A new Austin distillery is open! Fierce Whiskers Distillery invited me for a complimentary tour and tasting, and I’m excited to tell you about my experience.
Located in Southeast Austin about 15 minutes from downtown is Austin’s newest destination distillery. If you’re looking for the setting of the hill country but the proximity of Austin, you’ll find Fierce Whiskers Distillery is the perfect solution. Keep reading to learn more!
Fierce Whiskers Distillery
The distillery’s name comes from an 1849 quote by the 19th U.S. President Rutherford B Hayes: “Austin is an inconsiderable village with large expectations…full of discharged ‘Rangers’…costumes of every variety…Fierce whiskers, gaming, and drinking very abounding in all quarters.”
If you’re an Austinite, you’ll feel the truth to that quote. We’re proud to be weird, we aim to be unique, and we’re a city filled with ambition. Co-founders Tri Vo and Tim Penney were inspired to open this distillery by the love of the craft and the desire to do things differently in an industry steeped with tradition.
Their focus on sustainability is a way to bring more integrity to the whiskey. Sustainability is not simply an impressive footnote; both founders work in the energy industry. Reducing waste and following a regenerative system are no-brainers for Fierce Whiskers, as it should be in all companies. You’ll see examples all over, from the wind vents in the rickhouse for climate control to the sourcing and reusing of ingredients.
Fierce Whiskers wants people to recognize Austin as a birthplace for premium whiskey. Tennessee and Kentucky have the history, but Austin has the future. It’s primed to be true with the number of distilleries in the area, especially with Fierce Whiskers driving quality.
The first batches of straight rye and straight bourbon whiskey were distilled in September 2020 with the goal to release the rye in 2023 and whiskey in 2024. Good things come to those who wait, right?
A Scenic Destination in Austin
After driving through an industrial area, you’ll pull into the Fierce Whiskers Distillery parking lot and immediately see this photo-worthy exterior. The bright white main building and the four-story rickhouse are the focal points from the parking lot.
The four-story rickhouse is incredible! Rows and rows of barrels and empty spaces that will soon be filled with barrels are what you’ll see when you go on a tour. You might even spot a Rutherford B. Hayes face on the 100th barrels.
The main white building is where you’ll find the tasting room and production room. The tasting room is an interior design dream. One side of the tasting room features large doors that open up to the patio and the tall, white drapes give an elegant feel. It’s the most beautiful tasting room I’ve seen in Austin!
There is additional seating on the patio, which provides a scenic view of the expansive six-acre property.
If you’re interested, you can book a tour ($15) to see their production facility and go into the rickhouse.
Cocktails in the Distillery Tasting Room
This distillery has been in the works since 2015 and recently opened the tasting room in September. Various early-stage liquors such as new-make whiskey, gin, rum, and agave spirits are available as they age their goal product. Their cocktail menu is a lot of fun and has something for everyone to enjoy. (Yes, even non-alcoholic cocktails!)
Choose from their list of classic cocktails by spirit or the seasonal signature cocktail list. Here are two of the delicious cocktails we enjoyed.
The New Republic is a rum and rye milk-clarified punch. It’s in a custom ceramic cup handmade by local Austin’s Soul Matter Studio. This is a fun way to feature local artists and give the cocktail some extra flair.
The Gambler is made with agave spirit, gin, stone fruit shrub, champagne acid, and sparkling water.
There isn’t a cocktail menu online, but they have more than 20 cocktails on the menu that range from $8-12 each.
Food Truck: CHAR ATX
You’ll want to come hungry too. CHAR ATX is the permanent food truck at Fierce Whiskers. This food truck serves chargrilled Texas yakitori (Japanese skewered meat), and the trailer is set up well with a unique, open grilling area on one side of the truck.
We opted for the omakase meal to be able to try many dishes. (Off menu item, so ask for it!) It was definitely the right decision. Our meal consisted of grilled chicken, beef, tomato, cabbage, mushroom, pork belly, and bacon shishitos with pickled vegetables on the side. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I think it was the pork belly!
CHAR ATX is a big win for a tasty experience at Fierce Whiskers, so come ready for food and drinks!
Plan Your Visit
Fierce Whiskers Distillery and CHAR ATX are great additions to Austin! It’s the place to visit for a leisurely weekend afternoon and you’ll want to keep an eye out for their future whiskey releases. Until then, enjoy their tasting room!
Fierce Whiskers Distillery
5333 Fleming Ct, Austin, TX 78744
https://www.fiercewhiskers.com/
P.S. Looking for more ways to explore Austin? This page has lots of ideas!
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