Red Fork Distillery sits in Tulsa’s Red Fork neighborhood, a historic area that was once Oklahoma’s oil boom epicenter in the early 1900s. Founded by husband-and-wife team Ben and Susan Pollard in 2014, this small-batch operation occupies a 4,000-square-foot facility that Ben, a former mechanical engineer, designed specifically for craft distilling. The couple spent three years navigating Oklahoma’s changing liquor laws and perfecting their recipes before opening their doors to the public. Ben’s engineering background shows throughout the operation – he custom-built much of their equipment, including their 500-gallon copper still named ‘Bertha.’ Susan handles the business side while Ben focuses on production, creating bourbon, rye, and vodka using locally-sourced Oklahoma wheat and corn. Their philosophy centers on controlling every step of the process, from grain selection to bottling, which allows them to experiment with different mash bills and aging techniques in their climate-controlled rickhouse. The tasting room has that authentic craft distillery feel – concrete floors, exposed brick, and the constant hum of production happening just steps away. You’ll often find Ben or Susan behind the bar, eager to talk about their spirits and the journey from corporate careers to craft distilling. The space doubles as a cocktail bar on weekends, where they showcase their spirits in classic and creative cocktails.