TX Whiskey Ranch sits on a sprawling 112-acre property in Fort Worth, making it one of the largest distillery operations in Texas. Founded by Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson in 2012, this ambitious project took nearly four years to come to fruition before opening its doors in 2016. Firestone, a tech entrepreneur, and Robertson, who comes from a ranching background, wanted to create something that embodied the spirit of Texas on a grand scale. The facility features a 40,000-square-foot distillery building with custom copper stills and an impressive barrel storage warehouse that can hold up to 20,000 barrels. They produce bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka, with plans for additional spirits as their aged inventory matures.
The journey to opening wasn’t straightforward. Firestone and Robertson spent years navigating federal and state regulations, designing their facility, and sourcing equipment from Scotland and Germany. They brought in master distiller Rob Arnold, who previously worked at Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company, to oversee production. The team’s philosophy centers on using Texas-grown grains whenever possible and embracing the state’s climate for aging, which accelerates the maturation process compared to traditional Kentucky bourbon aging. The hot Texas summers and mild winters create significant barrel expansion and contraction, pushing more flavor from the wood into the whiskey in shorter time periods.
Visitors get a real working distillery experience here, not a sanitized tourist version. You can see the massive column stills in action during production days, walk through barrel warehouses that smell intensely of oak and vanilla, and taste spirits that range from young and fiery to surprisingly smooth aged expressions. The tasting room overlooks the production floor, so you’re watching the process while sampling the results. It’s Industrial with a capital I, but that’s exactly what makes it fascinating for spirits enthusiasts who want to understand how whiskey gets made at scale.
