Bourbon Made in Texas
Bourbon is the only official spirit of the United States and has been for almost 60 years. While 95% of bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, that doesn’t stop Texas from putting its hat in the ring and producing some of the best Texan bourbons. So what are you waiting for? Give one of these award-winning Texan bourbon whiskeys a try.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Due to the large number of Texas products out there, I have not had the pleasure of sampling all the products on this page (yet!).
Single Barrel Bourbon Made in Hye, Texas
Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon 750ml - $99.99
from: Nestor Liquor
There was bourbon made in Kentucky, bourbon made in Tennesse, and then there was Garrison Brothers. Acquiring the first distillery permit in Texas, Garrison Brothers was established as the first Texas bourbon distillery in 2006 in Hye, Texas. The first bourbon release was on Texas Independence Day in 2010 and is now available in 42 states across the United States.
The Single Barrel Bourbon is 74% white corn from the Texas panhandle, 15% red wheat, and 11% Canadian malted barley. Aged using custom barrels with thick staves for a minimum of four years, this smooth whiskey has sweet notes. This bourbon won a Silver Medal at the 2020 and 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was awarded 93 points at the San Diego International Spirits Challenge in 2021.
Straight Bourbon Made in Waco, Texas
 | $ 29.99 |
| Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon Whiskey - 750ml Bottle | |
Balcones Distilling opened in 2008 in Waco, Texas, and started distilling in 2009. In 2014, operations shifted to a four-floor, 65,000-square foot facility, complete with two wash stills and two spirit stills from Scotland. Balcones has won numerous awards, including NY International Spirits TX Distillery of the Year, Grand American Whiskey Master awards, Icons of Whiskey Producer and Distiller of the Year, and more.
The Pot Still Bourbon is the fourth bourbon released from Balcones. It is made with blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye, and malted barley using a traditional pot distillation. It is then aged two years in charred oak barrels.
Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Made in Blanco, Texas
 | $ 46.99 |
| Milam & Greene Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 750ml Bottle | |
One of the few women-owned whiskey distilleries, Milam & Greene was founded in Blanco, Texas by Marsha Milam and Heather Greene in 2017. An independently-owned distillery, Milam & Greene uses a proprietary yeast recipe to produce their three whiskies, which up until 2020 were only available in the great state of Texas.
The Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled using a copper pot still and aged for two years. Crafted with 70% corn, 22% rye, and 8% barley, this bourbon is mixed with two Tennessee whiskies to create its signature taste. Loved by critics, the Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey received a Wine Enthusiast rating of 93.
Bourbon Made in San Antonio, Texas
Ranger Creek was founded in 2010 in San Antonio, Texas, as the first-ever Texas “brewstillery” – a distillery and a brewery in one. The brand got its name from Ranger Creek Road in Boerne and proudly displays its Texas pride by naming its different tanks after the Texas Rangers.
To speed up the aging process, Ranger Creek’s flagship .36 Texas Straight Bourbon is produced in casks smaller than 700L as part of the “Small Caliber Series.” .36 Texas Straight Bourbon is named after the .36 caliber pistol and has won American Craft Spirits Gold in 2015 and American Craft Spirits Silver in 2017.
Bourbon Made in Liberty Hill, Texas
Liberty Hill, a small town 45 minutes from Austin, is the home of Fire Oak Distillery. Founded in 2013, Fire Oak did not release its Texas Bourbon until 2017. It was well worth the wait, though. The bourbon has won gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Washington Cup Spirits Competition and a silver medal at the Tastings competition put on by tastings.com.
The mash bill for Texas Bourbon is made with 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. Distilled in copper stills and aged in new American oak barrels for two years or more, the result is a caramel-tasting bourbon with a hint of vanilla.
Bourbon Made in College Station, Texas
Rio Brazos was the first distillery in College Station, Texas, established in 2013 by Nathan and Wade Barkman. To create a fuller body, Rio Brazos chooses to pot distill their whiskey as opposed to column distilling like most micro-distilleries in the state. Even though the brand is in high demand, supply is limited, and each year the distillery only produces 2,000 cases.
The Rio Brazos Texas Bourbon is made from corn, rye, and barley. It is twice-distilled in small batches before being aged in white American oak barrels. The bill is comprised of 81% sweet corn and 19% malted barley, each ingredient sourced from local Texas farms.