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 | – |
Navigation
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
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.
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
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
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.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
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.
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.
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
The bar, housed in a large barn-like structure, serves draft beer, wine and craft cocktails made with Treaty Oak spirits.
WEBSITE | 16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Read This: Drink the Day Away in Beautiful Dripping Springs
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What’s your favorite Austin spirit? Have a cocktail recipe I should try out? Let me know in the comments! Cheers!
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