1693 Distillery — Local services in Fredericksburg

On St. Patrick’s Day my girlfriend and I visited this Distillery. The place is nice, well kept. Fire pits with seating around them. Very nice place. That’s where it ended. We spoke with a very rude woman who acted like we were inconveniencing her when we enquirer about drinks. She actually sighed when my girlfriend asked about the third type whiskey that is offered with the three shot sample. She told me that she would fill the shot glass with about a 1/2 inch which she demonstrated by holding up her hand with her index finger thumb spread apart. She said that a full shot would be impossible.

While we were making our drink selection I noticed that the woman was staring off into space with a blank expression it appeared to me that she would rather be anywhere but there taking our drink order.

We decided to have the lemonade which was good but not good enough to put up with this type of server.

We spoke with a friend of ours who has been to this distillery several times. She told us that the server we encountered is the manager.

There was nobody at the gift shop and nobody came over while we stood there having our drinks.

I’ve never left a bad review before and didn’t want to do so, so I called the number provided for the business and left a message asking that I receive a call back so that I could report the server but I did not receive a return call.

We generally go to Garrison Brothers but decided to try this place.

Needless to say we had a bad experience and...

Was very excited to go here, but immediately was met with rude service. I will say the bartender was nice, but the manager was very rude and you could tell he was irritated with the specials they were running. We signed up for the subscription as they were offering a free flight with sign up, when we presented our golden ticket we were told that it was no longer being offered due to too many people taking advantage.we were understanding and still proceeded to order drinks and sodas. We did redeem our free tickets as well, but this was also met with rudeness as he was not happy to give out the free shots and even huffed and puffed as he poured the shots. I understand being frustrated if you feel money is being lost, but this is something that should be handled internally instead of taking it out on patrons. Additionally, the specials are being ran from your website and with the tour company, so we are only taking advantage of specials offered to us. I will suggest maybe adjusting your special to require a minimum payment so people are aware before walking in and you still get a guaranteed progit since miney seemed to be the issue. I would have loved to stay but the rudeness of the manager made the experience unenjoyable so much so that we did not even redeem the left over tickets. Maybe this was a one off experience, but it definitely did not make me want...

If you’re headed into Fredericksburg, 1693 should be on your list of first stops. Tucked just outside of town, this distillery perfectly balances Hill Country charm with a modern, welcoming vibe. The setting is beautiful—rustic but refined, with a tasting room that feels both relaxed and elevated.

The spirits themselves are excellent: smooth, well-crafted, and clearly made with care. Whether you’re into bourbon, gin, or their unique specialty releases, there’s something here for everyone. The tasting flights make it easy to sample across the menu, and the staff take the time to walk you through flavor notes, distilling process, and food pairing ideas without being pretentious.

What sets 1693 apart is the hospitality. The team is genuinely friendly, knowledgeable, and makes you feel like a guest rather than just a customer passing through. Pair that with the outdoor seating, live music on weekends, and the scenic Hill Country backdrop, and it’s an ideal first taste of Fredericksburg.

📍 Bottom line: If you only make one distillery stop on your way into town, make it 1693. Great spirits, great people, and the perfect start to your...