There are about 127 distilleries in Texas. Naturally, that made our selection process for the “Best Distilleries in Texas” challenging. Some of the names below are more popular. Others have a unique story that we thought necessary to reward. So, with that, here are some of the best distilleries that the Lone Star State has to offer.
Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co
Anyone who has had a glass of whiskey or bourbon produced by Firestone and Robertson could attest to the unique taste of their liquor. Arguably, the distillery produces some of the finest whiskey in Texas. Troy Robertson and Leonard Firestone, who were just acquaintances at the time, have made it the largest whiskey distillery west of Mississippi. Their goal at the time was to find the x-factor that would distinguish their products from others on the market. That led to the discovery of a unique yeast strain found in a pecan nut which is, in fact, the state tree of Texas.
The distillery has had a trail of unrivaled success from the unveiling of their first product, the TX Blended Whiskey in 2012. They received the award for the Best American Craft Whiskey at the Annual World Spirits Competition in 2013.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
Founded by Dan Garrison, the Garrison Brothers Distillery was the first legal distillery in the state of Texas. The factory produces nothing less than quality bourbon liquor, especially the Texas Straight Bourbon. Garrison Brothers also uses organic corn from the Panhandle as well as wheat that they grow themselves in the manufacturing of their bourbon.
However, Dan did not have a smooth start with the distillery. When he started brewing, the high temperature in Texas caused chaos in the distillery. This led to a loss of hundreds of gallons of bourbon when the barrels cracked and broke subsequently. His resilience paid off, though, and the Garrison Brothers Bourbon Whiskey has gone on to win a number of awards including a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Single Barrel Bourbon, and US Micro Whiskey of the Year from Jim Murray.
Balcones Distilling
Balcones Distilling has a penchant for producing fine whiskeys and spirits. Keith Bellinger is now the head of the distillery. It has a variety of quality liquors, of which the ‘1’ Texas Single Malt is among.
In 2016, the distillery received the name of the Top Craft Whiskey Distillery by 10Best. Their decision to name it number one was based on the fact that each bottle of Balcones Whiskey “has been individually stamped in wax and labeled with a handwritten batch number,” which indicates the level of dedication and hard work put in by the staff.
Witherspoon Distillery
The bourbon and rum have a bit of a Caribbean taste because the co-founder, Quentin Witherspoon, learned the art of distilling in the Dominican Republic. Their best product is the “Old Fashioned” series. This is a blend of straight bourbon, orange, and a host of other ingredients. The distillery is in Lewisville, Texas.
Deep Eddy Vodka
The vodka at Deep Eddy got its inspiration from the oldest swimming pool. This is the Deep Eddy Pool, in Austin, Texas, which is where the distillery is. The vodka collections here are made from corn grown in Southern Texas. They go through multiple processes of distillation – as many as ten times. Some of their products include the Deep Eddy Peach, Deep Eddy Ruby Red and Deep Eddy Cranberry. Most of the liquor produced by these brands are marketed internationally. You don’t have to go to Texas to buy them. But if you find yourself in Texas, you can tour the distilleries with permission.
Stop by your nearest Zipps Liquor Store for your favorite Texas spirits!
