Austin and the nearby Texas Hill Country are home to a spirited number of distilleries that are destinations in themselves. Stop in for a pour at an urban tasting room or set off on a Hill Country day trip. Here are 20 local craft spirits distilleries worth exploring.
Desert Door. Credit Two Hoyles Photography.
1. Desert Door Distillery
Desert Door Distillery in Driftwood is the country’s only sotol distillery, crafting a distinctive Texan spirit. Unique to Texas and northern Mexico, the rugged sotol plant thrives in the desert. Do some sotol sampling in the modern Tasting Room (try the earthy Desert Door Original), then grab some farm-to-table eats from the Eden West food truck and cozy up by the fireplace on a comfy couch surrounded by regional artwork. There’s also a family-friendly outdoor patio with live music and games.
2. Garrison Brothers Distillery
Garrison Brothers Distillery in scenic Hye is the Lone Star State’s first and oldest whiskey distillery. Located on a small ranch, Garrison produces Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with its own organic winter wheat that’s grown and ground daily on site, along with plump yellow corn from the Texas Panhandle and fresh Hill Country rainwater. Take the one- to two-hour distillery tour (Tues-Sat.), which includes a taste of sweet mash and high-proof “white dog” right from the stills, along with samples of Garrison’s latest limited-release whiskey.
3. Dripping Springs Vodka & Gin
Dripping Springs Vodka & Gin, also found in Dripping Springs, produces its spirits in handmade copper pot stills. Brothers Gary and Kevin Kelleher founded the San Luis Spirits distillery, where they produce small 50-gallon batches of Dripping Springs vodka and gin using pure Hill Country artesian spring water. Tours are held Thursday through Sunday afternoons, and include a distillery tour, tastings and a souvenir shot glass. Settle in at Distillers Bar, featuring Dripping Springs' new tasting room, a craft cocktail and wine bar, and Southern bites from the kitchen.
Courtesy of Treaty Oak Distilling.
4. Treaty Oak Distilling
Located in Dripping Springs, Treaty Oak Distilling is named for the 500-year-old live oak tree in Austin that was the site where Stephen F. Austin (known as the "Father of Texas") signed a border agreement in the 1830s. Treaty Oak produces a number of spirits, including gin and bourbon, on its 28-acre, state-of-the-art distillery/ranch. Head out on the weekend to enjoy Saturday afternoon tours, live music, yard games, tastings at the Cocktail Lab and a gourmet bite from the on-site Alice’s Restaurant.
5. Planet Rock Vodka Distillery
Head northwest for a distillery the whole family can hang out at. Opened in late 2020, Planet Rock's distillery is the perfect place to chill with indoor and outdoor space, live music, a small petting zoo and more. Order one of their specialty cocktails made with Planet Rock vodka and chat with the owners, Catfish & Booge, about their small batch craft spirit!
6. Revolution Spirits
Revolution Spirits is an experimental craft distillery that produces small batches of gin and liqueurs in Austin. Revolution’s signature is the contemporary, American-style Austin Reserve Gin, made with juniper, lemongrass and Texas grapefruit. It also produces liqueurs that include the Cafecito, blended with cuvee coffee. Tastings. cocktails and food are offered in the tasting room Friday through Sunday, with tours of the production area available by request.
Still Austin Whiskey Co. Credit Danielle Chloe Potts.
7. Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Still Austin Whiskey Co., located at The Yard, holds the distinction of being the first whiskey distillery located within Austin city limits since Prohibition. A true grain-to-glass distillery, everything is done in-house, from mashing to barreling and bottling. Take a tour to see how Still Austin’s whiskey is made, then enjoy it straight up or in a cocktail best sipped in the whiskey garden.
8. Kooper Family Whiskey Co.
Located just a quick drive from Austin in Ledbetter is Kooper Family Whiskey Co., a true mom-and-pop distillery known for its rye whiskies that are blended with pure limestone-filtered Travis County spring water and slowly matured in bourbon barrels. Try a flight of three rye whiskies in the tasting room, open Tuesday-Sunday.
9. Banner Distilling Co.
Located on 12 acres of farmland on the outskirts of East Austin, Banner Distilling Co. is a small batch distillery built from the ground up by two craft beer and spirits enthusiasts looking to carve out a Texas distilling legacy with its smooth vodka and original whiskies. Join the 30-minute distillery tour and tasting experience, where you’ll get to try the award-winning Banner Natural Vodka and Texas Wheat Whiskey, available for sale in limited quantities.
Real Spirits Distilling Co. Whiskey. Credit to Davin Topel.
