Wine X Staff
Wine X Online Edition
Greetings, gallant globetrotters of the grape and grain, ready for a new voyage into the heartland of distilled delights? Brace your bibulous senses for the rambunctious ride along the spirits trail of Austin, Texas, the city where cowboys swagger with craft cocktails instead of a six-shooter. Yes, ladies, gents, and in-betweeners, we’re saddling up for an intoxicating journey across Still Austin, Deep Eddy, Balcones Distilling, Dripping Springs Vodka, and Treaty Oak Distilling. We promise nothing less than a booze-fueled exploration that will leave your liver slightly pickled and your heart thoroughly charmed. Buckle up, buttercups!
Still Austin: The Mad Scientist of Distilleries
Our first pit stop lands us at Still Austin. It’s where the bourbon magic happens, tucked away in an unassuming corner of The Yard. The team here doesn’t just distill bourbon; they make love to the amber nectar in a way that makes you feel like a peeping Tom. A grain-to-glass distillery, Still Austin uses locally grown corn, rye, and malted barley, nurturing it into bourbon that’s as unique as the hipster barista down the street with a handlebar mustache.
The star attraction? Their Cask Strength Bourbon, known to regulars as “The Musician.” It might not croon like Sinatra or twang like Willie, but boy, does it play a symphony on your palate. Spicy, with a dash of sweet, and a heart full of oak, The Musician will strum your senses into a pleasurable stupor. Still Austin is a testament to the craft, cradling every bottle from cornfield to cork, creating an experience that’s as authentic as Austin itself.
Deep Eddy: Dive into the Deep End
If you think you’re venturing into a vintage pool turned hipster drinking spot, well, you’re only half wrong. Welcome to Deep Eddy, the quaint-yet-quirky vodka distillery that’s been thumbing its nose at the traditional since 2010. They’ve taken the humble potato’s soul, put it through boot camp, and distilled it into some of the finest vodka on the planet.
Take a gander at their ruby-red grapefruit vodka – a zesty, tart little number that gets under your skin and makes you smile even when your boss’s PowerPoint is in its second excruciating hour. Their sweet tea vodka is another Southern belle, charming your taste buds with its coy sweetness and a tang of Texas tea. Is it summer yet?
Balcones Distilling: Big, Bold and Brash
Next on our pilgrimage is the award-winning Balcones Distilling, the Big Daddy of the Texas whiskey scene. Located in an old welding shop under the 17th Street Bridge in Waco, Balcones is as much about its gritty origins as it is about its quality spirits.
Their Texas Single Malt Whisky is a testament to their “go big or go home” mantra. Aged under the relentless Texas sun, this single malt evolves with complexity and depth, giving a gentle nudge to the ol’ Scotch and a big Texas-sized “Howdy!” to the discerning palate. This one is a dream, darlings, an all-American dream swimming in a glass of golden glory.
Dripping Springs Vodka: Your Small-Batch Savior
Cradled in the Hill Country, Dripping Springs Vodka is the scrappy hero of our boozy journey. Artisanal to the core, this vodka is a small-batch spirit crafted with local, non-GMO corn, and mineral-rich artesian spring water.
Their traditional vodka, distilled 20 times, is soft, subtly sweet, and exceptionally smooth. Or, for a more adventurous sip, try the Orange Vodka – a citrusy explosion that’ll slap your tongue and ask you to tango. Dripping Springs is the boutique haven for every vodka lover who’s dared to venture off the beaten path.
Treaty Oak Distilling: The Rebel in the Mix
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to your beer, we hit Treaty Oak Distilling, a 28-acre sip and nibble heaven in Dripping Springs. Treaty Oak is the bad boy in the block, distilling whiskey and rum with an audacious attitude that would make Jack Sparrow blush.
The Ghost Hill Bourbon, a corn and wheat whisper of caramel and honey, is a must-try. But don’t you dare miss the Red-Handed Bourbon, the outlaw of the family, sourced from distilleries across America and blended with a devil-may-care panache. Remember, folks, life’s too short for bad booze.
Now, as promised, let’s raise a glass to our Austin adventure with a unique cocktail, fittingly named, “The Texas Trail Blazer.”
The Texas Trail Blazer
Ingredients
- 2 oz Dripping Springs Orange Vodka
- 1 oz Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
- A dash of lime juice
- A spoon of honey
- Club soda
- A slice of fresh grapefruit for garnish
Mixology Shake the vodkas, lime juice, and honey with ice. Strain it into a glass, top it off with club soda, and garnish with a fresh slice of grapefruit. Yee-haw!
And there you have it, compadres. A daring dive into Austin’s thriving distillery scene, a wild west for the whiskey lover, a shining city on a hill for the vodka vanguard. Remember, in the end, it’s not the destination; it’s the glorious, boozy journey. Cheers to your next adventure!
