Thanks to changes in Indiana law we’re seeing a lot more distillery businesses opening up across the state, including one opening soon in Madison County.
Jerrad and Jason Oakley plan to turn an old attorney’s office building in downtown Anderson into the county’s first distillery.
It started as a hobby for the Kentucky brothers who became general distillers in Indiana three years ago, before opening their own distillery was even an option. But now their wait is paying off.
This spring, The Oakley Brothers Distillery is set to open up in Downtown Anderson.
Jerrad said he hopes their business will help bring some life back to the downtown area, “This location in the downtown area was a happening area. This was where they used to shoe the horses.”
But then came the auto industry, and slowly the area became less popular as the auto businesses moved in and took over.
This city is loaning the brothers $10,000 to test the environmental impact of the former auto dealership in this space.
“Because, they’re actually trying to bring focus to the downtown, it allows us to become a destination location and draw people to the downtown area,” said Jason.
The brothers say the theme for their business will be a nod to the building’s past. The trip down 8th Street will take you back through the automotive history of Anderson. Their distillery will allow you to pair that with some whiskey and BBQ.
The brothers say they hope to begin moving into the building sometime this month, but they’re still in the process of getting a 500 gallon still for their growing business.
They say they hope to open The Oakley Brothers Distillery sometime in the spring of 2017.
