru & Liquor in Riverside, Kroger in Lebanon, and Vandalia Party Supply, Measel said. Those retailers also are able to sell wholesale to local bars and restaurants, he said.

The Stillwrights Key Lime Moonshine recently won a “best in class” designation at an American Distilling Institute conference in Seattle, Measel said.

Flat Rock Spirits is part of a growing wave of Miami Valley craft distillery operators who are taking advantage of a 2012 state law that makes it easier for these new entrepreneurs to distill and sell their products. State officials have said they expect the new law will trigger growth and expansion in an emerging industry, promote tourism, create jobs, generate tax revenues, and create new demand for Ohio agricultural products such as fruits and grains.

For more information, call (937) 879-4447 or go to flatrockspirits.com.

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