The whiskey trail: Blanco and the Hill Country stills
Photo: Acdixon / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Texas whiskey grew up in a fifty mile circle west of Austin, and most of it pours in tasting rooms with a hillside view. This runs Dripping Springs to Blanco and back through the brewery that started it all.
Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co
Off Fitzhugh Road, the crowdsourced whiskey outfit. Flights of the barrel picks and the story of how the community votes on mash bills.
Andalusia Whiskey Co.
Grain to glass single malt on hand built stills, with a tasting room that looks over the Blanco hills. The strongest pour of the day.
Blanco Bowling Club & Cafe call first
Lunch on the square, chicken fried steak and meringue pies, nine pin bowling in the back if a lane is free.
Milam & Greene Distillery
Bourbon blended and aged by whiskey author Heather Greene. Smaller and quieter than Andalusia, and the staff will pour you through the whole line.
Real Spirits Distilling Co.
Inside Real Ale Brewing. A single malt cocktail, then a Fireman's #4 on the lawn to come down.
If you have time
Dripping Springs Distilling
Thursday through Sunday only. Copper pot vodka and gin tours on the hour, the one that put the town on the map.
Round Mountain Distilling
Twenty minutes north on 281 if you want one more. Tiny, new, five stars on Google, closes at 6.
Garrison Brothers Distillery
The big one in Hye is 30 minutes from Blanco and closes at 4. Do it first if it is on the list.