Tucked into a historic building on North Church Street in downtown Palestine, Tahwahkaro Distilling Company represents East Texas’s entry into the craft spirits game. The name comes from the Cherokee word meaning “welcome,” which fits since Palestine sits in the heart of what was once Cherokee territory. Founded by local entrepreneur Randy Osborne in 2016, this small-batch operation focuses on bourbon and whiskey production using traditional methods in a restored early 1900s commercial building. The distillery runs a tight ship with Osborne handling much of the operation himself, from mash to bottle. They’re producing bourbon, rye whiskey, and moonshine using locally-sourced grains when possible, with a 500-gallon copper still as the centerpiece of their operation. The setup is compact but purposeful—this isn’t a massive industrial operation, but rather a focused craft distillery that’s putting Palestine on the Texas whiskey map. You’ll find the space has that authentic small-town distillery feel, where the owner might be the one giving your tour and the person behind the tasting bar knows every barrel by name.
