It must be that sweet, sweet Hill Country water because distilleries both big and small, in Austin are putting out some of the best spirits in the country. There are nearly a dozen distilleries in Austin and surrounding areas, with more always popping up.

Some of these Austin spirits have taprooms, and some don’t. Either way, I thought it’d be fun to create a guide for you featuring the best spirits from Austin.

So check out this easy, but in-depth guide to spirits and distilleries in Hill Country. There’s a little something for everyone. So drink up, Austin!

Central Texas and Austin Distilleries:

Austonain Whiskey	Whiskey	–
Ben Milam Whiskey	Whiskey	Tasting Room
Caffe del Fuego	Coffee Liquor	–
Deep Eddy Vodka	Flavored Vodkas	Tasting Room
Desert Door Distillery	Sotol	Tasting Room
Dripping Springs Distilling	Vodka, Gin	Tasting Room
Dulce Vida Spirits	Tequila	–
Garrison Brothers Distillery	Whiskey	Tasting Room
Real Spirits Distilling	Whiskey, Gin	Tasting Room
Revolution Spirits	Gin	Tasting Room
Still Austin	Whiskey, Gin	Tasting Room
Tequila 512	Tequila	–
Texas Saké Company	Saké	Tasting Room
Tito’s Vodka	Vodka	–
Treaty Oak	Whiskey, Gin	Tasting Room
Frog Pond Distillery	Vodka, Gin	Tasting Room
Frankly Organic Vodka	Flavored Vodkas	-0
One Shot Distillery	Vodka, Rum	Tasting Room
Stinson Distilling	Brandy, Gin, Vodka, Rum	Tasting Room
Violet Crown Spirits	Absinthe, Liqueurs	–
Genius Gin	Gin	–
Crowded Barrel Whiskey	Whiskey	–

At a Quick Glance: Austin Distilleries and Tasting Rooms

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Austonian Whiskey

Whiskey aged without barrels? Have you ever heard of such a thing? Probably not, not until now! Bottled in Austin, Austonian Whiskey is the first sustainably matured whiskey.

With beautiful flavors of toasted oak it’s hard to believe. Don’t ask them how they do it though… That part of the process is a closely guarded secret.

WEBSITE | Bottle Locator Map

Ben Milam Tasting Room

The Blanco distillery was founded by Marsha Milam, a much-loved Austinite who is actually first-cousins (6 generations back) with Ben Milam, one of the original Texas Freedom Fighters.

Right down the road from Real Ale Brewing, this cozy, luxe tasting room is a must stop! The history behind this family name and the woman leading the whole operation is inspiring to say the least.

WEBSITE | 208 Carlie Ln, Blanco, TX 78606

Caffe Del Fuego

Taste the brewed coffee beans (from local Austin Roasting Company), pure cane sugars, and best of all, the sweet hint of the bourbon vanilla in this locally made coffee liquor.

WEBSITE | Bottle Location Map

Deep Eddy Vodka

Hand-crafted handcrafted in small batches at their Dripping Springs distillery using only premium ingredients.

Deep Eddy’s Vodkas are world-class and surely it’s thanks to water from aquifers deep under Texas. That, and all the high-quality and natural ingredients in their fruity flavored vodkas. The company was founded by two entrepreneurs with a background in beverage and spirits, Chad Auler (creator of Savvy Vodka) and Clayton Christopher (creator of Sweet Leaf Tea).

Deep Eddy is recognized for its unique production process and use of high quality ingredients. All Deep Eddy spirits are distilled 10 times in a 20-foot still and filtered over charcoal four times.The company’s lineup of flavors include: Sweet Tea Vodka, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Cranberry, and Lemon. Deep Eddy Vodka is available in stores throughout the country if you can’t make it out to their Hill Country tasting room.

WEBSITE | 16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Desert Door Sotol Distillery

Hand-crafted distilled spirit from wild-harvested sotol plants.

Indeed, it’s a unique spirit that is new to many, so while tours aren’t available, a stop at the Desert Door Sotol Distillery tasting room in Driftwood, Texas is a must.

Craft cocktails, gourmet snacks, and curated goods are available along with a cozy fireplace, comfy couches, and a rotating display of art by regional artists.

WEBSITE | 211 Darden Hill Rd, Driftwood, TX 78619

Dripping Springs Distillery

Award-winning vodka and gin crafted in small batches in Texas Hill Country.

Dripping Springs Distillery, home of award winning Dripping Springs Vodka and Gin, micro-distills in small batches in proprietary 50-gallon copper pot stills. Each product is finished with pure, mineral rich Hill Country Artesian Spring Water.

Tours and tastings are available, but the company asks that your tickets for tours in advance.

