FORT WORTH, Texas -- When Cowtown's fastest growing whiskey outfit opens a new distillery on Friday, it'll be at a 112-acre site that has more than a century of history.
What was once Glen Garden Country Club now becoming the new home of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., and the distillers hope some of that golfing history lends itself to their new venture.
"When we figured out the history of the place, we knew it would work," said Troy Robertson, one of the co-founders of the popular TX Whiskey.
The company's new campus in south Fort Worth on Mitchell Boulevard is nothing if not ambitious.
At one time, a historic country club that saw the likes of Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan learn to play there, the course fell into disrepair in recent years before finally being listed for sale a few years ago.
That's when Troy and his partner, Leonard Firestone, put in an offer on 112 acres.
The past three years have been filled with construction of an event center, tasting room, executive offices, and a new distillery and storage facility that rivals what top whiskey producers have in Kentucky.
"Definitely with Whiskey Ranch and now that word is getting out, we're definitely hitting some of those folk's radars," said Robertson.
Right now, they distribute to 11 states. They're looking at places like New York, and even exploring opportunities in Asia.
A quick tour through the new facility shows off an impressive array of technology mixed with tradition that Robertson said can fill an expanding production line.
"A lot of people are surprised at how much work it is, the process, but for us, it's a lifelong passion," he said. "In a 53-gallon barrel, when we harvest, it's about 240 bottles."
He said initial plans call for one shift at the distillery to pump out 40 barrels daily when production gets going early next year.
"That capacity makes us the largest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi," said Robertson.
The distillers aren't shutting down their current operation on Vickery Boulevard, where they've been since 2012.
When demand started to soar a few years ago, it became apparent the founders needed to think about the future.
"This stuff takes years to age, so we had to look forward," said Robertson.
Weddings, parties and other special events are already booked for the coming months.