Mandy Spivey

Swift Distillery in Dripping Springs: Single Malt Texas Whiskey with True Scottish Flair

Written by Mandy Spivey | November 2, 2015

Passion is one of the main components in a successful business. That’s why it’s so fun to be able to come across passionate people who have been able to take their dream to the next level, the physical step of starting a business doing what one loves.

Central Texas and the Hill Country is having a boom and distilleries are growing, too. It seems that every time you turn around there’s a new spirit being made in our very backyard, many in neighboring Dripping Springs and Southwest Austin.

Husband and wife distillers Nick and Amanda Swift are owners of Swift Distillery and are fresh on the scene to offer their very own Single Malt Texas Whiskey.

if you come in here you're gonna talk about music …

Written by Mandy Spivey | October 20, 2015

“They can do all that but they can’t come in and ask the guy behind the counter which Paul McCartney record is best … if you come in here you’re gonna talk about music and you’re going to get engaged — I’ll leave you alone while you’re digging through — but when you bring it up here we’re gonna talk about what you’re gonna buy. And that’s what keeps me coming to work. I like doing that, I like talking about music, I like being that guy, and I hope people in the store appreciate that.”

Lake Travis Lifestyle Day Trip to One of the Littlest Towns in Texas: Luckenbach

Written by Mandy Spivey | October 19, 2015

Some places I visit in Texas feel like such a time warp. In my travels as a writer, I get to see all types of towns in Texas, each of them with their own unique flair and history.

One of the coolest places on the map in my book is Luckenbach, Texas. Just a short and scenic drive out in Fredericksburg’s direction, this tiny cowpoke town, with a recorded population of 3, attracts some of the biggest voices in country from around the Hill Country.

Having an appreciation for country music will get you further around these parts, where names like Jerry Jeff Walker, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson have graced the stage for guitar and singing performances. Those are the famed nights that locals remember, memories that echo in the walls of the well-waxed dance hall that now houses weekend acts.

Located 13 miles from Fredericksburg, south of U.S. Highway 290 and on the south side of RM 1376, this site, once known for being a Comanche trading post, now serves as the Hill Country’s exclusive hideaway for music lovers and those looking to get away from the glittering city lights for an evening.

Mandy Spivey

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