While rightly famous for its celebrated craft breweries and top-rated beers, Austin doesn’t always get an equal amount of credit for the “hard stuff”. In truth, the city is home to a number of excellent distilleries, producing local libations like vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, and even moonshine.

If you’re looking for an inside glimpse of the action, these four Austin distilleries provide tasting flights, facility tours, and retail shops peddling the 512’s finest liquors.

Still Austin Whiskey Co. - South Congress

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

At Still Austin, the distillers create artisanal small-batch whiskeys using Texas-grown heritage grains. Their finished products include a range of whiskey varieties, from classic barrel-aged bourbon to “New Make” whiskey bottled directly from the still. 

Still Austin whiskey can be found at liquor stores and bars throughout the city, but for brown-liquor enthusiasts, the best way to experience it involves a visit to their distillery, conveniently located near South Congress. Throughout the day, the distillery offers 30-minute tours of the facility, including an overview of Texan whiskey and the techniques behind milling, fermenting, distilling, and barreling. Guests can then proceed to Still Austin’s tasting room and whiskey garden, where they can sample flights of seasonal and evergreen whiskeys. Relax and enjoy a whiskey cocktail in view of Still Austin’s 42-food bourbon still.

Genius Gin - Far South Central

Photo courtesy of Genius Gin

Just blocks away from Still Austin, gin lovers will find a distillery perfectly calibrated to their needs: Genius Gin. Genius uses a two-part “hot and cold” process to create its clean flavor profile, distinguished by floral and botanical notes.

Genius offers tours by-appointment throughout the week, including a guided walk through the distillery, descriptions of each element of the gin-making process, and the opportunity to taste Genius’s products, like Navy Strength Gin, Oaked Gin, and Old Highborn Texas Dry Gin.

Crystal Creek Distillery - Spicewood

Photo courtesy of Crystal Creek Distillery

Moonshine, an unaged whiskey-like spirit made from corn mash, has held a place in the cultural fabric of the American South for generations. Crystal Creek Distillery, a moonshine producer in Spicewood (40 minutes outside of Austin), upholds that tradition with its 1920s-inspired recipe for a vibrant ‘shine flavorful enough to drink on the rocks but subtle enough for inclusion in cocktails. 

Distillery tours and moonshine tastings can be booked throughout the week. Evening guests can enjoy live music performances, food truck pop-ups, and craft cocktails made with Crystal Creek’s moonshine. 

Trusty Oak Distillery - Dripping Springs

Photo courtesy of Trusty Oak Distillery

If you’re looking for a one-stop Austin distillery making multiple types of liquor, Trusty Oak Distillery in Dripping Springs (30 minutes outside of Austin) is the spot for you. They produce beer, bourbon, rum, and gin, all from its Trusty Oak Distilling Ranch headquarters. Highlights include Lil’ Hop (an IPA with citrus and floral notes), Red Handed Bourbon (a whiskey created from “found” bourbons and re-blended and barreled at Trusty Oak’s distillery), Trusty Oak Rum (a white rum made from Texas molasses and Hill Country spring water), and Waterloo Gin (a 94-proof gin distilled with lavender, citrus zest, and pecans, all indigenous to Texas). 

A visit to Trusty Oak Distilling Ranch makes for an all-day excursion, with activities like a 45-minute distillery tour and a visit to the tasting room for Trusty Oak liquor flights. Finish the trip with a meal and beverage at Ghost Hill, Trusty Oak’s on-site restaurant serving Texan cuisine and their own cocktails.