High Hill Distillery sits on a working cattle ranch in Hallettsville, Texas, about 90 minutes southeast of Austin. Founded by Michael and Nancy Hawn in 2016, this small-batch operation represents a dramatic career shift from Michael’s previous life as a petroleum engineer. The couple transformed part of their 300-acre ranch into a craft distillery, building their production facility from the ground up with a focus on Texas-made spirits. They produce bourbon, vodka, and moonshine using traditional methods combined with modern equipment, including their custom-built copper still. The distillery opened its doors to visitors in 2017, offering a genuine ranch experience alongside their spirits.
The Hawns’ journey into distilling began as a retirement project that quickly became a passion. Michael spent years researching distillation techniques and perfecting recipes before committing to the business full-time. Nancy handles much of the business operations while Michael focuses on production and recipe development. Their approach emphasizes quality over quantity, with small batches that allow for careful attention to each step of the process. The ranch setting isn’t just aesthetic—they use their own well water in production and plan to eventually grow some of their own grain. The operation remains intentionally small, allowing the Hawns to personally interact with most visitors and maintain hands-on control over every aspect of production.
Visitors get an authentic taste of Texas ranch life combined with craft distilling. The tasting room has a rustic, comfortable feel that matches the ranch setting, and tours often include Michael explaining the distillation process while sharing stories about their transition from the oil industry to spirits. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational, with the kind of personal attention you only get at owner-operated distilleries. You’re not just tasting spirits—you’re hearing the story of how two people decided to chase a completely different dream in their later years and make it work on a working cattle ranch.
