About Us

Welcome to Shiphouse Vodka, the finest craft vodka created by Bryan Kasper and Noble Cut Distillery.

Bryan is a passionate entrepreneur with a love for experimenting with flavors and ingredients. After years of perfecting his craft, he finally developed the perfect vodka recipe that combines the finest ingredients with a smooth and clean finish. He toiled over the recipe for years.

Shiphouse Vodka is made from Wheat and Corn, which are distilled multiple times to create a smooth and crisp taste. We then add a touch of natural flavors to give our vodka a unique and enjoyable flavor profile.

Our vodka is handcrafted in small batches to ensure the highest quality and consistency. We are dedicated to using sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the production of our vodka.

At Shiphouse Vodka, we pride ourselves on creating a product that not only tastes great, but is also made with integrity and care. We hope you enjoy sipping on our vodka as much as we enjoyed creating it. Cheers! Don’t give up the ship.

Benson Ford illuminated in the night by red and blue floodlights
Recognition

Double Gold — 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

One of the Most Prestigious Spirits Competitions in the World

The Makers

Meet the Founders

Two Lake Erie entrepreneurs. One obsession with doing things right.

Bryan Kasper

Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Shiphouse Vodka

Bryan Kasper has been part of island life since 1989. The Benson Ford Ship House on the west shore has been his home since 1999, and few people have a deeper connection to South Bass Island than he does. Before turning his full attention to the island, Bryan spent four decades building a respected automotive enterprise in Sandusky, growing it into a multi-dealership brand that made the Kasper name well known across Ottawa County. He sold the business in 2021 and has been all in on Put-in-Bay ever since.

The idea for Shiphouse Vodka grew out of that same instinct that drove his automotive career: if something is worth doing, build it right and make it last. Bryan spent the better part of a decade developing the recipe, switching grains and adjusting the distillation process until it was exactly what he wanted. 

Even the bottle took years, moving from CAD drawings to acrylic prototypes before the final hand-cast glass shipped from a maker in Poland.

Together with co-founder Joe Fraley, Bryan assembled the investment group that acquired Noble Cut Distillery in Columbus, now one of the largest privately owned distilleries in Ohio. He remains hands on in the brand’s direction, the distillery’s growth on Put-in-Bay, and the ongoing push into new states.

Off the clock, Bryan is usually out on the water aboard his boat, making the run between Sandusky and the island the way he has for years. On the island, he is hard to miss, standing 6’6″ with white hair and a smile. 

Even the bottle took years, moving from CAD drawings to acrylic prototypes before the final hand-cast glass shipped from a maker in Poland.

Together with co-founder Joe Fraley, Bryan assembled the investment group that acquired Noble Cut Distillery in Columbus, now one of the largest privately owned distilleries in Ohio. He remains hands on in the brand’s direction, the distillery’s growth on Put-in-Bay, and the ongoing push into new states.

Off the clock, Bryan is usually out on the water aboard his boat, making the run between Sandusky and the island the way he has for years. On the island, he is hard to miss, standing 6’6″ with white hair and a smile. 

Each summer he hosts a pirate-themed gathering during Put-in-Bay’s beloved Pyrate Fest that has become a local tradition of its own. He also serves on the Firelands Hospital Board of Directors and opens the Ship House to the public twice a year, donating every dollar from tour proceeds to local causes. Ask him what he drinks his Shiphouse Vodka with and he will tell you without hesitation: Diet Coke, every time.

“We toiled for years with the formula, switching grains until it was perfect. It is my favorite spirit, so I would say I am an expert. We were not going to settle for anything less than the best vodka that you will taste.”

Joe Fraley

Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Shiphouse Vodka

Joe Fraley is an Ohio attorney and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience fighting for people across the state. A graduate of Ohio Northern University and Capital University Law School, Joe began his legal career in 1991 and made partner within three years. He went on to build Pencheff and Fraley LPA into one of Ohio’s most respected firms for workers’ compensation, personal injury, and litigation, trying cases in courtrooms across the state. The kind of tenacity it takes to do that for three decades translates well to the business world, and anyone who has worked with Joe knows it.

His friendship with Bryan Kasper grew naturally from their shared ties to the Lake Erie region, and when Bryan brought him the Shiphouse concept, Joe saw it clearly: a brand with a once-in-a-generation story, an irreplaceable bottle, and a real opportunity to put northern Ohio on the map in a new way. For Joe, it was an easy yes.

