Galveston Distilling Co sits on Market Street in Galveston’s historic district, making it Texas’s first distillery on an island. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Paul and Tammy Mikla, the operation started after Paul retired from a career in corporate finance and decided to chase his passion for craft spirits. They chose Galveston specifically for its unique maritime climate, believing the Gulf Coast humidity and salt air would create distinctive aging conditions for their whiskeys. The 3,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper stills and produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and rum. The Miklas spent two years navigating local regulations to become Galveston’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Paul, who had been home-distilling as a hobby for years, brought in master distiller expertise while Tammy handles operations and marketing. Their philosophy centers on small-batch production with local ingredients when possible – they source Texas corn and use Galveston’s mineral-rich water in their mash. The couple wanted to create something that reflected the island’s maritime heritage while producing spirits that could compete with established mainland distilleries. Visitors walk into a working distillery where you can see the entire process from grain to bottle. The tasting room feels more like someone’s well-appointed garage than a polished tourist destination, which works in its favor. You’re tasting spirits while watching Paul or his team actually working the stills just feet away. The maritime influence isn’t just marketing talk – the constant Gulf humidity and temperature swings genuinely affect how their spirits age, creating flavor profiles you won’t find in traditional Kentucky warehouses.