Iron Vault Distillery sits in downtown Galion, Ohio, occupying a renovated historic building that once housed the town’s old bank—hence the name referencing the original vault that still stands inside. Founded in 2018 by Steve and Tammy Baughman, this small-batch operation came to life after Steve’s decades-long career in manufacturing gave him an appreciation for precise processes and quality control. The couple saw an opportunity to bring craft distilling to north-central Ohio, converting the 1900s brick building into a production facility and tasting room that honors both the building’s history and the region’s agricultural heritage. The Baughmans didn’t jump into distilling blindly. Steve spent years researching techniques and visited distilleries across the country before settling on their approach, which emphasizes locally-sourced grains when possible and small-batch production runs. They installed a custom copper still system and built out the space themselves, maintaining the building’s original character while adding modern distilling equipment. The actual bank vault now serves as a conversation piece in the tasting area, and you can still see the original vault door and safety deposit boxes. Visitors walk into a space that feels more like a neighborhood gathering spot than a corporate tasting room. The exposed brick walls and high ceilings give it an industrial feel, while the bar area maintains an intimate scale where Steve or Tammy often pour tastings themselves. They produce bourbon, rye, and vodka, with their bourbon being their flagship offering. The operation remains deliberately small—they’re more focused on perfecting their craft than scaling up quickly, and that attention to detail shows in both the spirits and the personal attention visitors receive.