Hotel Tango Whiskey to Open this August in Indianapolis

09 Apr 2014 --- Hotel Tango Whiskey, the first disabled veteran-owned distillery in the country, has signed a lease at 702 Virginia Avenue in the popular Fountain Square district.

Producing whiskey, gin, moonshine and vodka on the 3,500 square foot premises, the company will also have a tasting room and retail area for the general public.

Founded in 2013 by Travis Barnes, the name Hotel Tango Whiskey was inspired by Barnes’ military service. Using the military phonetic alphabet, the initials represent his wife, Hilary, himself and, of course, whiskey.

“I love Indiana, and I love Indianapolis,” Barnes said. “This is a great city, and though we considered other options, I couldn’t be prouder to make Indianapolis Hotel Tango Whiskey’s home. My commitment to hiring veterans, and specifically disabled veterans, is simple. I owe it to them. I would never have had the opportunity to start my own business without the sacrifices of brave men and women who have fought, and continue to fight for this great country.“

The company will be making significant capital investment over five years, while creating 21 new jobs aimed toward hiring veterans. The state supported the project with $160,000 of conditional job creation tax credits, which was negotiated on behalf of the company by FairWinds Advisors.

“Our veterans are a crucial piece of the puzzle in growing the Hoosier economy,” Eric Doden, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, said. “Through their time in uniform, veterans develop transferable skills in areas like leadership and strategic planning. Those skills are uniquely valuable when building a business. No doubt the Hoosier entrepreneurial spirit guides them through this exciting venture and we’re excited to welcome Hotel Tango Whiskey to the Indiana economy.”

EmployIndy, the Workforce Investment Board for Marion County, commits to providing assistance to identify, recruit and assess new employees who will be employed by Hotel Tango Whiskey.

“Our craft beverage industry is thriving right now as people seek locally produced goods and unique offerings,” Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said. “As a veteran-owned business that is focused on hiring local veterans, we are excited to welcome Hotel Tango Whiskey to Indy.”

Hotel Tango Whiskey plans to open its doors in August 2014 with additional hiring to begin in 2015.