George Ross and William Squibb—two distilling pioneers who set the standard of mastery in whiskey making that we proudly uphold today. Ross & Squibb Distillery is a tribute to those trailblazers who distilled greatness into every glass, even when the odds were stacked against them.
One Distillery.
Two centuries of mastery.
CRAFTED BY RENEGADE SPIRITS.
History has always been distilled in Lawrenceburg.
From as early as 1809 to the days of Ross, Squibb, and Remus, our distillery has always been rich in both craftsman and craftsmanship. Here’s a quick timeline of how it all began and how we’ve gotten where we are today.
Yesterday
A LAWRENCEBURG ORIGINAL.
When George Ross opened Rossville Distillery—now Ross & Squibb Distillery—on the banks of the Tanner’s Creek in 1847, it was one of Lawrenceburg’s first distilleries. It was the legendary ryes crafted by George Ross that drew in whiskey loyalists and other distilling enthusiasts. It didn’t take long for Lawrenceburg to grow into the whiskey capital of the world.
George Remus, a pharmacist turned opportunist, acquired the Squibb Distillery in 1921 to run his illegal bootlegging empire. The so-called King of the Bootleggers carefully crafted his “medicinal” bourbon here—which later became part of the Ross & Squibb Distillery.
Throughout Prohibition, the Ross & Squibb Distillery was one of the few able to withstand the trying times until America’s interest in whiskey returned.
Today
TIME HONORED TRADITIONS, MASTERFULLY CRAFTED WHISKEY.
The Ross & Squibb Distillery was renamed in 2021 as a culmination and celebration of the mastery, artistry, and legacy that runs through each spirit today. Today, the revival of whiskey consumption has grown exponentially throughout America. So, too, has the appreciation for a master-crafted whiskey, grounded in the quality, character and traditions of the town it calls home.
A TOWN BUILT FOR WHISKEY.
Kentucky may be known for its bourbon, but no place does rye whiskey and high-rye bourbon better than Lawrenceburg. Aside from its prime trade location near the Ohio River, Ross & Squibb Distillery, and the distilleries that came before us, have benefitted from sitting atop a massive limestone shelf, which naturally filters the cold and pure water of the Great Miami Aquifer. These providential gifts lower the sulfur and iron content that negatively affect a whiskey’s taste, resulting in a bold, spicy flavor no other region can replicate.
Tomorrow
THE SOUL OF 1847 LIVES ON.
As the craft cocktail revival continues to grow, Ross & Squibb will pioneer the way forward in distilling by crafting award-winning mash bills, introducing breakthrough brands and leading the industry in distilling mastery.
