Bomb City Distillery in Amarillo, Texas, celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of its first bourbon whiskey, marking an expansion from its successful vodka production. The distillery held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil this new product that has been aging for over two years. Available in limited quantities, the initial offerings include 251 bottles of 750ml and 36 bottles of 375ml.

Established on July 16, 2019, Bomb City Distillery is known as the first distillery in the Texas Panhandle. The name "Bomb City" pays homage to Amarillo’s connection to the Pantex Plant, which specializes in the assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons, influencing the distillery’s identity and community ties.

Owner Kyle Michels expressed enthusiasm for the bourbon, which has a mash bill made from blue corn, winter wheat, and red-malted barley. This unique blend gives the bourbon a distinctive flavor profile, greatly influenced by the region’s temperature variations that enhance the aging in charred oak barrels. “We’re really excited about this bourbon. It’s something special,” Michels stated, emphasizing the craft aspect of the production process.

The distillery first gained recognition with its vodka, distilled 12 times from locally sourced corn and high-purity water, which soon won a silver medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. Michels noted that branching out into bourbon allows them to attract a different customer base, as bourbon enthusiasts tend to appreciate the flavors of grains and oak.

Bomb City Distillery was conceived by Michels and his late partner Ryan Barnard, who had backgrounds in business and pharmaceutical industries. After becoming inspired by the "Moonshiners" television show, they restored a historic 1947 building for the distillery, preserving its character through the use of original materials.

Reflecting on Barnard’s contribution, Michels mentioned the profound pride he feels in their achievements, stating, "It was always our dream to eventually have a bourbon."

The distillery has quickly become a highlight in Amarillo’s tourism scene, and Michels mentioned plans to distribute their bourbon throughout Texas and eventually on a national scale. “Texas is a big state, so we’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” he said, looking ahead with ambition.

For more information, visit Bomb City Distillery.