The 2023 Texas Whiskey Festival marked the 6th annual celebration of the Lone Star State’s booming craft whiskey scene, held on April 22 at the picturesque Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave near Austin. Founded in 2017 by whiskey enthusiast Jake Clements with its debut event in 2018 featuring just 11 distilleries, the festival has grown into the South’s premier showcase for Texas-made spirits, drawing over 35 distilleries and thousands of fans to sip more than 100 bourbons, ryes, single malts, and innovative finishes amid food trucks, cigar pairings, live music, and Hill Country charm.
The highlight? A blind-judged competition awarding coveted belt buckles across categories like grain-to-glass and aged-in-Texas whiskeys, with standouts including Silver Star’s Gold for their 1849 Bourbon in Grain-to-Glass Bourbon, Andalusia Whiskey Co.’s accolades in single malts, and innovative pours like Giant Texas Distillery’s sweet vermouth-finished collaborations stealing the show. Attendees voted for a People’s Choice favorite, proving once again that Texas whiskey is bold, diverse, and downright delicious—perfect for newcomers and connoisseurs raising a glass to the state’s grain-to-glass magic!
2023 Texas Whiskey Festival Results
Bourbon: Grain to Glass
Gold – Silver Star Spirits – 1849 Straight Bourbon
Silver – Balcones Distilling – Blue Corn Bourbon finished in Wine Casks
Bronze – Yellow Rose Distilling – Harris County Bourbon
Bourbon: Aged and Bottled in Texas
Gold – Treaty Oak Distilling – 16 Year Tennessee Whiskey
Silver – Oak & Eden – Anthro Series: Forrie J Smith
Bronze – Dime Box Distilling – Single Barrel 6yr Sixth Street Bourbon
Rye Whiskey: Grain to Glass
Gold – Balcones Distilling – Texas Rye Bottled in Bond
Silver – Giant Texas Distillers – Cask Strength Rye
Bronze – Shire Distilling – Rye Whiskey
Rye Whiskey: Aged and Bottled in Texas
Gold – Blackland Distilling – Rye Whiskey
Silver – Old Humble Distilling – Double OakStraight Rye Whiskey
Bronze – Yellow Rose Distilling – Rye Whiskey
Malt Whiskey: Grain to Glass
Gold – Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co. – Single Mom Single Malt
Silver – Andalusia Whiskey Co. – Bottled in Bond Single Malt
Bronze – William Price Distilling – Single Malt Sherry Finished.
Flavored Whiskeys
Gold – Blackland Distilling – Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon
Silver – Treaty Oak Distilling – Old Fashioned Cocktail
Bronze – Silver Star Spirits – Texas Honey
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