Banner Distilling Co. sits in Manor, Texas, just outside Austin, where founders Chris Joffrion and Patrick Hallmark turned their home distilling hobby into a legitimate operation in 2016. Joffrion, a former software engineer, and Hallmark, who worked in construction, spent years perfecting their recipes in garages and kitchens before opening their doors in an industrial space on Jacobson Road. The distillery operates out of a 3,000-square-foot facility that houses their custom-built 500-gallon hybrid pot still, which they use to craft whiskey, rum, and vodka with a focus on Texas ingredients. The journey to opening wasn’t straightforward—both founders kept their day jobs while building the business, learning the regulatory maze of federal and state distilling permits while sourcing equipment and perfecting their processes. Joffrion handles much of the technical side, drawing on his engineering background to optimize their distillation setup, while Hallmark focuses on operations and the tasting room experience. Their philosophy centers on making spirits they actually want to drink, which means they’re not chasing trends but developing recipes that reflect their own tastes and Texas terroir. Visitors find a working distillery where you can see the entire process from grain to bottle. The tasting room has a relaxed, industrial feel with concrete floors and metal fixtures, but it’s the kind of place where the founders are often around to chat about their latest batches. You’ll taste spirits that showcase local grains when possible, and the small scale means they can experiment with different techniques and limited runs. It’s not fancy, but it’s genuine craft distilling where you’re tasting the results of two guys who decided to turn their weekend hobby into something bigger.