BENDT Distilling Co.
About the Distillery
BENDT Distilling Co. is located in Lewisville, Texas and consistently operates grain-to-glass. The distillery produces both blended whiskeys (BENDT Blends) and unblended straight whiskeys under UNBENDT as well as experimental spirits under Old Town Spirits. Visitors can participate in guided tours, tastings, and a fill-your-own cask-strength single-barrel experience. The tasting hall and restaurant activities have moved off-site to Ethel Janes from December 2025.
History
BENDT has established itself as a local grain-to-glass distillery in Lewisville, with emphasis on North Texas ingredients and small batches. In the early 2020s, they developed both BENDT Blends and the UNBENDT series of unblended straight whiskeys. The products began winning awards in 2023, where BENDT Bourbon Cream won DOUBLE GOLD in San Francisco and a 92-point gold medal from USA Spirits Rating. The cocktail series, including Old Fashioned, also won DOUBLE GOLD in 2023 and 2024. Tours and guest experiences have been adjusted to operations; guided tours were paused during renovations with expected resumption in August 2025, and the tasting hall activities moved in December 2025 to Ethel Janes two blocks from the distillery. In June 2026, details on Straight From The Barrel barrels were published with barrel numbers and proof.
Ingredients and Production
Production is grain-to-glass: the distillery uses local North Texas grains such as Denton County Yellow Dent corn, Elbon rye, 2-Row and Maris Otter malted barley, as well as local wheat varieties. All production takes place at their own DSP in small batches, where they control the entire process from receiving grain, mash and fermentation to distillation and blending. Several UNBENDT releases are Bottled-in-Bond, and the distillery offers customers the option to fill their own cask-strength single-barrel product directly from the barrel in the gift shop. Tours guide guests through grain handling, fermentation, distillation and barrel maturation.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The primary aging casks are 53-gallon standard bourbon barrels with a 3.5 char. UNBENDT whiskeys are aged at least four years, often five years or more, and the hot, variable Texas climate is highlighted as an active factor in the maturation process. The distillery also works with finish casks and collaborations such as a Tempranillo barrel finish with Blue Ostrich Winery and with cask-strength single-barrel fills, where some barrels have reached very high proof levels.
Whiskies
The range includes BENDT Blends (e.g., BENDT No. 5), the UNBENDT series of unblended straight whiskeys (Straight Bourbon, Straight Wheat, Straight Malt, Straight Rye), and Old Town Spirits releases such as Texas Agave Spirit, brandy, gin and vodka. There is also a Bourbon Cream liqueur and a Cocktail Series (e.g., Old Fashioned). Many UNBENDT releases are sold locally at the distillery and in select North Texas retailers, while Old Town Spirits products are primarily offered on-site.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENDT No. 5 | American Blended Whiskey; BENDT Blends | A blend of five handcrafted whiskeys, made grain-to-glass in Lewisville; intended to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails. | Current; Core range; Available online via the distillery shop and in select North Texas retailers. | |||
| BENDT Bourbon Cream | Whiskey Liqueur; BENDT Blends | A bourbon cream, composed of straight bourbon made grain-to-glass plus cream; recommended neat, on the rocks or in coffee. | Current; Core range; Available online via the distillery shop. | |||
| Old Fashioned (Cocktail Series) | Ready-to-Drink Cocktail (whiskey-based) | Pre-mixed Old Fashioned, made with on-site-distilled bourbon plus bitters, sugar and cherry notes. | Current; Core range; Available online via the distillery shop. | |||
| UNBENDT Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon | 5+ years | 53 gallon standard bourbon barrel | Unblended grain-to-glass straight bourbon made with local North Texas grains and aged slowly in standard bourbon barrels. | Current; Core range; Available locally at the distillery and in select North Texas retailers. | |
| UNBENDT Straight Wheat Whiskey | Straight Wheat Whiskey | 50 % | 4+ years | 53 gallon standard bourbon barrel | Bottled-in-Bond straight wheat whiskey, made grain-to-glass and aged at least four years in standard 53-gallon bourbon barrels; bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). | Current; Core range; Available locally at the distillery and in select North Texas retailers. |
| UNBENDT Straight Malt Whiskey | Straight Malt Whiskey | 50 % | 5+ years | 53 gallon standard bourbon barrel | Unblended straight malt whiskey, produced grain-to-glass and aged over five years in standard bourbon barrels; bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof (50% ABV). | Current; Core range; Available locally at the distillery and in select North Texas retailers. |
| UNBENDT Straight Rye Whiskey | Straight Rye Whiskey | 5+ years | 53 gallon standard bourbon barrel | Unblended rye whiskey made with local rye- and hybrid-grains; a 2023 release in the UNBENDT series. | Current; Core range; Available locally at the distillery and in select North Texas retailers. | |
| Straight From The Barrel — Cask Strength Single Barrel | Cask Strength Single Barrel; Experience / Single Barrel | Single barrel (varies) | Guest experience where you can fill your own unfiltered barrel-proof single-barrel bottle directly from the barrel; available via the distillery's gift shop (first-come, first-served, with priority for pre-booked guests). | Current; Available through the distillery's gift shop and with priority for pre-booked guests. | ||
| Tempranillo Barrel Finished Straight Bourbon (UNBENDT x Blue Ostrich Winery) | Straight Bourbon — Barrel finished; Collaboration / Limited | Tempranillo wine barrel finish; finish: Tempranillo barrel finish | Collaborative release where a straight bourbon has received a Tempranillo-barrel finish in partnership with Blue Ostrich Winery. | Limited; Available through the distillery. |
Whisky Styles and Flavor Profiles
Product descriptions indicate three recurring directions: Straight Wheat is described as 'silky smooth', Straight Rye as 'peppery & warm', and Straight Malt as 'rich & decadent'. In addition there are earthy/vegetal notes from Texas Agave Spirit and citrus/herbal aromas in Old Town Spirits Craft Gin. Taken together, they depict a balance between malt sweetness, spicy rye character, and botanical complexity.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery offers guided tours for adults (21+) by reservation; public tours are usually held on Fridays at 6:00 PM and Saturdays at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, and each tour lasts about 45 minutes including tastings. The gift shop is open Friday 5:30–7:30 PM and Saturday 12:00–5:00 PM. Straight From The Barrel experience can be used in the gift shop on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for guests with pre-booked tours. The tasting hall and restaurant activities are run off-site at Ethel Janes, 306 W. Main Street. Reservations and contact via info@bendtdistillingco.com or phone (214) 814-0545.
The stated opening hours are: Distillery gift shop: Friday 5:30-7:30 PM & Saturday 12-5 PM. Distillery tours: Friday 6 PM & Saturday 1 PM & 3 PM. Tasting Hall/restaurant activities moved off-site to Ethel Janes (306 W. Main Street).
Philosophy and Craft
BENDT emphasizes the grain-to-glass principle, the use of local North Texas grains, and small-batch craftsmanship. The distillery combines concentrated blending in BENDT Blends with unblended, aged craft in UNBENDT and promotes experiments and collaborations under Old Town Spirits.
Awards and Recognitions
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DOUBLE GOLD (2023, Double Gold Winner, BENDT Bourbon Cream)
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GOLD MEDAL (92 points) (2023, Gold Medal — 92 points, BENDT Bourbon Cream)
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DOUBLE GOLD (2023, Double Gold Winner, Old Fashioned (Cocktail Series))
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DOUBLE GOLD (2024, Double Gold Winner, Old Fashioned (Cocktail Series))