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Everything you need to know about MGP Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Nashville's Finest Small Batch Bourbon£139.99 Inc VAT -
Nashville Barrel Company 5 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey£139.99 Inc VAT -
Pinhook 6 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey Seelbachs£159.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
MGP, Indiana Region, USA. Founded in 1953.
MGP is one of the most influential whiskey producers you’ve probably never heard of. Based in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the distillery produces huge volumes of bourbon and rye whiskey that end up in bottles across the United States — often under completely different brand names.
The site dates back to 1847, when distilling began on the property. Over the years it passed through several owners before becoming part of MGP Ingredients, a company that produces spirits and specialty food ingredients. In recent years the whiskey operation has been rebranded as Ross & Squibb Distillery, though many people in the industry still simply call it “MGP.”
What makes MGP significant is its role as a major contract distiller. Many craft whiskey brands source their bourbon or rye from MGP while they develop their own distilleries. That means MGP whiskey has quietly powered a large part of the American craft whiskey boom.
Taste Profile
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Oaky / Woody |
Spicy | Sweet |
MGP bourbons tend to show classic American sweetness with caramel and vanilla leading the way. Oak provides structure and depth, while rye in the mash bill adds peppery spice and warmth.
The distillery is particularly famous for its high-rye mash bills, which create whiskies with a lively spice character alongside the sweetness from corn. The texture is usually bold and full-bodied, making these whiskies popular with both blenders and independent bottlers.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Caramel / Toffee |
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Cinnamon / Clove |
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Oak / Wood Spice |
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Vanilla |
Most Recognisable Bottles
While MGP produces whiskey for many brands, it also bottles its own releases.
Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Named after the Prohibition-era bootlegger George Remus. Rich caramel, spice, and oak.
Rossville Union Rye
Showcases MGP’s well-known rye mash bill with bold spice and vanilla sweetness.
Remus Repeal Reserve
Limited annual releases celebrating the end of Prohibition, often featuring older aged stock.
Many other American whiskey brands have historically sourced spirit from MGP.
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The Distillery
The Distiller: MGP at Ross & Squibb Distillery
Address: 652 Shipping St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, United States
 Open in Maps |
 www.mgpingredients.com |
 +1 812 537 1481 |
Visitor Centre & Opening Times
Yes — the distillery offers tours and tastings.
Typical opening hours
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Wednesday – Sunday
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Around 10:00 – 17:00
(Opening hours may vary seasonally)
Tours often focus on the distillery’s long history and its role in modern American whiskey production.
Ownership History
Historic Ownership
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Distilling operations began in 1847 under local distillers
Later Ownership
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Seagram’s operated the distillery during the 20th century
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Purchased by MGP Ingredients in 2011
Current Owner
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MGP Ingredients (Ross & Squibb Distillery brand)
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
MGP Ingredients is one of the largest contract whiskey producers in the United States. The company operates its primary distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a site that traces its distilling history back to 1847.
Although the company itself is not a consumer-facing whiskey brand, it has become one of the most influential suppliers of bourbon and rye whiskey in the American whiskey industry. For many years, numerous craft and premium brands sourced their whiskey from MGP while building their own identities.
Today, MGP both supplies whiskey to other brands and markets its own aged stocks.
Production
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Spirit Types: Bourbon, rye whiskey, light whiskey, and neutral grain spirit
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Distillation: Large-scale column stills
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Mash Bills: Multiple proprietary recipes, including well-known high-rye formulas
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Barrels: New charred American oak (for bourbon and rye)
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Production Scale: Industrial-scale with extensive aging warehouses
One of MGP’s most widely used mash bills is a 95% rye / 5% malted barley recipe, which became the backbone of many modern American rye whiskey brands.
Whisky Style
MGP rye whiskey typically shows:
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Strong rye spice
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Black pepper and mint
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Herbal and citrus notes
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Dry, structured finish
MGP bourbon tends to show:
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Sweet corn base
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Vanilla and caramel
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Moderate oak
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Balanced spice from rye
Because many brands source from the same mash bills, these flavour profiles appear across numerous labels.
Key Brands Using MGP Whiskey (Historically)
Many well-known brands have sourced or blended MGP whiskey, including:
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Bulleit Rye
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High West (early releases)
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Templeton Rye
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Numerous craft distillery brands during their early years
Some of these brands later transitioned to their own distillate.
Significance
MGP is one of the hidden structural pillars of the modern American whiskey boom. During the 2000s–2010s craft whiskey surge, many new brands relied on MGP aged stock to enter the market while their own whiskey matured.
As a result, MGP played a critical role in supplying high-quality bourbon and rye during a period of rapid growth in global whiskey demand. It remains one of the most important contract distillers in the industry.
MGP Whisky to Buy
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