Travis County, nestled in the heart of Texas, boasts a thriving craft spirits scene. The region’s distilleries have gained recognition for producing high-quality, innovative spirits that capture the essence of the Lone Star State. From vodka to whiskey, these local establishments offer unique tasting experiences and showcase the artistry of skilled distillers.
Travis County’s distilleries provide visitors with opportunities to explore a diverse range of spirits, learn about production processes, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Many of these distilleries not only produce exceptional liquors but also serve as destinations for tours, events, and live music. The combination of premium spirits and inviting atmospheres makes these establishments popular among locals and tourists alike.
1) Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Bourbon
Treaty Oak Distilling crafts a unique Texas bourbon at their Dripping Springs ranch. Ghost Hill Bourbon showcases local heirloom grains from Barton Springs Mill.
This grain-to-glass bourbon is mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged entirely on-site. The distillery ages Ghost Hill for two years before bottling.
The bourbon’s mash bill consists of 57% corn, 32% wheat, and 11% barley. This combination creates a distinctive flavor profile with notes of dark stone fruit, soft oak, and sweet corn.
Ghost Hill Bourbon offers a robust malt character and a mild spicy finish. At 95 proof (47.5% ABV), it delivers a full-bodied experience for whiskey enthusiasts.
Treaty Oak Distilling plays a significant role in the Texas whiskey movement as the state’s fourth established distillery. Their commitment to crafting bold, Texas-rooted spirits shines through in Ghost Hill Bourbon.
Treaty Oak Distilling
16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: www.treatyoakdistilling.com
2) Still Austin’s The Musician Straight Bourbon
Still Austin Whiskey Co. has made a name for itself with The Musician, their signature straight bourbon. This craft whiskey showcases the distillery’s commitment to quality and local ingredients.
The Musician boasts a unique mash bill of 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley. This combination creates a balanced flavor profile, with the rye lending a spicy kick to the bourbon’s natural sweetness.
Aged for a minimum of two years, The Musician offers a medium amber color and a smooth taste. At 98.4 proof, it packs a flavorful punch without overwhelming the palate.
Visitors to Still Austin can experience The Musician firsthand at the distillery’s tasting room. The spacious patio provides an ideal spot to sip this craft bourbon while soaking in the Austin atmosphere.
For those looking to enjoy The Musician at home, it makes an excellent base for cocktails. A popular recipe combines the bourbon with a house-made honey lemon syrup for a refreshing twist.
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745
Website: stillaustin.com
3) Deep Eddy Vodka
Deep Eddy Vodka is a prominent distillery in Travis County, known for its high-quality spirits. The company takes pride in its unique production process, which sets it apart from other vodka makers.
Deep Eddy’s vodka is distilled 10 times in a 20-foot still, ensuring exceptional purity. The spirit is then filtered over charcoal four times, resulting in a smooth and refined product.
The distillery offers a range of flavored vodkas alongside its original recipe. Popular varieties include Sweet Tea Vodka, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Cranberry, and Lemon, all crafted using natural ingredients.
Visitors can experience Deep Eddy’s offerings at their 5,000 square foot tasting room. The space provides an ideal setting for sampling vodka flights and engaging in lively conversation.
The distillery’s Austin-inspired atmosphere is evident from the moment guests arrive, with a VW Bus parked outside adding to the local charm.
Deep Eddy Vodka, 2250 E Highway 290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Phone: (512) 994-3534
Website: www.deepeddyvodka.com
4) Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky from Texas
Balcones Distilling brings a unique offering to Travis County with their Baby Blue Corn Whisky. This distinctive spirit is crafted from 100% roasted blue corn, sourced primarily from West Texas.
The use of blue corn adds a new dimension to the traditional corn whisky profile. It imparts a round nuttiness and roasted overtones, creating a refined complexity not typically found in young whiskies.
Baby Blue Corn Whisky is intentionally youthful, capturing the essence of its prized ingredient. The spirit boasts a viscous mouthfeel with a soft finish, making it approachable for both novice and experienced whisky drinkers.
As the first Texas whisky on the market since Prohibition, Baby Blue represents a revival of the state’s distilling heritage. It combines the freshness of classic American distilling with a sophisticated twist.
The whisky is aged in new American oak barrels with a light char. This careful aging process accentuates the blue corn’s unique flavors without overpowering them with oak notes.
