Dietz Distillery sits on a 40-acre property along US Highway 87 just south of Fredericksburg, where husband-and-wife team Steve and Carol Dietz turned their retirement dream into reality in 2019. Steve, a former petroleum engineer, and Carol, who worked in healthcare administration, decided to pivot completely after years of home distilling as a hobby. They built their operation from scratch on land that was previously part of a cattle ranch, creating a modern facility that produces bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using locally sourced Texas grain whenever possible. The Dietzes didn’t just jump into distilling blindly. Steve spent years perfecting his craft through online courses and hands-on learning, eventually earning his master distiller certification before they broke ground. The facility houses a 250-gallon copper pot still manufactured by Vendome Copper & Brass Works, the same company that builds equipment for major Kentucky distilleries. They’re focused on small-batch production, typically running about 20 barrels at a time, which allows them to maintain tight quality control and experiment with different mash bills and aging techniques. What you’ll find here is a no-nonsense operation run by people who genuinely love what they’re doing. The tasting room overlooks the production floor, so you can watch the actual distilling process while sampling their spirits. Steve often runs tastings himself, and he’s happy to get into the technical details of their process if you’re interested. The property has that working ranch feel with plenty of space to spread out, and they’ve built a covered outdoor area where they host events and live music on weekends.