Ernest Scarano Distillery sits on Rice Street in Elmore, Ohio, a small town about 20 miles southeast of Toledo. Ernest Scarano founded this operation in 2016, bringing decades of experience as a master distiller who previously worked at several Kentucky distilleries before deciding to strike out on his own in northern Ohio. The distillery operates out of a renovated 1920s industrial building that Scarano spent two years converting into a full production facility, complete with custom copper stills and temperature-controlled aging rooms. Scarano’s journey to opening his own distillery wasn’t straightforward—he spent nearly a decade perfecting his recipes while working for other operations, always planning to eventually create his own signature bourbon and rye whiskeys. The decision to locate in Ohio rather than traditional whiskey country was intentional, as Scarano wanted to be part of the growing craft distilling movement in the Midwest. He handles most of the production himself with help from a small team, focusing on small-batch runs that allow for careful quality control at every step. The distillery produces primarily bourbon and rye whiskey, though they also craft a corn whiskey and seasonal gin. Visitors can tour the production floor, see the 500-gallon copper pot still in action, and taste through their current lineup in a converted warehouse space that maintains the industrial character of the original building. Scarano often leads tours himself when he’s not in production, sharing stories about the craft and his particular approach to aging spirits in Ohio’s variable climate.