Old Humble Distilling Company
About the distillery
Old Humble Distilling Company is located on the edge of the woods outside Humble, Texas, and makes small-batch bourbon, straight whiskey, and rye whiskey. The distillery's tasting room is open Thursday to Saturday 6–9 PM, where guests can taste the bottles, order cocktails and experience an informal, local vibe. Production emphasizes grain balance, short barrel aging, and bold small experiments such as extra oak staves, making the place interesting for those who want to taste Texas craftsmanship with a bite.
History
The tale of Old Humble is framed as a legend of a man's quest for the perfect whiskey; the narrative elements describe long experiments, journeys, and a recipe found through perseverance and curiosity. The legendary tale is followed by concrete steps toward establishing a functioning distillery: recipes were refined, and the necessary licenses and permits to bottle and sell whiskey were pursued. Boomtown Bourbon is described as the bottle that "started it all," and the company appears as locally owner-driven with Joseph Breda listed as owner. Since then it has been carried by both mythical storytelling and practical small-batch production in Humble, Texas.
Raw materials and production
Old Humble works with small-batch production and a focus on grain composition. One of their central offerings is described as a tri-grain bourbon, heavily weighted toward corn, while other offerings are documented with a clear share of corn or rye (for example 90%/10% for a straight whiskey and about 95% rye in their Double Oak Rye). The distillery uses relatively small barrels—down to about 5 gallons—and handles bottling locally in Humble. Production techniques also include the addition of extra oak staves in the barrels (double oak) and sending releases back to the barrels for extra rest. The overall profile is shaped by the grain choice, short barrel sizes, and wood finishing, rather than by information about the number of pot stills or exact distillation technique.
Maturation and barrel types
The aging strategy combines use of conventional bourbon barrels and experiments with very small barrels of around 5 gallons. Some editions are sent back to barrels for further rest, while others get extra oak staves in the barrels to promote color and depth. These choices—barrel sizes, small containers, and extra staves—are documented as important tools for creating the different expressions in their range.
Whiskies
The lineup centers around a few fixed expressions with differing character. Boomtown Bourbon is the signature expression, tri-grain and corn-heavy. Old Humble Straight Whiskey is a five-year expression, made with a high proportion of corn, while Double Oak Rye emphasizes rye and extra oak staves. Additionally, the distillery releases a Special Reserve in limited release, which is sent back to the barrel for extra aging and described as darker and more smoky. The lineup combines classic American styles with local experiments in barrel treatment.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Legendary Boomtown Bourbon | Bourbon | Very small barrels (about 5 gallons) | Tri-grain bourbon with heavy emphasis on corn for a sweeter and smoother character. Aged in small barrels (down to about 5 gallons). Labeled as 90 proof. Nose: described as a sweeter profile; Palate: leans on corn for a smoother taste; Finish: described as smooth and suitable for sipping neat or on the rocks | Current; Core range; Available at Texas retailers and in the distillery shop | |
| Our Special Reserve | Straight Whiskey | Barrels (returned for extra aging) | Straight Whiskey, returned to the barrel for extra aging. Described as deep, dark and with a smoky character. Labeled 90 proof. Finish: described as more smoky than other editions | Limited; Limited release | |
| Old Humble Straight Whiskey | Straight Whiskey | 5 years | Bourbon barrel | A tribute to oilfield pioneers: 90% corn and 10% barley, aged five years in bourbon barrels. Handcrafted and bottled in Humble, Texas. Labeled 90 proof. | Palate: smooth and sweet finish; Finish: smooth and sweet finish |
| Old Humble Double Oak Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | at least 2 years | Barrel with extra oak staves (double oak) | Rye whiskey consisting of about 95% rye, aged at least two years and finished with extra oak staves for depth and color. Labeled 90 proof. Palate: fuller and more balanced rye character | Current; Core range; Available at Texas retailers and in the distillery shop |
The whiskies' style and flavor profile
Several products consistently mention flavor directions: sweetness and a smoother, corn-dominant profile in the bourbon expressions; a pronounced smoky character in Special Reserve; as well as increased oakiness and depth in expressions that use extra oak staves or very small barrels. The interplay of sweetness, smoke, and oak forms the through-line in the flavor profiles.
Visit the distillery
The distillery's tasting room and distillery experiences are open Thursday to Saturday from 6 to 9 PM. Guests can taste the whiskies, order handmade cocktails and sit to music in a relaxed atmosphere. The venue is both family- and pet-friendly (pets on leash). The address is 19103 Continental Parkway Suite C, Humble, TX 77346; directions on the site describe that the distillery lies about 3.8 miles east of Downtown Humble on FM 1960, near Taco Flores and opposite the former Rusty Nail. Visits are open to the public without advance booking.
The posted hours are Thursday–Saturday 6:00–9:00 PM.
Philosophy and craft
The distillery's stated mission is to make "the best damn whiskey" by combining tradition with its own adjustments: experiments with grain balance, aging in small barrels, and the addition of extra oak staves. The philosophy emphasizes patience, craftsmanship, and the willingness to break some conventions to achieve distinctive and local expressions.