So we landed in Austin in the middle of the afternoon and were headed up to Waco around 4 pm the next day. So the question was what to do and how to prioritize? Luckily, we have friends in the area who know their way around and how to avoid the tourist traps.
We started at Skull Mechanix Brewery and I gotta say, damn good. I was surprised by the eclectic vibe, wild décor and the open jovialness of the place because with a name like that I was totally expecting a roughneck, biker bar theme. Nope! I mean they have a gigantic skull up top that I am pretty sure serves as a disco ball when bands are playing, which by the way they have heavy metal bands. It's a confusing yet totally infectious type of fun. The beers, which I am not usually into were really, really good and each vastly different from the next. They have actual English bitter beers, German, Vienna, Japanese, the list goes on. Each is unique and quite tasty. They also have a Korean food truck out front that will totally light your palate up. I recommend the spicy edamame. We wanted the wings but they were sold out so obviously those are a big hit. But the best part, you can bring your dog in and they are set up for it with extra water bowls available. It was a highlight as I got to meet a gorgeous great Dane who came in with her owner.
Our next stop was at Still Austin Whiskey. We each had a flight which consisted of their Texas Rye Gin, New Make (the distillate), High Rye Bourbon Batch 1, and Batch 2 plus I added their coffee liquor to my flight. I took some notes on the tasting and we all had fun because our friend, Jef had not done this type of tasting before (he's a beer aficionado and beer master). We each came away with a few different notes and flavors. I'll list those below but, for me, Still needs to leave their bourbon babies in the barrels a little longer as they were each a bit too young and rough.
Gin - It's vastly different, in my opinion, because of the rye. You get your standard notes and flavors but there are more layers with citrus, elderflower and a finish of blueberry. It starts off with heavy notes of spice then migrates to a soft warming and ends with a bitterness that really catches you off guard.
New Make - is exactly what you expect. It's naked. It's hot yet what shocks your senses and leaves your mind a bit confused is the peanut butter notes. It smells like fresh ground peanut or cashew butter that you would get if you made it yourself. Jef came away with buttery popcorn and Vince said he got all heads and tails with nothing in the middle.
High Rye Bourbon Batch 1 - this was the best one to me although yeah, it's a baby that is out of the pouch too early. It is a spicy maple intro and a bitter finish. A little water added brought forth a sweeter note and a full-on yeast coating of the tongue. I felt like I had just been served a sour mash bill that I could not get off my tongue. Vince and Jef both came away with maple syrup and caramel.
High Rye Bourbon Batch 2 - This is a funky one. It's like an uncouth younger brother who is loud. It was astringent and flat, lacking flavor according to Vince and Jef. For me, it was a prune juice front that smelled like over-brewed tea. It was funky, lacked sophistication and there was no seduction of the palate to be had. Definitely the wild one of the bunch.
Coffee Liquor - get in a cocktail, never straight. It's all thick syrup and sugar. Now if I were putting it in my coffee or a cocktail I am positive I would have enjoyed it but, straight it is just too much.
So, we wrapped the night next door at St. Elmo's Brewery. My surprise was walking in and seeing a Balcones Barrel (I'll talk more about this place in a different post). I still don't know what they were cooking up with that. I'm guessing it is going to be a bit of a wild ride though. The beers were good and the venue felt small and cozy. It's not massive inside but they do have a really large outdoor space. My favorite was the Dolly. The beers were good but not as individual as they were at Skull Mechanix Brewery. I would say St. Elmo's is focused on mastering a specific range and master it they have.
Now it would not be a complete 24 hours if I didn't add in some coffee, right? So I headed out the next morning to find a few more spots to check out. My first stop was a coffee shop, another recommendation from Jef who is the guru of all good things Austin. Thunderbird Coffee on Manor Rd was my intended destination. They have two locations but I was not quite ready for a taproom this early in the morning. My plan was to stop in, grab a cup, sit for a few minutes then head out. I stayed for over an hour! The coffee was good, décor eclectic and the vibe was on point. It made the creative juices flow so I sat down and started cranking out some writing while enjoying the hum and buzz of all the people coming and going. It is definitely a neighborhood spot located in the center of several restaurants and not too far from Oracle's campus.
When I finally got up and headed out I made my way out to what the locals call "hill country" and man they are not kidding. It was like driving a rollercoaster. I may have made a few Goofy noises as I went up and down a few before finally landing at Proof & Cooper. It's small, looks Mediterranean in the middle of Texas and completely worth the drive, hills and all. The area is stunning and looks absolutely nothing like the rest of Texas. It's a jewel; the food is fresh, authentic and oh so good. The whiskey and bourbon selection for such a spot was surprising. My recommendation is a local option, Sweetheart of the Rodeo by the Kooper Family. It goes good with everything, especially the chicken sandwich and the fried okra. Now y'all, I have not had fried okra like this since my Tennessee days. It was perfectly fried; moist and flavorful on the inside, crispy and just the right amount of breading that encased but did not overwhelm the okra. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
My last stop before heading out of the Austin area was a young distillery, Treaty Oak. The space is great, the staff is super fun and friendly. They outsource the production of some of their products to Heaven Hill and Schenely Distilleries. I had a flight of four and my notes are below.
Waterloo Old Yaupon Gin - this was quite intriguing as it is not a straight gin like you expect but an experimentation of flavor. It is citrusy, very heavy on the lemon peel and golden in color as opposed to a clear gin. Very different and would make a great lemon drop cocktail.
Red Handed Bourbon - aged two years and distilled at Heavens Hill distillery. The notes were woodsy, spicy, nutty, and basil or bell pepper. I could not be sure. It had a beautiful color but a bit rough on the finish; could have used more time in the cask.
Ghost Hill Bourbon - They distill this one in house and it was a better reflection of who they are. It tasted more like a rye (I kept questioning if they had this one in the wrong spot on my flight board). It was deep in color, a rich amber. It had notes of earl grey tea, lightly brewed, and freshly toasted rye bread. It was delicious but again, a tad early to be out of the cask in my opinion.
Red Handed Rye - This one is distilled in Canada at Schenely Distillery (owned by Diageo). It is aged ten years in second use barrels (they don't tell you what type). It burns everything. It burned the nose, the throat, the eyes. I had to let it sit for a bit before trying again. It wafts like sweet corn, not rye, and the flavors were as soft as the color. There was a lot of heat to it that I did not expect. It was very confusing because this glass tasted like I expected a young bourbon too.
Treaty Oak was interesting in that it has a lot of space, they house a restaurant that is open Thurs - Sat. along with event space. On the day of my visit, they were photographing their cocktails and bottles. I suspect that my flight was mixed up due to all the commotion. It is a small staff who are doing multiple duties, including the poop scoop to keep up with the two dogs who are onsite daily (super sweet by the way). They are a fun bunch but I would say their product is on the market a bit early and needs more time in the barrels.
There were several more places to visit in Austin but, due to time, I will have to save those for another trip. Austin, it turns out is a distillery mecca in Texas. If you are going, do a google search and map them out, know that the airport is small but packed with goodness, bring a reusable coffee tumbler and extra space in your suitcase because I am pretty sure you are going to want to take some bottles or cans home. Just saying!
#whiskey #whisky #bourbon #TreatyOak #proofandcooper #thunderbirdcoffee #skullmechanixbrewery #stelmosbrewery #stillaustinwhisky #austin
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