Whether you like your martinis with vodka or gin Austin has you covered. Prefer a taste of the tropics and visions of cabana boys (or girls) delivering fruity rum drinks to your lounge chair? Austin also boasts rum distilleries.
Or if your adult beverage tendencies are more toward the sophisticated side – say a gin martini that’s shaken and not stirred there are options there too with local gin that’s absolutely refreshing on a hot Texas summer day. Other offerings include bourbon tequila Texas sweet tea vodka and even locally sourced moonshine that is refreshingly different. Read on for more about Austin area distilleries – and get those cocktail shakers ready!
Crystal Creek Distillery
804-F Bee Creek Rd Spicewood (512) 825 8384 www.crystalcreekmoonshine.comCrystal Creek Distillery is located in Spicewood just west of Austin. Being a true local distillery their moonshine is made from Texas-grown ingredients and they even donate five percent of each bottle sold to an Austin-based charity. With $10 tasting tours and $5 cocktails available at the distillery you can’t go wrong checking this hidden haven out!
Dulce Vida Organic Tequila
11310 W. Hwy 290 512-697-4000 www.dulcevidaspirits.comLaunched in 2009 Dulce Vida tequila is Austin’s first local tequila. While it’s not made here (tequila must be made in Mexico to be called tequila) its operations are based here. Dulce Vida is 100-proof made only from the distilled juice of organic agave plants from Mexico. All Dulce Vida tequilas (except for the blanco) which include the anejo and reposado are aged in American whiskey barrels from Maker’s Mark or Jim Beam.
Deep Eddy Vodka/Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
3601 S. Congress Ave Austin 512-579-0212 www.deepeddyvodka.comDeep Eddy Vodka is made in a small distillery with local ingredients and pure Texas water. It’s column distilled and coal filtered four times for a clean pure taste. Introduced in 2010 Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is a tea-infused vodka that was the brainchild of Sweet Leaf Tea founder Clayton Christopher and Savvy Vodka founder Chad Auler.
Dripping Springs Vodka
San Luis Spirits 512-858-1199 www.drippingspringsvodka.com www.sanluisspirits.comSan Luis Spirits a family-owned distillery in Dripping Springs launched the company and their flagship product Dripping Springs Vodka in 2007. They were the second distiller in the state of Texas and have since launched 5 additional products including Dripping Springs Orange Vodka Well No 1876 Vodka Dripping Springs Artisan Gin Dripping Springs Traditional Gin and most recently their 1876 Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey in September 2017. The company distills their vodkas and gins in 50-gallon batches in copper pot stills and finished their Dripping Springs product line and 1876 Bourbon with a signature mineral-rich artesian Hill Country spring water. Dripping Springs Vodka is so smooth that it is the only North American vodka to win the Vodka Purity Trophy from the International Wine & Spirits Competition in the 48 years since the competition’s founding. You can take a tour of the distillery on Thursdays and Fridays at 3pm or on Saturdays at noon 1:30pm or 3pm. The distillery also offers cocktails on Saturdays from 11am-3pm and hosts a series of special events on select Saturdays.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye-Albert Road Hye 830-392-0246 www.garrisonbros.comAn artisan distillery dedicated to making only the finest Texas Bourbon and producing only a few hundred barrels each year Garrison Brothers’ flagship bourbon is its Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Signature 2008 Vintage. Future offerings include the Panhandle White Hye Rye Texas Opus Hye Test and Garrison Brothers’ Reserve.
Paula’s Texas Spirits
512-636-6389 www.paulastexasorange.comFounded in 2005 Paula’s Texas Spirits is known for its Paula’s Texas Orange and Paula’s Texas Lemon liquers. Both were inspired by Italy’s limoncello but with a Texas twist.
Pecan Street Rum
www.pecanstreetrum.comThe Spirit of Texas Independent Distillery is the newest entry to the Austin spirits scene; its signature offering is the Pecan Street Rum.
Republic Tequila
www.republictequila.comRepublic Tequila is known for its ultra-premium blue agave tequila – organic and hand crafted. The agave that Republic uses is estate-grown blue agave from the town of Arenal Jalisco Mexico and is carefully cultivated and allowed to mature for 8 to 10 years. A careful harvest aging processing and attention to detail have resulted in award-winning offerings that include anejo plata and reposado tequilas.
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
440 East St. Elmo Road www.stillaustin.comStill Austin Whiskey Co. was the first whiskey distillery in Austin city limits since Prohibition. As one of the rare birds of distilling they’re a 100% “grain to glass” distillery where everything is done in-house: milling mashing fermenting distilling barreling and bottling — right here in the heart of Austin. Enjoy a tour or enjoy a sample in their tasting room.
Tito’s Vodka
www.titosvodka.comOne of Austin’s first vodka producers Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made at the company’s Mockingbird Distillery in Austin. Distilled six times Tito’s is a perennial Austin favorite and as with other spirits listed is available at area bars and package stores.
Treaty Oak Distilling
www.treatyoak.comTreaty Oak Distilling is named after the famous Treaty Oak one of the oldest historical trees in Austin that survived a vicious poisoning in 1989. The tree survived and Treaty Oak Distillery has embraced that same determination. Award-winning offerings include three distinct and successful brands: Treaty Oak Rum Waterloo Gin and Starlite Vodka.
