Oregon District business ready to sell gin and make bourbon

In a matter of days, it will be possible to order a gin and tonic made with gin distilled in the Oregon District.

In two years or so, you’ll be able to buy bourbon produced in the historic district.

Belle of Dayton plans to start selling its new gin in October. The retail price will be $27.95 a bottle.

Mike LaSelle, co-owner of Belle of Dayton. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)

Michael LaSelle, co-owner of the 3-year-old distillery at 122 Van Buren St., said the business could begin mashing its bourbon as early as today, Wednesday, Sept. 28.

It will be ready in about two years.

LaSelle said the gin -- like Belle’s trademark vodka and Hell’s vodka -- will have the distillery's striking new label and detailed descriptions of the crafted product contained in each bottle.

Back label of Belle of Dayton's new gin. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)

He talks about the gin in the video above.

“Every single spirit you see from our distillery is literally what we believe our vodka or gin or Hell’s vodka ... should taste like. It is our expression of what our spirit should be,” LaSelle said. “It is uniquely different and it is made and crafted by us."

Belle plans to release its four-grain Ohio rye whiskey made in new Ohio charred barrels with a list of ingredients that include white sweet corn instead of yellow corn, and its 1800s style bourbon barrel cask rum next year.

The small batch rum has been in barrels from Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey and other distilleries for a year and half, LaSelle said.

Mike LaSelle pours a tasting of Belle of Dayton's four grain Ohio rye whiskey, expected to be bottled next year. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)

Mike LaSelle holds bottles containing Belle of Dayton's four grain Ohio rye whiskey and bourbon barrel cask rum. They will be released in 2017. (Photo by Amelia Robinson)

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