As co-founder, Joe has been central to the business and legal strategy behind Shiphouse Vodka. From the acquisition of Noble Cut Distillery to the opening of the Put-in-Bay tasting room and the push into new markets, his experience navigating complex negotiations and his network across Ohio have been instrumental in getting Shiphouse onto shelves all across the state.

Joe lives in Granville with his wife and three children. Outside the office and away from the distillery, you will find him on a golf course or on a basketball court. He sees Shiphouse Vodka as more than a business venture, but as a chance to do something lasting for the Lake Erie community he has been part of his whole career.

Joe Fraley

Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Shiphouse Vodka

As co-founder, Joe has been central to the business and legal strategy behind Shiphouse Vodka. From the acquisition of Noble Cut Distillery to the opening of the Put-in-Bay tasting room and the push into new markets, his experience navigating complex negotiations and his network across Ohio have been instrumental in getting Shiphouse onto shelves all across the state.

Joe lives in Granville with his wife and three children. Outside the office and away from the distillery, you will find him on a golf course or on a basketball court. He sees Shiphouse Vodka as more than a business venture, but as a chance to do something lasting for the Lake Erie community he has been part of his whole career.

“Put-in-Bay is one of the most special places in Ohio, maybe in the country. We wanted to give people a way to take a little piece of it home with them. That is exactly what Shiphouse Vodka is.”

Welcome to Shiphouse Vodka

A premium vodka brand inspired by the Benson Ford, an ore freighter that now sits on land in Put In Bay, Ohio. 

Visit Shiponthebay.com
Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Want to Know About Shiphouse Vodka

From the bottle to the bay, your questions answered.

Shiphouse Vodka is a premium American craft vodka made from 100% American-grown wheat and corn. Distilled 6 times and filtered 10 times through activated charcoal, it delivers an exceptionally smooth, clean finish. Bottled at 80 proof and gluten free, produced at Noble Cut Distillery in Columbus and Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

The Benson Ford Ship House is one of the most unique private residences in America. It is the forecastle of a 1924 Ford Motor Company cargo ship that was cut from the hull after decommissioning and placed on a cliffside overlooking Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Co-founder Bryan Kasper has owned it since 1999, and the vodka bottle is modeled directly after its iconic silhouette.

Shiphouse Vodka was co-founded by Bryan Kasper and Joe Fraley, equal partners and co-owners of Shiphouse Vodka. Together they acquired Noble Cut Distillery in Columbus to produce the vodka to their exact standard.

Shiphouse Vodka is available at liquor stores across Ohio through OHLQ. Search by zip code at OHLQ.com to find your nearest location. You can also purchase online at shiphousevodka.com and visit Noble Cut Distillery in person at 280 Delaware Ave, Put-in-Bay, or at the Columbus location. Find Shiphouse Vodka Near You.

Yes. You can order Shiphouse Vodka and have it shipped to you outside of the state of Ohio on our website and using the link below. Get Shiphouse Vodka Shipped Outside of Ohio 

Yes. Shiphouse Vodka is gluten free, crafted from American wheat and corn and filtered ten times through activated charcoal for a clean and pure finish.

Yes. Most notably, Shiphouse Vodka is a Double Gold winner at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most respected spirits competitions in the world. During this competition, Shiphouse Vodka is judged among the best vodkas in the world in blind international competition, so there is no bias put towards the unique design of our bottle and only the vodka itself is judged.

Smooth, clean, and crisp. Six-stage distillation and ten-stage charcoal filtration produce a light, pure profile that works equally well neat, on the rocks, or in any cocktails of your choosing.

Absolutely! Noble Cut Distillery operates a tasting room and bottle shop at 280 Delaware Ave on Put-in-Bay, in the alley between Mr. Ed’s Bar and Grille and Frosty’s. Open seasonally, 7 days a week in summer, with tastings and exclusive Shiphouse merchandise available. Click the link below to get directions. Visit Us at our Put-In-Bay Distillery Location.

Co-founder Bryan Kasper has owned the Benson Ford Ship House since 1999. The Ship House opens twice a year for exclusive public tours benefiting local Put-in-Bay charities. The vodka, the bottle, and the entire brand story trace directly back to that landmark.