A Weekend Well-Spent in Austin
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This past weekend, I headed down to Austin for the 2025 Texas Whiskey Festival—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Between the cask strength pours, spicy ryes, and BBQ that made you want to weep with joy, the whole thing was a whiskey lover’s dream.
I’ve been to my fair share of whiskey events (but admittedly haven’t been to one recently), yet there’s something special about this one. Maybe it’s the laid-back Texas vibe. Maybe it’s the sheer passion behind the pours. Or maybe it was just the brisket. Either way, I walked away full, slightly buzzed, and pretty impressed with what Texas distillers are doing right now.
Familiar Faces, Solid Pours
I kicked things off with some tried-and-true pours—because when you know your palate’s about to take a beating, it helps to start with something familiar.
Garrison Brothers was, as expected, putting out some heavy hitters. We reviewed their Small Batch a while back and nothing much changed with our opinion here, but their Balmorhea caught me off guard. I expected the oak to be overpowering here, but surprisingly that turned out not to be the case.
Rebecca Creek brought their A-game too. Their Spanish Oak was a very approachable pour, and that smooth, pecan-heavy profile was exactly what I needed before diving into the high-proof chaos that awaited.
Still Austin: The Big Surprise
Okay, confession time—I hadn’t spent much time with Still Austin Distillery before this event. I’d heard about them in passing, but never dug into their lineup. That changed fast.
Their award-winning “The Artist” Straight Rye Whiskey took me by surprise in the best way. Spicy notes with a bit of honey, and way more layered than I expected. Even with my palate half-destroyed by that point, it still stood out.
But the real showstopper? Their Bottled In Bond, 4 Year Old Rye. It cut through the haze with this wild mix of rye spice, a little bit of sweetness, and big mouth feel. It felt bold but refined, and it honestly might have been the pour of the night for me.
High-Proof Heaven (and a Little Regret)
Texas distillers don’t mess around with proof. If you love your whiskey full-throttle and unfiltered, this event had you covered. I lost count of how many cask strength bourbons and ryes I sampled. Each table seemed to be trying to outdo the next with intensity.
Some of it melted my face. Some of it made me wish I had a reset button on my tongue. But most of it? Really solid stuff, especially considering how young many of these distilleries still are.
Word to the wise for next year: pace yourself. Water is your friend. So are snacks. Speaking of…
Food Trucks Saved My Life
When you’re drinking barrel-proof whiskey in the Texas heat, you need something greasy and glorious to soak it all up.
Thankfully, the food truck lineup delivered. I really wish I caught the names of the food vendors present. But I grabbed some brisket that had just the right amount of bark and smoke, and followed it up with empanadas that were flaky, spicy, and basically perfect. Honestly, I’d come back just for the food.
The pairing of BBQ with bold whiskey? Chef’s kiss.
Big Thanks to the Texas Whiskey Festival Crew
Before wrapping this up, I’ve gotta give a shoutout to the folks behind the Texas Whiskey Festival. The event was organized, easy to navigate, and felt genuinely welcoming from start to finish. It’s clear these people care about whiskey and the community behind it.
From the solid pacing and layout, it was obvious that this wasn’t just slapped together. It felt intentional. It felt like it was built for whiskey nerds, by whiskey nerds.
Final Thoughts
I came to Austin looking for good whiskey and good vibes—and I got both. Garrison Brothers and Rebecca Creek were nice to revisit, but discovering Still Austin was the real highlight of the weekend.
Texas whiskey is doing big things right now. It’s bold, it’s different, and it’s not afraid to break a few rules. If you’ve been sleeping on this scene, it’s time to wake up and pour a glass.
Already looking forward to next year. Until then, cheers y’all. 🥃