Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the 1845 Distillery Company in Lowry Crossing Texas. 1845 is a small, but rapidly growing Texas whiskey producer that is quickly gaining a reputation for distilling award-winning bourbon. I had the opportunity to tour the distillery alongside the wonderful members of the Warriors & Whiskey DFW Veterans Whiskey Club, and it was truly a fantastic experience!
Distillery Background
In 2008, Bob and June Pettit embarked on a journey into fermentation when they launched the Port Aransas Brewing Company on the Texas coast, catering to beer enthusiasts enjoying the beach. Their team grew with the addition of Miguel, a culinary school student, to assist in brewing.
After selling their brewpub and returning to Dallas, Bob, June and family settled in Lowry Crossing and chose to venture into the world of distillation. Miguel was appointed as the head distiller, and they delved into learning from distilleries and educational institutions nationwide to hone their craft.
1845 is a grain-to-glass distillery and uses 100% Texas Grains to produce their 6 whiskeys, three of which carry the Preemption brand (Texas Straight Bourbon, Texas Four Grain Straight Bourbon, Texas Wheated Straight Bourbon) and three Cask Strength versions of the above under the Preemption Reverence label.
The Tour
The distillery is situated on the family homestead, handed down through the generations since the family received a preemption grant from the state of Texas in 1860. It’s a beautiful property adorned with pecan trees and housing the tasting rooms, a barrel barn, and the distilling equipment, which currently includes 6 stainless steel fermenters and one copper pot still, with a second pot still being assembled and put into operation in late October of this year.
Our tour began in the barrel barn, which currently houses about 600 barrels. Our tour guide was Bob, co-owner and founder of 1845, who entertained us with the history of the distillery. He explained their grain-to-glass philosophy and how proud they are to use 100% Texas grains in their process. He also described their three mash bills: Yellow Corn, Elbon Rye, and Malted Barley for their Texas Straight Bourbon; Yellow Corn, Red Winter Wheat, Elbon Rye, and Malted Barley four their Texas Four Grain Straight Bourbon; and Yellow Corn, Red Winter Wheat, and Malted Barley for their Texas Wheated Straight Bourbon. He also explained that all three whiskeys are aged at least 3 years and bottled at 100 proof. He also discussed their Cask Strength versions of the three base bourbons.
We also got a glimpse of barrels aging for a special release in 2029, which left us eagerly anticipating the future flavors.
From there, we entered the bottle storage area for a little A/C and to get tastes from three different barrels of their Wheated mash. The three barrels were at different stages of maturity. Our first taste came from a barrel aged for just over 12 months. This sample was a little hot and, as expected, lacked depth. The second barrel, aged 23 months, yielded a darker, more flavorful bourbon, but one that still tasted young. The third barrel was aged 37 months. This sample had a nice nose of chocolate, cherry, and vanilla, with chocolate and yeast rolls on the palate. It was delicious!
From there, we went to the pot still room. Bob described the fermentation process in detail, telling us that the industry standard is to ferment the mash for 2.5 days. But 1845, building from their brewing days utilizes a “low and slow” process which takes about 7 days, which they believe adds depth and character to their whiskeys.
Finally, we entered the tasting room for our pick of 4 of their six offerings. Having already tasted their Cask Strength Texas Straight Bourbon at home and the Wheated bourbon in the bottling room, I decided to try the Cask Strength Wheated, the Straight Bourbon, and both versions of the Four Grain. These are truly some unique and flavorful Texas Bourbons! It was a tough choice, but I decided to purchase the Cask Strength Four Grain, which I will review later on this week!
Awards and Recognition
Despite being a young distillery, 1845 has amassed an impressive collection of awards for their bourbons. Their Texas Straight Bourbon was awarded Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Platinum from Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards, Gold at the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards, and many more! Their Four Grain Bourbon was awarded Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Double Platinum from Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards, Gold at the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards, and more. Their Wheated Bourbon was awarded Silver at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold from Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards, Double Gold at the 2023 SIP Awards, as well as other awards. The recognition speaks volumes about the exceptional quality of their spirits and hints at a bright future filled with further success and acclaim.
My visit to the 1845 Distilling Company was truly unforgettable, with captivating stories and exceptional whiskey. If you find yourself in the DFW area seeking an enjoyable tour, make sure to visit this distillery for an experience that will not disappoint. I wholeheartedly recommend the 1845 tour and rate their bourbons highly. Here's to more incredible spirits from 1845! Cheers! 🥃
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