10. Real Ale Brewing Co
Producing craft beer since the mid-1990s, Real Ale Brewing Co launched Real Spirits Distilling out of its Blanco tap room in 2017. Stop by for a taste of its Texas Hill Country Signature Whiskey, Grain to Glass Gin, and the very limited first batch of its Single Barrel Whiskey. The tap room and beer garden are open Thursday through Sunday.
11. Genius Gin
Genius Gin focuses on making this solitary spirit in two versions: Standard Strength (a homage to the classic London Dry variety) and Navy Strength (a sip-worthy version inspired by the historical proof carried on British Royal Navy fleets). Tours are offered by appointment only, with knowledgeable distillers who explain the history of gin and offer tastings.
12. Texas Saké Company
Texas Saké Company, which uses centuries-old techniques to brew its saké, is a hidden little gem in Central Austin. The saké is produced in small batches, taking care to find the right balance of bold and crisp flavors. In the taproom, open Thursday through Sunday, try saké by the glass, as a flight or mixed in a cocktail at the Japanese-style bar, and chat with the resident Toji (master brewer).
Fierce Whiskers Distillery. Credit Austin Cochran
13. Fierce Whiskers Distillery
The newly opened Fierce Whiskers Distillery in Austin produces rye and bourbon whiskeys in sustainable barrels. Visit the modern, solar-paneled tasting room, which features an airy courtyard. And be sure to take the tour that walks you through the distillery’s state-of-the-art production facility and five-story rick house. Don’t miss the yakitori eats from the on-site Char ATX food truck, offering char-grilled meats like New York strip and pork belly.
14. Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery
The family-friendly Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery in Spicewood spans 15 acres, with live music, outdoor games and craft cocktails. Post up in the rustic Still House and try a signature cocktail made with Iron Wolf spirits, or enjoy a sip in the Bourbon Garden. Take a tour (by appointment) to see how Iron Wolf whiskey, vodka, bourbon and gin are produced. And enjoy awesome sunsets around the fire pit.
15. Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co.
Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co. in Austin is the world’s first crowdsourced whiskey distillery. Crowded Barrel is backed by the Whiskey Tribe, a group of supporters who have a say in what whiskey the distillery makes. This freewheeling approach has led to experiments with everything from high-brow single malts to feral budget bourbons, as well as collaborations with other whiskey makers. Take a tour of the still and barrel house, which ends in the Fang & Feather tasting room, to get a peek at what Crowded Barrel is currently distilling.
Courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka.
16. Deep Eddy Vodka
Deep Eddy Vodka is a Dripping Springs favorite. Its sprawling 30,000-square-foot distillery includes a fun, retro-feel tasting room where you can sip specialty cocktails or sample flights Thursday through Sunday. Vodka varieties are flavored with fruit that includes cranberry, peach and ruby red grapefruit. Both kids and dogs are welcome to come sit a spell on the patio and take in the panoramic view of the surrounding Texas Hill Country.
17. Goodnight Loving Vodka
Step through a secret sliding bookcase to reach the tasting room at Goodnight Loving Vodka in Austin and try their super-smooth vodka, made with Texas artesian spring water. The tasting room evokes the golden age of cocktail culture, with chic mid century modern furniture and Sinatra setting the score. Dogs are welcome in the leafy Vodka Garden.
18. Spirit of Texas Independent Distillery
Just north of Austin in Pflugerville, Spirit of Texas Independent Distillery is making rum and whiskey with true flavors of Texas. Founder Shaun Siems was born and raised in Pflugerville, Texas and set out in 2006 to create quality top shelf spirits that were both affordable and representative of Texas. Now, Spirit of Texas makes award winning spirits to include their PFLUGER Single Malt Whiskey with flavors of nougat, dark chocolate and black pepper, and their Pecan Street Rum which is oak-aged and made with Texas pecans. Visit their tasting room on Fridays and Saturdays to get a taste for yourself!
Ben Milam Whiskey. Credit Brooke Taelor Photography.
19. Milam & Greene Whiskey
Milam & Greene Whiskey is named for a larger-than-life Texas freedom fighter who was born in Kentucky, the birthplace of bourbon whiskey. Stop in at the distillery tasting room (Wednesday through Saturday), located in the picturesque small town of Blanco that’s known for the spring-fed Blanco River that runs through the center of the community. Pick up a bottle of the limited Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey that you can only find at the distillery.
20. Tito's Handmade Vodka
Although you can't visit the iconic Tito's Handmade Vodka distillery in person, you'll find their products all around town. Stock up on Tito's merch at the Austin Visitor Center or stop in at their 2nd Street shop, Love, Tito's for more souvenirs.
Looking for more Hill Country day trip ideas? Explore these 16 Day Trips & 5 Hill Country Towns Worth a Visit!
