For those of you who have decided that it’s time to give Texas whiskey a real chance, this is a guide to the ultimate whiskey pilgrimage: Texas Hill Country. This is the Texan Napa Valley. This is where the best wine, beer, and for the most part, the best whiskey comes from. In the mid-19th century, this area was primarily settled by German, Swiss, and Czech immigrants. These old-world European roots, in concert with some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere, have created an entrepreneurial microculture that’s incredible to experience.
Upon arriving in Austin, the first spot on the radar is one of the newest additions to the Texas whiskey scene, Fierce Whiskers Distillery, in the southeast of the city. It was founded by high school friends Tri Vo and Tim Penney, who purchased six acres of land near the airport to open Austin’s second licensed distillery. Construction began in 2018, and the first barrel of whiskey was filled in October 2020.
The tasting room is stunning, bright and open with sprawling patios that transition into a green space and then into a disc golf course. This place couldn’t be more ‘Austin’. And smack dab in the middle of the fifth hole
