Tasting Texas Spirits

The great state of Texas is not known for being great at spirits. However, recently we are seeing many Texas distilleries and spirits emerging and even winning awards in national and international competitions! For this tasting, we will explore and compare Texas spirits and see how well they hold up in 2024.

SEE BELOW FOR CURRENT TEXAS SPIRITS TASTING LIST!

Texas has many distilleries now, producing bourbons, ryes, single malts, and other whiskeys, as well as vodkas, gins, rums, and other spirits. While Tito’s was the first Texas ‘hit (and is now popular around the world), recent years have seen other spirits–more challenging, time-consuming, expertise-dependent spirits–emerge and become known among some locals, adored by spirits critics, and even winning awards in competitions. Central Texas distilleries including Dripping Springs, Waterloo/Treaty Oak, Garrison Brothers, and Balcones have been earning a name for themselves for several years, while more recent successes include Still Austin and Fierce Whiskers. And the rest of the state is keeping up, with award winning distillers such as Milam & Greene (love their port barrel finished rye) and a number of great ones in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, the number of distilleries in Texas has exploded, and most of them remain relatively unknown. Let’s fix that! We’ll gather, taste, and share our thoughts. Not all will be great, and many will be hotly debated. We will bring back the whiteboard to record the most insightful (ok, the funniest) comments.

Our tasting events are open to friends and their friends, but knowing approximate attendance will help us provide the best tasting experience. So, please RSVP below, with funny comments preferred and and any spirit you wish to share. 🙂 (This also helps me make sure the concierges let you up to our floor.)

When & Where

Time & Date: 8-11PM on Saturday, August 10, 2024
Location: Chez Boisseau (360 Condominiums, Unit 3005)

Tasting Events “Rules”

The “rules” have been established and refined over 31 previous whiskey and “alt-whiskey” events, for maximum enjoyment.

• Several different Texas spirits will be provided that cover a range of taste profiles for comparison. As always, if you wish to bring a bottle to expand our comparison set and share with friends, please do (not required!)–but if you do then you must take your bottle home with you to enjoy on your own later! (There will be labels and a list.)
• All spirits provided by the hosts and being shared by guests will be posted below as we learn about them (let me know in the comments).
• You’re going to try a lot of things, and you won’t love them all–just be willing to taste and learn a little. Some wine and beer will also be provided, but feel free to bring anything you want if you’re not (yet) into higher proof spirits. (O promise we will find something you like!)
• There will be plenty of snacks, but you should eat a full dinner beforehand if you’re serious about tasting many spirits.

Tasting List (so far)

Whiskeys

1. Andalusia Single Malt – Jay Boisseau
2. Balcones Pot Still Bourbon – Jon Buck
3. Devil’s River Rye – Steve Krant
4. Nine Banded Bourbon – Jay Boisseau
5. Pfluger Single Malt Whisky – Jay Boisseau
6. Still Austin Bourbon – Jay Boisseau
7. Still Austin Blue Corn Bourbon – Jay Boisseau
8. Wilderness Trail Bourbon – Giorgi S.

Other Spirits

1. Balcones Texas Rum – Jay Boisseau
2. Banner Distilling Vodka – Jay Boisseau
3. Desert Door Sotol – Jay Boisseau
4. Dripping Springs Vodka – Jay Boisseau
5. Still Austin Gin – Jay Boisseau

Remember: Any and all bottles brought by guests must be taken home to continue enjoying after the event! We do not do this to collect spirits, only to taste lots of things, share, and have fun!

RSVP

Let me know if you will attend by commenting below (with # !) so that we can plan appropriately. (Note: comments from first-time RSVPers won’t appear immediately on the page until I get a chance to approve them since bots have discovered my site… but I’ll be quick.) All I ask is that you RVSP here–all in one place–not to (any of my 10) email accounts, by text, by phone call or voicemail (ever!), through social media DMs, over Slack, etc. Comments here helps me keep count and make an access list and it shows others who is coming!

IMPORTANT: Be thoughtful about your safety and others’ (always). Make sure you have a designated driver or Uber/Lyft, or at least take small tastes (and even spit out) if you are driving. If you are not feeling well, please do not attend–there will be many future tastings!