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    Clintonville Voters to Decide on Tasting Room at Local Distillery

    A Clintonville distillery is trying to get a ballot measure passed by voters to add an on-site tasting room. 451 Spirits, owned by Chad Kessler, has been distilling on Oakland Avenue since February. He said once a tasting room is added, it’ll be a lot easier for him to try new recipes and a lot less of an experiment for his patrons.

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    “People are understandably skeptical of trying something new when it costs between $25 and $50,” Kessler said. “Our so called ‘flavored’ products aren’t what people are expecting. They’re very much a new twist on traditional spirits. Not some sugary sweet bastardization.”

    As it is now, whenever Kessler comes up with a new recipe he has to get it approved by the state liquor department. After that he can distribute his products to liquor agencies and hope that people buy them. Adding the tasting room would allow him to sell his products on-site, and his customers would have access to small batches of new and sometimes limited-run products.

    “I don’t want to say too much just yet but expect them to get weird,” said Kessler, who worked in the spirits department for Weiland’s market for five years.

    His time there was filled with research on different spirits and how to use them. His creations so far include his Dear Johnny Smoked Apple Flavored Whiskey, a Writers Block Mint Lime Rum, and Midsommers Night Absinthe. Along with some traditional releases, like Sherry or Port barrel finished versions of these current products, Kessler wants to branch out into tequila.

    “One of the most fascinating spirits I know of is a style of Mezcal called Pechuga,” he said. “It’s infused with a mix of fruits and nuts, and then a chicken breast is hung inside the neck of the still. The idea is to balance out the sweetness of the fruit.”

    Distilling is the focal point of the business, and while Kessler isn’t completely ruling out the possibility of opening a bar with 451-based cocktails, the tasting room is as far as he wants to take it for now. The only opposition he seems to face is red tape, which Clintonville residents can vote away on November 8.

    The ballot measure will come in two parts; voters will approve weekday sales and Sunday sales.

    For more information, visit www.451spirits.com.

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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