Boone County Jail Distillery sits in downtown Lebanon, Indiana, housed in what was once the actual Boone County Jail building from the 1800s. Founded by Bob Rhoads and his team, this craft distillery opened its doors in 2018, transforming the historic limestone jail into a unique spirits production facility and tasting room. The building’s thick stone walls and original architecture create an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else – complete with restored jail cells that now serve as private tasting areas. They produce bourbon, moonshine, and flavored spirits, all crafted on-site using traditional methods combined with modern equipment. The distillery operates out of the ground floor where the old jail’s common areas once stood, while the upper level houses their production facilities. Rhoads, who has a background in construction and development, saw the potential in the abandoned jail building and spent years converting it into a fully functional distillery. The transformation required extensive renovation to meet modern safety codes while preserving the building’s historic character, including the original jail cells with their heavy metal doors and stone walls. What started as a passion project has grown into a legitimate craft distillery that draws visitors curious about both the spirits and the building’s fascinating past. The team focuses on small-batch production, with their copper still capable of producing around 50 gallons per batch, allowing them to maintain quality control and experiment with different recipes and aging processes.