Jalapeño-infused Tito’s Vodka with lemonade (Credit: Tito’s Vodka)
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
The bar at Deep Eddy Vodka’s Distillery and Tasting Room (Credit: 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
2250 E Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs, TX – Website
2/ Dripping Springs Distillery
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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!
5330 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs, TX – Website
3/ Banner Distilling Co.
Banner Distilling Co. distills its vodka in Manor, Texas (Credit: Tony Jimenez)
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.
13201 Jacobson Rd., Manor, TX – Website
4/ Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Credit: Tito’s Vodka
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete with 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.
5/ Goodnight Loving Vodka | Coming 2019
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Gary Crowell, founder of Deep Eddy Vodka, and businessman Tim Osburn have teamed up to create Goodnight Loving Vodka. The new brand is expected to hit shelves in early 2019.
Here’s what we know so far: Goodnight will be distilling liquor with Texas artesian spring water and will have a 3,000-square-foot tasting room located in west Austin. The tasting room will offer public tours and cocktail classes. Stay tuned!
Location TBA – Website
@dollarsaenz86 wants to know:
Want is your favorite Austin-area vodka?
The original version of this article was published March 19, 2015.
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