Our experience with fermentation started back in 2008 when Bob and June opened the Port Aransas Brewing Company in Port Aransas, Texas. They specialized in brewing craft beers for eager beachgoers. They eventually brought on Miguel, who was in culinary school at the time, to help with brewing.
After selling the brewpub and relocating back to their hometown of Dallas, Bob and June planted their roots in Lowry Crossing and decided to take the next step, and open a distillery. They brought Miguel on as the lead distiller and sought education from distilleries and schools all over the country.
We began perfecting our grain to glass process, and in 2019, we barreled the first of close to 600 barrels currently in the barrel barn. Once those first barrels became 3 years old, we started blending, bottling, and preparing to open our tasting room. After submitting bottles to close to 6 competitions in 2023, we were stunned when we medalled at all of them. We opened our tasting room doors in February of 2023 with an overwhelming amount of local support.
In 1836, the new Republic of Texas instituted a policy of distributing public lands to encourage settlement. In 1845 the Republic of Texas passed the Preemption Act thus creating “Preemption Grants”. In early December 1845, the land the Distillery is built upon received it’s preemption grant from the Republic. Later that month, in December 1845, the Congress of Texas voted to join the United States of America, making 1845 the last year of the Republic of Texas.
1845 Distilling Company is named in honor of those early Texans who sacrificed to make a better life for their family and to celebrate the last year Texas was an independent country. Between 1846 - 1898 the State of Texas continued issuing preemption grants to early Texas settlers. In 1860, the ancestors of our Distiller received their preemption grant from the State of Texas. His family still owns the original homestead. Many relatives have been born on that property. His Grandmother, now in her 90’s, still lives on that land and operates the Family ranch. With the birth of the next generation, their roots are now eight generations Texas strong.