Balcones Distilling: 225 S 11th St, Waco, TX 76701
Phone: (254) 755-6003
Website: balconesdistilling.com
5) Dripping Springs Artisan Gin
Dripping Springs Artisan Gin stands out as a premium spirit crafted in the Texas Hill Country. This approachable gin is distilled at a lower proof of 85, making it smooth and easy to sip.
The gin’s flavor profile features a delicate combination of soft floral notes, a hint of spice, and fresh citrus from the Texas Rio Grande Valley. These elements create a balanced and refreshing taste experience.
Dripping Springs Distilling produces this gin in small batches using copper pot stills. The distillation process ensures a high-quality product that captures the essence of its carefully selected botanicals.
The distillery takes pride in using 100% neutral spirits distilled from corn, resulting in a naturally gluten-free product. They finish the gin with pure, mineral-rich Hill Country artesian spring water, adding a touch of local character.
Visitors can experience Dripping Springs Artisan Gin at the distillery’s tasting room, Distillers Bar. The venue offers a chance to sample this award-winning spirit in its place of origin.
Dripping Springs Distilling
5330 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
www.drippingspringsdistilling.com
6) Revolution Spirits’ Austin Reserve Gin
Revolution Spirits, a small craft distillery in southwest Austin, has made a name for itself with its signature Austin Reserve Gin. Launched in 2014, this American contemporary style gin has become a staple in the local spirits scene.
Austin Reserve Gin boasts a unique blend of botanicals, including juniper, rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, pink peppercorns, and Texas grapefruit. This combination creates a distinctive flavor profile that sets it apart from traditional gins.
At 50% alcohol by volume, Austin Reserve Gin packs a punch while maintaining a smooth taste. The distillery’s commitment to quality and creativity shines through in this carefully crafted spirit.
Revolution Spirits has expanded its portfolio since its inception, but Austin Reserve Gin remains a cornerstone of their offerings. The distillery also produces limited releases and seasonal variations of their popular gin.
Revolution Spirits
12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737
Website: revolutionspirits.com
7) Nine Banded Whiskey Original
Nine Banded Whiskey pays homage to Texas heritage with its name inspired by the nine-banded armadillo. The company was founded in 2014 by a group of friends who sought to create a whiskey that embodies the spirit of Texas.
The Original Nine Banded Whiskey is a straight bourbon with a smooth, approachable profile. It’s distilled in Kentucky and then brought to Austin for blending and bottling, infusing it with a touch of Texas character.
The whiskey is crafted using limestone-filtered water from a nearby spring, contributing to its unique flavor profile. Nine Banded aims to create a bourbon that’s enjoyable for both whiskey enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
While Nine Banded doesn’t operate a public distillery, their products are available for purchase online and in select stores throughout Texas. The brand’s commitment to quality and Texas pride has helped it gain popularity among local whiskey drinkers.
Nine Banded Whiskey
Address: Austin, TX
Phone: (732) 266-8125
Website: www.ninebandedwhiskey.com
8) Tequila 512 Blanco
Tequila 512 Blanco stands out as a premium spirit with strong ties to both Austin and Mexico. Founded by Scott Willis, this award-winning tequila is crafted in Jalisco but has its roots firmly planted in Texas.
The Blanco variant is Tequila 512’s flagship product, earning accolades for its exceptional quality. It received “Best in Show” and “Double-Gold” awards, beating out 88 competitors in a prestigious blind taste test.
Made from 100% blue agave, Tequila 512 Blanco undergoes a triple distillation process. This meticulous approach results in a remarkably smooth and pure tequila expression.
Willis personally oversees the production, traveling to Jalisco to taste-test each new batch. This hands-on approach ensures consistency and maintains the high standards that have made Tequila 512 a favorite among enthusiasts.
While Tequila 512 doesn’t currently operate a public tasting room, their products are widely available throughout Austin and beyond.
Contact: Phone: (512) 785-6472
Website: tequila512.com
9) Desert Door Texas Sotol
Desert Door Texas Sotol offers a unique spirit with deep roots in Texas tradition. This distillery brings a 10,000-year-old beverage back to life, crafting sotol from wild-harvested plants native to the region.
Unlike tequila or mezcal, sotol is made from the sotol plant, not agave. The result is a smoother, more flavorful spirit that captures the essence of the Texas landscape.
