Texas Black Gold Distillery sits in Houston’s Heights neighborhood on Studewood Street, bringing craft spirits to a city better known for oil than whiskey. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Amy Prichard, the distillery opened in 2017 after Chris left his corporate career to chase a dream that started with home brewing and evolved into serious distillation. The couple converted a former industrial space into their production facility and tasting room, keeping the raw concrete floors and exposed beams that give the place its urban edge. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rye, and vodka, with plans to expand their whiskey offerings as their barrels age. The Prichards didn’t take the typical path into distilling. Chris spent years in the energy sector before deciding Houston needed its own craft distillery, and Amy handles the business side while maintaining her day job. They started with a 250-gallon copper still and have slowly built their operation around quality over speed. The name pays homage to Texas’s oil heritage while positioning whiskey as the state’s next liquid gold. Their philosophy centers on using locally sourced grains when possible and letting their spirits develop character without rushing the process. Visitors get an intimate look at a working distillery that’s still finding its rhythm. The tasting room feels more like a neighborhood bar than a polished tourist destination, which works in its favor. You’re likely to meet Chris or Amy during your visit, and they’re genuinely excited to talk about their process and the challenges of starting a distillery from scratch in Texas. The space showcases their small-batch approach—you can see their entire operation from the tasting bar, and there’s something honest about watching a dream still taking shape.