Part of the vernacular of Park Cities residents is that we rarely go North of Preston Rd. and we definitely, under no circumstances ever cross North of 635. Normally, it would take something as monumental as a Zac Posen visit to Neiman Marcus at Willow Bend to get me to venture outside of The Bubble. However, yesterday, a Christmas miracle happened. I attended a grand opening event in (wait for it) Fort Worth! Gasp! So, what was the earth-shattering occasion that drug me 45-minutes from the security of my domain? It was the lure of a sneak peek of “Whiskey Ranch,” a 112-acre whiskey wonderland owned by Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. that will serve as the home for the premier artisanal distillery’s second location. My husband LOVES whiskey. I love a road trip on a beautiful day, especially when it's with my husband - so off we went. Whiskey Ranch will be the largest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi, the only one on a fully functioning 18-hole golf course, and the first with a 45-foot copper column still in full view, along with the world’s first “doubler” designed with site windows for public tours. The site has four deep water wells, which will be used to craft the beloved TX Straight Bourbon. You can enjoy a preview of Whiskey Ranch on Thursdays and Fridays in November and December from noon to 5 p.m. beginning November 10. The Ranch House will be open and guests can walk the historic grounds, relax in any of the indoor or outdoor gathering areas, enjoy the spirits, shop, and more. Daily tours will begin in January 2018 and Whiskey Ranch is now open for private events.
A grand stone entrance and winding paved road leads visitors across a pastoral setting to the front of the property, which was intentionally designed to showcase dramatic views of Downtown Fort Worth in the background. The visitor center, or Ranch House, is the hub of activity at Whiskey Ranch. Guests will be led to a dedicated check-in area before arriving at the Ranch Store, a 2,000-square-foot retail area showcasing F&R products along with local goods from Texas artisans. Handmade caps adorning each bottle of TX Whiskey is an F&R signature, and a cap-making station will allow guests to create their own.
The “Barrel Breezeway,” with barrel racks that mimic the rick house on property, leads to the Tavern and the Oak Room. The Tavern is available for tastings and features a large custom bar, comfortable seating, and historic golf memorabilia on display. Around the corner is the Oak Room, with a floor-to-ceiling tiered rock fireplace, sealed concrete floors, oversized round chandeliers with industrial pendant lighting and plenty of natural light. The Oak Room is intended for corporate and private events of any kind and can accommodate approximately 175 people. Opening from the Oak Room is a two-sided wraparound covered patio with additional seating for 130, called the Back Porch. This area features two outdoor fireplaces and views of the lake and newly designed 18th hole. Also outside is an open courtyard, which welcomes whiskey lovers with lush greenery and a firepit.
Established in 2010 by Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company is a premier artisanal whiskey distillery located in Fort Worth, Texas. F&R released its first whiskey brand, TX Blended Whiskey in June 2012. This whiskey was awarded both “Double Gold” and “Best American Craft Whiskey” honors at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The long-anticipated, first-ever North Texas straight bourbon, TX Bourbon, was released in December 2016. For more information, please visit www.frdistilling.com.
