Bear Wallow Distillery

I discovered Bear Wallow through a Groupon and I’m really glad I did. It’s tucked away from the main road, so you have to find it; basically it’s the first side road east of the Brown County Winery outlet. Outside Bear Wallow, they had a whimsical food truck that served BBQ and mini-​donuts fresh out of a Cold War era donut machine. Whiskey always pairs well with heavy food.
The place is super-​cute and balances the décor without being over the top with «kitschy-​ness.» The spirits are great, but what really stood out for me was their corn moonshine. I’m typically an aged whiskey person, and never had a taste for any «moonshine» products, but the smooth, grainy, corn-​rich character of the moonshine truly won me over. I do think it’s the best I’ve had (and I detest hyperbole, so as reference I’ve also toured all the «moonshine» factories in Tennessee and it’s far superior to those brands and products.) I ended up walking away with two fifths of their «Hidden Holler» ‘shine and have found it works wonderfully in a host of cocktails. Actually, you can get little cocktails there and they’re delicious!
I’ve also been on tons of distillery tours (done the Bourbon trail twice), but despite having a small operations area, the tour guide provided one of the most lengthy and detailed walk-​throughs I’ve had. I’d really recommend going. Give the Groupon a whirl if you’re shy, but stop by if you’re passing through Colombus, Bloomington, Nashville, or the Brown County area– it’s really worth the stop. I’ll definitely return when they switch from baby barrel to full barrel aging (and when they start making rum!).
TL;DR– Hidden Holler has a permanent place in my bar.

Welcoming atmosphere, went in winter so the place felt cozy. Nice wooden bar to stand while tasting. Price for bourbon is a little high, especially since they use a quick aging process. Everything tastes great though. Bought the moonshine and bloody mary mix from partner. They sell several complimentary products from local businesses. If coming from 65, go past bldg, look for blue directional sign

Great drinks, great service, their family business makes you feel like family! Don’t miss this when you are in the area, you will be so glad that you went. I plan to go back November with the girls weekend, I can’t wait!

Moonshine and Whiskey sampling at 2pm on a Monday? Don’t judge me.
We sought out Bear Wallow Distillery based on suggestions from fellow Unilocalers and were SO delighted to learn that Bear Wallow chose to be open on MLK day! Side note — make sure to check their hours and even call ahead if needed — especially in the ‘off season’. They are located off of Old Indiana 46 — off the main drag leading in to Nashville, IN. Some apps map it off just a tad, but keep looking — it’s there!
We were warmly and promptly greeted as we entered Bear Wallow and were told about the specials for the day — a Bloody Mary and some delight called a «Hot Apple Pie». I had both. Again — don’t judge me. My bloody mary was one of the best I have ever had — and it wasn’t even ‘doctored up’ with all kinds of fancy ingredients. Gimme a Ball Jar full of that goodness any time, any day. The Hot Apple Pie… what can I say? It was a warm gulp of heaven on a chilly day. I wanted it to be bottomless. Sigh. The hubs had a «Moonshine Shake Up» made with Gingerbread syrup. Yummo.
For a small $ 2 fee, you can sample all of the spirits made in house (4). Go for it. They make their own corn based whiskeys, moonshine, and aged bourbon. During our sampling, each bottle was explained in detail and we were educated on how each one differed from the previous/​next. So cool. Our host even took the time to explain the bourbon making process and brought out a cross section of the barrel to further explain this loving process to us. Amazing.
They have their spirits, tons of flavored syrups/​mixers (Wilks & Wilson and others), local honey, and other cool goodies for purchase on site as well.
I would classify this place as having a down home-​groovy-​cozy-​lodgey-​warehousey feel. Sidle on up to the bar for samples and then wander around or take a seat to enjoy your concoction. Seating is limited — only a few stools at the bar, some barrel seats by the garage door, and there are no tables to speak of, but we liked it because it kept us moving and discovering and asking questions. The staff was very engaging. We never felt rushed or that we were bothering them with our random questions.
We later learned that the amazing couple chatting us up and helping us out were indeed the owners. SO cool, knowledgeable, and personable. They said they get some complaints that their location is «too out of the way» or «too far out of town». Trust me – it’s not. Make the trip. You’re welcome.

A welcome addition to the area. Such an excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable staff. All of the spirits I tried were very smooth despite them being not aged. Soon they will have an aged whiskey and I am looking forward to trying that in the coming weeks.
Additionally, they have a tv so if you are looking for a local game on Sunday, this is your place!