Our Story and Commitment to Ohio Craftsmanship
While Eric is the sole owner of Broken Glass Distillery, LLC, he brings with him a talented and supportive team who will lend their skills in diverse areas.
Eric Gillen - As Head Distiller, Eric will work his culinary wizardry to create remarkable flavors and draw upon his carefully cultivated relationships to offer a sense of place
and connection. He’s spent years building these relationships with other local businesses and organizations that will allow Broken Glass to hit the ground running and
to fill a new niche in the local economy. His horticultural training and 30+ years in the construction industry provide him with the practical skills necessary to manufacture botanical-forward spirits.
Roman Gillen - Eric’s brother, Roman brings 30+ years of business management experience, primarily in the local restaurant industry. He will also lend his artistic talents
to artwork for the spirits’ labels.
Jim Konkler - The property owner, Jim lends his skills as a master mechanic and fabricator. He’s the owner operator of ...Adrenaline Performance (classic motorcycle
restoration).
Eric:
In the late 1920's and early 1930's both of my great grandfathers on my mother’s
side were part of the spirituous liquor scene in south Columbus Ohio. One great
grandfather (Nikolaus) worked for the Division of Liquor control while the other one (Roman), well, was a
bootlegger and gin runner In the south end of the city.
The name for my distillery comes from an event that happened one afternoon on (redacted)
Ave. in German Village, at the house of my "gin running" great grandfather. A customer
pulled up to the house for a bottle of hooch, beeped his horn, and my grandfather (Francis, 14
years old at the time) went out to retrieve the cash from the car. Upon taking the
money, he then handed it off to his dad (my great grandfather) who was sitting on the
porch “keeping watch”. He then went inside to get the hooch the folks in the car had
just paid for. Once my grandfather came back out, he saw my great grandfather
getting placed in cuffs. With quick thinking, my 14 year old grandfather smashed the
glass jugs together thus eliminating any evidence and allowing my great grandfather
to go free.
Hence, Broken Glass.
Passion for Local Spirits and Community
Founded in Lancaster, Ohio, Broken Glass Distillery LLC embraces the region’s rich agricultural heritage by crafting premium small-batch spirits using local ingredients. We strive to deliver authentic flavors that celebrate our community’s bounty and support local growers. Our team is dedicated to quality, sustainability, and fostering strong relationships within our community, and beyond.
Meet Our Team and Explore Our Craft
We invite you to visit our distillery, meet our passionate team, and experience the process behind our handcrafted spirits. Whether you’re a local resident, enthusiast, or visitor, discover the stories that fill every bottle and the people behind the craft.
(available soon)