Going to visit the Austin, Texas area? What to know where you should go for a drink? If you answered yes, then you must make the trip to Dripping Springs! Just west of Austin, Dripping Springs is known for being the home of some of the best booze makers in Texas. Dripping Springs - or “Drinking” Springs, haha - have distilleries, breweries, wineries and more. It is literally a treasure-trove for those who like to explore different drinks and venues.
We visited the Treaty Oak Distillery and it was the best way to experience Dripping Springs for the first time. My sister and I had so much fun. Treaty Oak Distillery is the perfect location to visit because their distillery has a lot to offer. Cocktails, spirits, food, games...this place has it all! It is the place to be if you want to grab a drink! You can see more of our trip to Treaty Oak on our Instagram highlight called "Dripping Springs."
Disclaimer: This post, Where to Drink in Dripping Springs, Tx - Treaty Oak Distillery is sponsored. As always, all opinions are my own.
About
During our tour at Treaty Oak, we learned that the distillery is named after a large Oak tree in downtown Austin. This tree is the last surviving member of the Council Oak, which is a grove of 14 trees that served as a sacred meeting place for Comanche and Tonkawa Tribes. In addition, this tree is where Stephen F. Austin signed a border agreement in the 1830s.
What we like the most about Treat Oak is their passion for sustainability! According to their website they “care so deeply about practicing sustainable processes that [they] hired a specialist, Jamie Biel, to assess operations from top to bottom in an effort to find ways to increase efficiency of water and energy usage, decrease waste and carbon footprint, and ensure responsible sourcing of our raw materials.”
What is Treaty Oak like in person?
When you get to their location you immediately notice the ranch-like vibe. They have picnic tables set up all around the property...under massive oaks trees (very ironic), by the bar and etcetera.
The tasting room was the first stop we made. Treaty Oak's guided tastings are designed to help you learn how to approach and appreciate wine and spirits. Each tasting includes a selection of 3 wines, or 6 of our spirits that are made onsite. We tried several different cocktails, made only with Treaty Oak Spirits, along with spirits.
The drink we tried, pictured below, is called "Pink Peppercorn Collins." It is made with Waterloo Gin. This was our favorite by far!
In addition to tasting their cocktails, we also did a gin and whiskey tasting! We tried multiple versions of their Bourbon Whiskey and Gin called Waterloo, which is named after the original name of Austin.
We loved the gin tasting the most. Treaty Oak bottles “Waterloo No.9 Gin at 94 proof to maximize the botanicals that are vapor infused during the distillation process. While paying homage to traditional dry gins with ingredients like juniper, coriander and anise, Waterloo No.9 builds in Hill Country flavor with pecans, lavender and grapefruit zest all harvested in Texas.”
You can see more of the tasting on our Instagram highlight called "Dripping Springs."
After the tasting, we took a tour of the production facility. During the tour, we got a welcome cocktail (which was delicious) and learned how their beers and sprits are made. Our guide, Shawn, was incredibly knowledgeable!! He knew all the science and personal stories behind the spirits. He knew tons of facts regarding the company too. Throughout the tour, Shawn happily answered all the questions we had and more. You can book a tour here.
We got pretty hungry after the tour so we went to grab a bite to eat at Treaty Oak’s onsite restaurant called Alice’s Restaurant. While Alice's serves up traditional BBQ meals like smoked brisket and pork spare ribs, you can also order vegan food. We were floored about the veggie options!
We were able to try roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, cucumber salad (no feta cheese), mixed green salad, and spicy nuts. These menu items are vegan and super tasty. We were both full and satisfied.
You can see more of the veggie options on our Instagram highlight called "Dripping Springs."
Final thoughts
We loved visiting Treaty Oak Distillery in Dripping Springs! Honestly, it was the best experience. We didn't have a chance to check out The Rickhouse on the Treaty Oak property, but will when we go back.
The Rickhouse is an open aired structure onsite. It has a bar, picnic tables and additional lounge areas for gathering and watching a game or two,
We highly recommend doing everything we did if you visit Treaty Oak. The tasting and tour, however, were the highlights for us.
Have you been to Dripping Springs? Let us know if you have and/or your thoughts in the comments.
Until Next Time,
Tay
“Your life is happening now. Make it amazing!”
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