You have about six more weeks of summer, so why not make the most of it by enjoying the best of the Texas Hill Country. And speaking of the best, you’ve got award-winning distilleries right here in your backyard.
Hats off to Dripping Springs, the Gateway to the Hill Country, for being home to four of the most notable distilleries in the Lake Travis area: Dripping Springs Vodka, Treaty Oaks Distilling, Swift Distillery, and Deep Eddy Vodka.
On a hot summer day, what’s more “Texas” than sipping locally crafted spirits under the shade of enormous oak trees? If you’re ready for some day-tripping, head out to Dripping Springs.
Treaty Oak Distilling
Situated on a beautiful 28-acre ranch in Dripping Springs is Treaty Oak Distilling. It just feels like Texas — a distillery destination under huge oak trees.
Located on the property are a gift shop and tasting room with artisanal cocktails on tap, yard games and a play area for the kiddos. Their new Ghost Hill Restaurant features a full bar and kitchen.
If you want to see where the magic happens, you can take a tour through the distillery and Rickhouse to learn more about the production process for their bourbons, rums, and gins. Tours are open for booking on Saturdays, and the restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday with live music on the weekends.
Dripping Springs Vodka
Dripping Springs Vodka is all about the art of small batch distilling. Their vodka is micro-distilled 20 times in proprietary 50-gallon copper pot stills. Then it’s finished with pure, local, mineral-rich, Artesian spring water.
Dripping Springs Gin (both Traditional and Artesian) is made in small 40-gallon batches. Dripping Springs Vodka (both traditional and Texas Orange) are certified kosher. Dripping Springs Gins are gluten-free and kosher.
Deep Eddy Vodka
Deep Eddy taproom and distillery is just as much fun as their famous pin-up girls merchandising. With a VW Bus parked outside, you immediately get that oh-so-Austin-y vibe.
Deep Eddy’s 5,000 square foot tasting room is perfect for a vodka-flight and good conversation. Besides, it’s hard to say no to a vodka cocktail in a signature Deep Eddy mason jar (that you get to keep).
While the branding is playful, this Texas distillery takes its job seriously. Deep Eddy Vodkas are column-distilled ten times (and charcoal filtered) using corn, the most excellent Texas water, and natural flavors. This creates a clean, smooth and better-finished product.
Deep Eddy Vodka uses locally sourced ingredients like the organic clover honey in the Sweet Tea Vodka. All of their vodkas are made in Austin and are gluten-free (except the Sweet Tea).
Swift Distillery
Swift Distillery makes single malt whiskey using authentic Scottish whiskey-making traditions. Owners Nick Swift and Amanda Swift traveled the world, tasting and testing their way to the perfect recipe.
When the couple explains how they perfected the process for their Swift Single Malt, the labor of love is obvious. The 5-step process begins with 100% Scottish two-row malted barley and ends with barrels and casks treated with tender TLC.
Frog Pond Distillery
It’s always exciting when a new local business is born, so say hello to Frog Pond Distillery. They recently opened their doors in Dripping Springs on June 30. This family-owned, small-batch distillery makes vodka and gin. It’s the perfect spot for sippin’ and porch sittin’.
Hop over to Frog Pond on Fridays (4pm-8pm) and Saturdays (2pm-7pm) to hang out by the bar or enjoy the Hill Country views outside.
Have you enjoyed day-tripping in Dripping Springs this summer? Where’s your favorite spot to sip craft cocktails?