WEBSITE | 5330 Bell Springs Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Dulce Vida Spirits

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Making great tequila means starting with the finest ingredients. The foundation of Dulce Vida’s tequila differentiates them from the competition: Organic. 100% Blue Agave. Los Altos (Highlands). Available nationwide.

WEBSITE

Garrison Brothers Distillery

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Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye (about 60 miles west of Austin) is Texas’ first and oldest bourbon distillery! Their bourbon is hand-made from ‘corn to cork’ right on their Central Texas Ranch.

I have yet to visit their distillery personally, but they’re one of the most popular bourbons here in Central Texas. If you’d like to make a visit to them yourself, you’ll need to schedule a time through their website. Looking at the details of the distillery tour, it looks like a fun and unique experience!

WEBSITE | 1827 Hye-Albert Rd, Hye, TX 78635

Real Spirits Distilling

Talking with the Real Spirits head distiller, Davin Topel and it’s clear to see why the crossover between craft beer and spirits works so well. Especially here at one of Hill Country’s oldest breweries.

Real Ale’s whiskey is created on a foundation using two of their own beers: Devil’s Backbone, a Belgian-style Tripel and the Real Heavy Scotch Ale.

Read This: Craft Breweries That Distill: Real Spirits Distilling Co.

Revolution Spirits

Local Austin craft distillery specializing in beautiful and unique spirits.

Austin Reserve Gin is a “contemporary-styled” gin produced with a 100% neutral base of Missouri corn and macerated with juniper plus five additional botanicals, carefully selected to create a smooth yet powerful gin.

Along with their Reserve Gin, their year-round lineup currently includes outstanding cafecito coffee liqueur, chocolate cafecito, and amico amaro.

Revolution Spirits has a small taproom open on Saturdays out by Jester King on the outskirts of Austin. Visiting this distillery and it’s great Dripping Springs neighbors always makes for a wonderful boozy day trip for Austinites.

WEBSITE | 12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737

Still Austin Whisky Co.

A grain-to-glass distillery crafting simple grains into amazing Austin spirits.

Located in South Austin right next to St Elmo Brewing, Still Austin Whiskey Co. is the first whiskey distillery within Austin proper since Prohibition. Currently, they are offering three unique flavors of ‘pre-aged’ whiskey, an aged whiskey, and a botanical gin

WEBSITE | 440 St Elmo Rd E., Austin, TX 78745

Stinson Distilling

Husband and wife duo crafting incredible spirits such as brandy and Elderflower liqueur in a small Hill Country taproom.

Located just minutes from famous Salt Lick BBQ, Stinson Distilling in Driftwood, Texas is cranking out a wide selection of spirits in their informal, friendly distillery.

The brandy is the first spirit Clint Stinson and his wife, Andrea, ever produced. Though now they are also experimenting with liqueurs (such as agave and elderflower), rums (that are made from high-grade molasses, not aged, and bottled at 80 proof!), and of course vodkas.

WEBSITE | 18281 Ranch to Market Rd 150 #211, Driftwood, TX 78619

Tequila 512

100% Agave premium tequila named after the area code in which the brand owners are based.

From Tequila, Mexico to Austin, Texas, Tequila 512 founder Scott Willis went to Jalisco in search of the perfect anytime tequila. He returned to Austin with Tequila 512.

He still goes back to Jalisco to taste every new batch of his 100% agave, triple-distilled tequila. 512’s Blanco Tequila was their first tequila and is still the most popular.

Spicy and soulful, this rich tequila made with agave and volcanic spring water will surprise you with its super smooth finish.

WEBSITE | Bottle Locator Map

Texas Saké Company

Craft Saké maker in Austin Texas, pioneering the field of American Saké in the traditional Japanese style.

Texas Saké Company brews craft saké in small batches using centuries-old techniques. Natural, refreshing, regional saké at its finest. Located off North Lamar, Texas Sake Company is one of the rare sake craft breweries in the country.

Right now, the brewery distributes two types of sake: Junmai and Junmai Nigori. Visit their taproom on Fridays and Saturdays for tours. You can also keep your eyes open for their bottles of sake at Austin-area Japanese restaurants and Whole Foods Markets.

WEBSITE | 5501 N Lamar Blvd, 78751

Read This: Texas Sake Company Puts American Spin on Traditional Japanese Drink

Tito’s Vodka

Founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, Tito’s specializes in vodka made from yellow corn, rather than potatoes or wheat. Available nationwide.

WEBSITE | Bottle Locator Map

Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch

Family & dog-friendly Texas distillery with tasting room & craft cocktails made with Treaty Oak spirits.

Both family and dog-friendly, this working distillery built out on a 27-acre ranch in the hill country has a full bar, kitchen and play area with cornhole and washers games.

The bar, housed in a large barn-like structure, serves draft beer, wine and craft cocktails made with Treaty Oak spirits.