Bendt Distilling Co.

Just off the main drag in Lewisville sits the Bend Distilling Company - perhaps you remember it as Witherspoon Distillery - that is now under the ownership and direction of Natasha DeHart.  Originally founded in 2012, DeHart was among the first women to burst onto the whiskey scene, and she did so with the bold flavor of Bendt No. 5, her personally mixed, trademark blend. 

When we arrived to the distillery, we were impressed with the open, industrial decorum and really fell in love with the bar area.  There are tall tables whose tops look like they were made from huge slabs of wood, and the bar top is an L-shape with loads of stools.  Off to the back are some loungey areas where you can kick back and relax or play some shuffleboard, and just to the left of the bar you can see into the distillery itself.  It's a beautiful, open set-up.  

We tried four whiskeys at our visit and there wasn't one that disappointed.  In fact, they got better as we went! The Bendt No. 5 was a great, flavorful blend, light on the tongue and easy all the way down. Its got a hint of woodiness and a slight caramel undertone to it, and is great as a mixer or as a stand-alone. Could easily be a daily drinker.  The Single Malt Whiskey was up next, and it was almost sweet in the nose.  Lighter in color and a little floral, it had a creamier texture and a nice honey-flavored finish.  

There were two stand-outs at this tasting for me, but for two very different reasons.  Let's start with the Single Barrel Reserve.  This whiskey pretty much speaks for itself.  It's got big, nutty flavors and a warm, slow toffee-caramel finish.  The first sip sat heavy and thick on the tongue, and the second sip really opened up that rich caramel flavor.  Definitely one I'd pour and drink neat. In fact, I grabbed a bottle to bring home with me.  Highly recommend. 

The final tasting is a sort of specialty drink, though - the Old Fashioned Witherspoon Ready-to-Drink Cocktail.  A little side-note first: the Old Fashioned is trending pretty hard right now, and some places really screw it up, almost to the point that people might decide they just aren't going to drink whiskey at all.  What a shame that would be.  This one, though.  This particular whiskey is really special. It's the perfect Old Fashioned already in the bottle.  It's sweet and easy to drink, you can taste the orange, and poured over a big ice with a Nasty cherry and a little orange peel on the edge of the glass, you'd never know it wasn't mixed behind the bar. It's been my experience so far that those who would otherwise say no to whiskey have been somewhat converted by this little beauty.  Lucky for you, it's available at Goody Goody. Grab yourself one and give it a try!

If you find yourself with nothing to do on a weekend, or if you've been to the lake and need a great place to stop in and round out the day, give Bendt a try.  You're sure to find a wonderful sipper or a great cocktail to try there at the bar. 

Cheers, y'all!