In a post to the company’s Facebook page on November 30, the owners of MKT Distillery announced that the locally-owned craft distillery would be closing its doors on December 2.

“Well, it didn't work out the way we had all hoped,” the post read. “MKT is going to be closing and liquidating everything after we raise the tree in honor of our hometown - Katy - one last time. Come out …to celebrate what we accomplished together over the past five years and say a final goodbye.”

Nicholas Jessett and Nici Cowan-Jessett founded the distillery and tasting room in 2018. Located at 5372 1st St in the historic American Rice Growers Co-Op rice dryers in downtown Katy, the company made all its spirits onsite, using locally sourced Texas ingredients and even incorporating local Katy rice in their products. The company produced whiskeys, vodka, gin, and moonshine. During the pandemic, the company pivoted to manufacture hand sanitizer.

MKT Distillery was a generous sponsor to the local Katy community, hosting numerous events ranging from Katy Christian Ministries’ Gumbo Fest to pet adoptions to fundraisers for cancer. The venue was voted by readers of the Katy Times as “Best of Katy” for several years for its Bloody Mary drink and as “Best Liquor Store.”

In 2018, the Jessetts restored the tradition of lighting a tree on top of the rice dryers during the holiday season as a way of celebrating Katy’s history. The tree was lit for the final time on December 2.