M&O Spirits sits on West Main Street in Ashville, Ohio, a small town about 20 miles south of Columbus. Founded by Mike Hagan and his business partner in 2018, this craft distillery occupies a converted building that previously housed a local manufacturing operation. Hagan, who spent years in the construction industry before switching to spirits, wanted to create something that would put Ashville on the map for bourbon lovers. They produce bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using traditional copper pot stills in a compact but efficient operation that focuses on small-batch production. The journey to opening wasn’t straightforward. Hagan and his team spent nearly two years navigating local zoning requirements and federal licensing processes before they could fire up their first still. The building required significant renovation to meet distillery standards, but they preserved much of the original industrial character with exposed brick walls and high ceilings. Their master distiller brings experience from larger Kentucky operations, but here focuses on hands-on batches where every barrel gets personal attention. The philosophy centers on using quality Ohio grains and taking time to get the cuts right, even if it means smaller yields. Visitors enter through a tasting room that feels more like a neighborhood bar than a typical distillery tour operation. The production area sits just behind glass walls, so you can watch the actual distilling process during tours. The space isn’t huge, but that intimacy works in their favor since tour groups stay small and guides can answer detailed questions about their specific equipment and processes. They’ve built a local following among Columbus area whiskey enthusiasts who appreciate being able to talk directly with the people making their bourbon.