Desert Door’s distillery is located in Driftwood, Texas, on the edge of sotol country. Visitors can experience the production process and taste the distinctive flavors firsthand through tours and tastings.
The company prides itself on sustainable foraging practices, ensuring the preservation of sotol plants for future generations. This commitment to sustainability aligns with the spirit’s long history in the region.
Desert Door Texas Sotol has gained recognition for its innovative approach to spirits production. It stands out among Texas distilleries by offering a truly local and unique product.
Desert Door Distillery
211 Darden Hill Rd, Driftwood, TX 78619
Website: www.desertdoor.com
10) Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon
Garrison Brothers Distillery, located in Hye, Texas, produces exceptional Texas Straight Bourbon whiskey. Founded in 2005, it holds the distinction of being the first and oldest whiskey distillery in Texas.
The distillery’s Small Batch Bourbon has garnered significant acclaim. Made from a mashbill of 74% corn, 15% wheat, and 11% malted barley, it offers a rich and complex flavor profile.
Garrison Brothers’ commitment to quality is evident in their grain-to-glass approach. They utilize locally sourced ingredients and meticulous production methods to create their distinctive bourbon.
Their lineup includes several award-winning expressions. The Single Barrel Cask Strength bourbon received recognition as Best Bourbon/Corn Whiskey at industry competitions.
Other notable offerings include Laguna Madre, Balmorhea, and Guadalupe. These bourbons showcase the distillery’s innovation and mastery of barrel finishing techniques.
Garrison Brothers’ bourbons typically feature bold flavors with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak. The Texas climate imparts unique characteristics to their whiskey during the aging process.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye Albert Rd, Hye, TX 78635
Phone: (830) 392-0246
Website: www.garrisonbros.com
History of Distilling in Travis County
Travis County’s distilling heritage spans over a century, from early frontier spirits to today’s craft distilleries. The region has weathered prohibition, economic shifts, and changing tastes to emerge as a vibrant hub for innovative spirits production.
Early Beginnings
In the late 1800s, small-scale distilling operations dotted Travis County’s landscape. Farmers often converted excess grain and fruit into spirits as a practical way to preserve crops and generate income. These early distillers produced mainly whiskey, brandy, and fruit liquors.
Prohibition in 1920 forced most operations underground. Some distillers continued illegally, while others shifted to non-alcoholic products or shuttered completely. After Prohibition’s repeal in 1933, a few distilleries reopened, but strict regulations limited growth.
Modern Developments
Travis County’s modern distilling renaissance began in the early 2000s. Changing laws allowed for easier licensing and direct sales to consumers. This sparked a wave of craft distilleries opening across the county.
Still Austin Whiskey Co., founded in 2017, revived historical Texas whiskey styles. Spirit of Texas, one of the state’s oldest operating distilleries, produces rum and whiskey using traditional methods. Sangiovanni Distillery in Pflugerville crafts vodka and other spirits, contributing to the area’s diverse offerings.
These distilleries blend innovation with respect for Texas distilling traditions, putting Travis County on the map as a spirits destination.
Distilling Techniques and Innovations
Travis County distilleries blend time-honored methods with cutting-edge practices to craft exceptional spirits. Their techniques showcase both respect for tradition and a drive for innovation in the art of distillation.
Traditional Methods
Many Travis County distilleries honor classic distilling techniques. Copper pot stills remain a cornerstone, prized for their ability to remove sulfur compounds and create smoother spirits. Some distilleries use column stills for continuous distillation, allowing for higher alcohol content and purity.
Aging spirits in charred oak barrels is another time-tested method. This process imparts color, flavor, and complexity to whiskeys and some rums. Local distillers often source Texas oak for a unique regional touch.
Innovative Practices
Travis County distillers embrace modern innovations to enhance their craft. Some use precision temperature controls and automated systems to ensure consistency across batches. Others experiment with alternative aging methods, such as using smaller barrels or adding wood chips to speed up the maturation process.
Sustainability is a growing focus. Distilleries implement water recycling systems and utilize spent grains as animal feed or compost. Some even explore solar power to reduce their carbon footprint.
Flavor infusion techniques are pushing boundaries. Distillers use local botanicals, fruits, and even smoked ingredients to create distinctive flavor profiles in their gins, vodkas, and liqueurs.