Wine X Staff
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Located in the heart of Fort Worth’s historically infamous “Hell’s Half Acre,” referred to as the Old West’s “Den of Sin & Vice,” is the home to sinfully magnetic Acre Distilling. In the same block where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 
lavishly spend their winnings on whiskey, poker, and such, while Wyatt Erp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holliday searched for them, Acre Distillery has made a name for itself by producing exceptional spirits that are surely better than any hooch served to a cross-eyed gunslinger 125 years ago. Founded in 2016 by Tony Formby, Acre Distillery has quickly become a favorite of locals and tourists alike, earning a reputation as one of the best distilleries in Texas, and a brand to watch on the national stage. We got an invite, so we took a road trip to check it out.
One of the things that set Acre Distillery apart from other distilleries is its focus on using locally & regionally-sourced ingredients to cook up a little terror into their spirits. Acre Distillery sources its grains from nearby farms, and they use water from the Trinity River, which runs through Fort Worth. By using these locally-sourced ingredients, Acre Distillery is able to create spirits that don’t skimp on the quality of its ingredients, while introducing a few notes here and there that give their bottles a true sense of place.
Here’s something that caught me a little by surprise, and definitely added to the cool factor: Acre Distillery is hardcore in its commitment to sustainability. They use a state-of-the-art still that is energy efficient and produces less waste than traditional stills. They also recycle their water and grain, which helps to minimize their environmental impact. Finally, they power everything with other own solar grid, drawing no power from anything other than their own footprint. Acre Distillery’s commitment to sustainability reminded me of a recent conversation with Jason Haas at Tablas Creek. Equally cool! Tip of the cap to the guys and gals that go the extra mile doing good while making great bottles.
Tony sat me down in front of ten of their bottles, an ice bucket, and plenty of time to go slow and enjoy the story behind each bottle.
Acre Distillery’s spirits have won numerous awards, including a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and a Silver Medal at the London Spirits Competition. That’s just the start, though. The awards list is an Acre long, and the cherry on top of the cocktail is being named the 2020 National Grand Champion at the US Open Spirits Competition, held in Niagra Falls. There, Acre won three gold medals and a bronze. It’s worth noting that Acre’s awards aren’t isolated to just one category. They have medals across all of their lines of vodka, gin, and whiskey.
Impressed enough yet? Yes. This stuff is THAT GOOD.
Their vodka is made from Texas-grown corn and wheat, and it is distilled six times for a smooth and clean taste. It has a subtle sweetness and a creamy mouthfeel, making it perfect for sipping or mixing in cocktails. Their standard vodka has a clean nose and tastes that make it the perfect base for whatever you have in mind.
Acre’s flavored vodkas are where they really shine, though. And we’ve got X Rated reviews below to prove it. The one that really stood out is their Golden Halo Vodka, which is barrel aged in used whiskey barrels. Golden Halo earned a gold medal at the US Open Whiskey & Spirits Competition in 2020 and amplified the spirits tourism cattle drives to Forth Worth.
Acre Distillery’s gin is made using a unique blend of botanicals, including juniper berries, coriander, citrus peels, and a few more ingredients that remain a tightly guarded secret. It has a bright and refreshing flavor with notes of citrus and spice. It is perfect for making classic cocktails like a gin and tonic or a martini. Honestly, it ain’t a bad sipper, either, JBH
Finally, Acre Distillery’s whisky lineup rocks, and its freaking expansive. There’s a total of eight whiskeys, Ryes, and bourbons, including three flavors: a peach whiskey, a cinnamon whiskey, and Java Shine, a coffee whisky that will blow your mind. The base hooch, Longhair Jim, is a true standout. It is made from a blend of locally sourced corn, rye, and malted barley, aged in charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years. The result is a smooth and complex whiskey with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak. This bad boy is perfect for sipping on its own or mixing in classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan.
In addition to their award-winning spirits, Acre Distillery also offers tours and tastings at their distillery in Fort Worth. Visitors can learn about the distilling process and taste Acre Distillery’s spirits for themselves.
Overall, Acre Distillery’s commitment to using locally-sourced ingredients, its focus on sustainability, and its dedication to creating high-quality spirits make them one of the best distilleries in Texas. Their award-winning vodka, gin, and whiskey are a testament to their dedication to their craft, and they are definitely worth a try for anyone looking to experience the best of Texas spirits. Go! Seriously. It’s a blast.
Golden Halo Barrel Aged Vodka: A mild mellow sipper that will make you lose your clothes XXX
Longhair Jim Straight Bourbon Whiskey: The best daily drinker I’ve had this year XXX
Parker County Smoked Single Malt: Da bomb… seriously, XX 1/2
Two Minnies London Dry Gin: Even gin haters will love Two Minnies. Know what I mean? XX 1/2
Java Shine Coffee Whiskey: Jolty-Buzz. Seriously I’ve had booze dreams about this bottle XXX
