Hochatown Distilling Part 2: Tommy "Blue" McDaniel on Building a Distillery from Nothing

Behind the Pour

Part 2 of TLC's conversation with Tommy 'Blue' McDaniel goes deeper into the reality of building a distillery that now ships to 41 states from a starting point in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Where Part 1 was the origin story, Part 2 is the operational truth: what it actually took, what Blue got wrong, and what the OSU collector series and national distribution look like from inside the distillery.

What You'll Discover

• The build: What it takes physically, financially, and personally to open a distillery in the Ouachita Mountains without an existing craft spirits infrastructure in the region. Blue is specific about the challenges — and specific about what he would do differently.
• The community anchor: How Hochatown Distilling became a cultural destination within Broken Bow's growing tourism economy — not just a product business but a place. The distillery draws visitors because the Ouachita Mountains draw visitors, and Blue built something worth going to.
• Distribution at 41 states: The strategy behind building national distribution from an Oklahoma starting point. Blue's approach to distributor relationships, market expansion, and maintaining quality during growth.
• The OSU partnership: How the Loyal & True collector bourbon series with Oklahoma State University came together — the relationship between a craft distillery and one of Oklahoma's largest institutions, and what it produces for both sides.
• What Blue has learned: After building from nothing to 41-state distribution, Tommy 'Blue' McDaniel's honest accounting of what works and what does not.

A Moment of Pourspective

Building a distillery in the mountains is not a metaphor. Tommy Blue built something in a real place, in real conditions, without a playbook for any of it. The 41-state distribution is what honest work in a real place produces over time.

Explore the Conversation

The second Hochatown episode rewards listeners who heard Part 1 — the context established there makes Part 2's operational honesty more meaningful. Crystal and Roger let Blue go deep, and he does. The OSU partnership discussion is the episode's most distinctive section. A craft distillery and a major state university producing a collector series is not a common story, and the details of how it works reveal something about how Oklahoma's craft spirits scene is developing its own identity. Blue's reflection on what he would do differently is the kind of honest founder accounting that TLC's interview format draws out consistently. Crystal creates space for uncertainty and correction — the episode is more useful because of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Hochatown Distilling Co.? Hochatown Distilling Co. is a craft distillery founded by Tommy 'Blue' McDaniel in Broken Bow, Oklahoma — in the Ouachita Mountains. The distillery distributes to 41 states. hochatowndistillingco.com
• Where is Broken Bow, Oklahoma? Broken Bow is in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma, in the Ouachita Mountains. The region draws over two million visitors a year and has become one of Oklahoma's premier tourism destinations.
• What is the Loyal & True series? The Loyal & True collector bourbon is a partnership between Hochatown Distilling and Oklahoma State University. Limited release.
• Is this the same as Part 1? No. Part 1 covers the founding story and early years. Part 2 covers the operational build, national distribution, and the OSU partnership. Both are in TLC's catalog.

Episode at a Glance

• Guest: Tommy 'Blue' McDaniel (founder, Hochatown Distilling Co.)
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Runtime: 34 minutes, 31 seconds
• Category: Bourbon
• Part 2 of 2 — see also Part 1