11 AUSTIN-AREA DISTILLERIES FOR SPIRITED TASTINGS
Champagne, poolside drinks, and live music
Austin’s distillery boom shows no signs of abating. With over 20 active spirit brands in Central Texas, local drinkers are visiting distilleries in more frequent numbers, and destination tasting rooms are on the rise.
Below are Austin’s spirit brands with regular public hours for distilleries and tours — opening hours and days sometimes vary seasonally, so call before heading out for the latest information. As always, and especially with spirits, designating a driver is a must.
Important note: Many Austin-based brands such as Genius Liquids, Playa Real Tequila, Dulce Vida Spirits, Texacello (Paula’s Texas Orange), Tito’s, and Tequila 512 do not currently have public-facing tasting rooms. This map will be updated should this change.
For more drinking, there are the Austin-area’s best breweries and Central Texas wineries. In Austin, there are the best cocktail bars and hot new ones.
Know of a missing Austin-area distillery below? Let Eater know through the tipline or within the comments.
Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.
1. Crystal Creek Distillery
906 Pace Bend Rd S
Spicewood, TX 78669
(512) 825-8384
Spirits: Moonshine
Located near both Spicewood and Krause Springs, this distillery shakes things up with live music, late night hours, and cocktails. Several flavors of moonshine including coffee pecan and serrano cucumber are available.
Tours and tastings: Wednesday through Sunday
A moonshine glass from Crystal Creek Distillery
Crystal Creek Distillery/Facebook
2. Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch
16604 Fitzhugh Rd
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 599-0335
Spirits: Bourbon, rum, gin
Treaty Oak has become a Fitzhugh Road favorite by way of breadth and variety. There’s a generous range of cocktails on tap, along with rotating specials. Guests can also try a flight of neat spirits. Treaty Oak now brews beer as well, and its counter-service restaurant Ghost Hill (open from Thursday through Sunday) focuses on smoked meats and Texan fare.
Tours and tastings: The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday, and tours are offered on Saturdays only
Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch
Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch/Facebook
3. Revolution Spirits Distilling Co.
12345 Pauls Valley Rd
Austin, TX 78737
(512) 358-1203
Spirits: Gin, amaro
The scoop: Part of the Fitzhugh Road drinks trail, Revolution is well worth a stop for its high-quality gin and its “cafecito” coffee liqueur made with Cuvee Coffee. You’ll also find the occasional tasting room-special of fruit liqueurs. Most visitors simply visit the tasting room here, but tours are available by request.
Tours and tastings: Friday through Sunday
Revolution Spirits Distilling Co.
Revolution Spirits Distilling Co./Facebook
4. Still Austin Whiskey Co.
440 E St Elmo Rd
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 276-2700
Spirits: White whiskey, gin
The scoop: While you’ll eventually see aged whiskeys emerging from Still Austin, for now, the young upstart pours three white whiskeys (meaning it’s not been aged) and a Texas rye gin. There are cocktails available, and the beautiful facility has a large, sociable porch with lawn games. The distillery’s convenient location in the St. Elmo area is an easy trip, and both Asian food trailer Soursopand coffee shop Spokesman are in the complex for post-visit snacks.
Tours and tastings: Thursday through Sunday
Still Austin Whiskey Co. offerings
Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook
5. Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye-Albert Rd
Hye, TX 78635
(830) 392-0246
Spirits: Whiskey
The scoop: Book ahead for a “sit-and-sip” tour here in quiet Hye, Texas. Tours are scheduled online ($10 per guest) and include a tour and tasting. Since opening the first legal Texas whiskey distillery in 2010, Garrison Brothers have won numerous awards. It remains focused solely on bourbon-style whiskey.
Tours and tastings: Wednesday through Sunday (by appointment only)
Garrison Brothers’ whiskey bottles
6. San Luis Spirits
5330 Bell Springs Rd
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 858-1199
Spirits: Vodka, gin
The scoop: One of Austin’s stalwart distillers, San Luis Spirits produces both Dripping Springs Vodka and Gin, as well as 1876 Vodka. The distillery offer five tours per week ($15 per guest) which includes a tasting and a shot glass, or regular tasting flights for $7. On Saturdays, there are also cocktails utilizing its spirits.
Tours and tastings: The tasting room is open Monday through Saturday, and tours are offered Thursday through Saturday
Dripping Springs Vodka’s distillery
Dripping Springs Vodka/Facebook
7. Deep Eddy Vodka Distillery
2250 US-290
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 994-3534
Spirits: Vodka
The scoop: Austin’s runaway hit spirit brand (now owned by Kentucky whiskey giant Heaven Hill) pours flights and cocktails of its regular and flavored vodkas within a modern tasting room near the Headwaters area in Dripping Springs. Food bonus: on the way, those coming from Austin drive past Neapolitan pizza and pastrami spot Pieous and barbecue and Cajun restaurant the Switch, making for an excellent weekend doubleheader.
Tours and tastings: Thursday through Sunday
Deep Eddy Vodka’s tasting room
8. Frog Pond Distillery
261 Frog Pond Ln
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
(512) 657-7977
Spirits: Gin, vodka
The scoop: A new distillery in the Dripping Springs area, Frog Pond is a casual spot serving up cocktails made with its pot still-produced gin and vodka. Vodka tonics and gin fizzes are usually available, along with rotating specials. Flores Tex-Mex and Whataburger are a short hop away should you need sustenance.
Tours and tastings: Friday and Saturday
Frog Pond Distillery’s bottles
9. Desert Door Distillery
211 Darden Hill Rd
Driftwood, TX 78619
(512) 829-6129
Spirits: Sotol
The scoop: Tours aren’t yet available at Desert Door, but there is a full tasting room. There are snacks available to purchase, and cocktails are also on offer. This is only four miles from the Salt Lick, making for a great combination weekend road trip with friends.
Tastings: Thursday through Sunday
Desert Door Distillery’s tasting room
Desert Door Distillery/Facebook
10. Stinson Distilling
18281 Ranch to Market Rd 150 #211
Driftwood, TX 78619
(512) 894-2009
Spirits: Vodka, rum, brandy
The scoop: Also located near both the Salt Lick and Desert Door, Driftwood’s Stinson Distilling makes small batches of a wide array of spirits and liqueurs. Selected tastings are free of charge, and group visits are encouraged (parties of six or more should call ahead).
Tours and tastings: Wednesday through Sunday
Stinson Distilling’s shots
11. Real Ale Brewing Company
231 San Saba Ct
Blanco, TX 78606
(830) 833-2534
Spirits: Gin, whiskey
After two decades in the beer business, Real Ale began working on a whiskey and gin program which launched last year. The distillery currently produces one gin and two whiskeys priced from $50 to $65. It’s a fun Hill Country stop for those passing through Blanco, since you can also sample the excellent beers.
Tours and tastings: Wednesday through Sunday (to-go sales aren’t available on Sundays)
Real Spirits Distilling Co. barrel
Real Spirits Distillng Co./Facebook
Originally published via Eater Austin by Tom Thorton