Texas vodka has become a thing, and I’m not just talking Tito’s. Everyone is trying to get in on distilling this clear liquor. While vodka is traditionally made with potatoes in Russia, most vodkas made here are corn-based. These four in particular are all made in or close to Austin, and are sure to quench your thirst.
1/ Deep Eddy Vodka
Named after the oldest swimming hole in Texas, Deep Eddy Vodka was founded in 2010. It’s distilled 10 times and made in small batches, right here in the capital city for your sipping pleasure! Deep Eddy currently comes in these seven flavors:
- Original
- Peach
- Sweet Tea
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Orange
- Cranberry
Deep Eddy – Website
2/ Dripping Springs Distillery
As the third distiller licensed in Texas, Dripping Springs Distillery has taken a unique approach to vodka. These spirits are made with sweet mid-western corn, distilled 20 times, and finished with Texas spring water. No wonder the local business has won so many awards.
Connoisseurs can stop by Dripping Springs Distillery for a tour or sample the goods in the tasting room. Be sure to check out the orange-flavored vodka!
Dripping Springs – Website
3/ Banner Distilling Co.
Banner Distilling Co.’s co-founders Anthony Jimenez and Logan Simpson joined forces in 2011 to build a craft spirits business. They wanted to create a vodka that would be so smooth that you wouldn’t need a mixer. The distilling process includes Texas rainwater and a coconut shell carbon filter.
To date, Jimenez and Simpson have perfected two spirits: Banner Natural Vodka and Banner Wheat Whiskey. The organic vodka earned two gold medals from the Beverage Tasting Institute not long after its market release.
You can visit Banner Distilling Co. in Manor to learn more about the company’s unique distilling process.
Banner – Website
4/ Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito Beveridge started making flavored vodkas for friends in Austin somewhere between 1992 and 1993. Since then, the entrepreneur has been on a mission to create a vodka so smooth you could drink it straight out of the bottle.
Along the way, Beveridge helped re-write Texas laws to pave the way for himself and others to become micro-distillers. He has been making batch distilled corn-based vodka ever since.
Tito’s Handmade – Website
5/ Goodnight Loving Vodka
Gary Crowell, founder of Deep Eddy Vodka, and businessman Tim Osburn teamed up to create Goodnight Loving Vodka.
Goodnight distills their liquor with Texas artesian spring water and is bottled at the distillery in Austin. They have a 3,000-square-foot tasting room in west Austin that offers public tours and cocktail classes.
Goodnight Loving – Website
@dollarsaenz86 wants to know:
What’s your favorite Austin-area vodka?
The original version of this article was published March 19, 2015.
Bone Spirits tasting room is awesome! I like Smiths Vodka a lot, it’s really smooth! We love the drive to Smithville when the bluebonnets are in full bloom, it’s a beautiful drive! We go to Bone Spirits for a tasting and buy a couple of bottles of their Smiths Vodka, Moody June Gin, Fitch’s Goat Moonshine and Whiskey. We go to Murphy’s steak house in Winchester after visiting Bone Spirits for a good meal, it’s the best food!
What about BJ Hooker’s Vodka? Made in Houston, Texas. Super Fun Tour. Their vodka is the best I have ever Tasted. BJ himself gave my group a tour and we could not stop laughing. Great people, Great vodka, Great time.
We only cover hyperlocal businesses originally based in Austin, but thanks for the tip!