It started with a cupcake, and my life has never been the same.

When the cupcake craze hit the U.S. and cupcake shops were opening left and right, I became semi-obsessed with this sweet treat. Austin had its own surge of cupcake shop openings, and I had to try every single one. I loved dessert and pastries, but with a cupcake, I loved how bakers infused creativity into this seemingly simple and small cake. It was too easy to have the usual combinations of vanilla and chocolate. Now there was cookie dough, peanut butter, crumbled chocolate cookies, and fresh strawberries added into these few bites.

Being a part of Yelp and now, the Austin Food Blogger Alliance encouraged this food obsession. I dove into trying new-to-me restaurants, cuisines, and dishes constantly and was insatiable in discovering and experiencing. From a restaurant owner’s inspiration to open a restaurant to the explosion of flavors in a well-crafted dish, food continues to fascinate me with the ways it sparks joy on my tongue and in my brain.

We all have those things we’re passionate about or are interested in. They consume our thoughts and our free time, and if we’re lucky, we can share our passion with others.

What are you passionate about?

Cocktail Class at Treaty Oak Distilling

It’s this passion for learning about food and drinks that made me say an excited ‘yes’ to Treaty Oak Distilling‘s invite to a cocktail class at their Cocktail Lab. (You might remember my visit a few months prior.)

In practicing what they preach – “pursuit of the curious” – Treaty Oak Distilling hosted author Aaron Goldfarb for a special presentation about his new book “Hacking Whiskey.” In the book, Goldfarb is like a mad scientist and inspired artist, infusing things like brisket and smoke into whiskey cocktails. His creations enhance whiskey and challenge people to get creative and have fun with their drinks. In addition to recipes, “Hacking Whiskey” includes general knowledge and tips.

Whiskey isn’t my go-to spirit but I do like cocktails and learning. It’s easy to take a sip of whiskey and declare I’ll never like it but mixed with different ingredients, I might be the presentation I didn’t like, not the whiskey. There were cocktails in the class on the strong side for me, but there were also ones that I can see myself ordering again and again. I was a little surprised by that but I’ve learned that putting your preferences in a box can hinder your experiences.

Our cocktail class presented four different recipes from “Hacking Whiskey,” each customized by Treaty Oak Distilling. We enjoyed The Julius (inspired by an Orange Julius), the Brisketini (yes, with brisket-infused whiskey), Death & Taxes (infused with cigar smoke), and the Milk Punch (my favorite). Each cocktail was thoughtfully crafted, sure to give you a satisfied reaction after taking a sip and tasting how well the flavors went together.

Treaty Oak Distilling’s products are impressive to me already, especially the gin. This opportunity to “play” with whiskey illustrates the company’s desire to shake up the industry and encourage people to go beyond what they know and have experienced. If you’re curious about this, be sure to look out for future cocktail experiences in their Cocktail Lab.

5 Ways to be Passionately Curious

I encourage you to find something you’re passionate about in life. Start a quest and explore your curiosity! Here are five ways to fuel your passion:

1. Challenge Yourself

Everyone starts somewhere. My passion for food was fostered by going to restaurants and trying new cuisines. I begin to find out what I did and didn’t like and learned about traditions and cultures. Keep an open mind and be willing to try and learn new things. You might find yourself at a whiskey cocktail class with some new favorite cocktails.

2. Take on a Challenge

It’s good to have goals in place. Growing my foodie knowledge meant visiting a certain number of restaurants every month or cooking through a cookbook. With a specific goal in mind, you’re more likely to find opportunities to challenge yourself.

3. Find Supporters

I love meeting up with fellow food bloggers and going out to eat with my fiancé because they love food as much as I do. We’re adventurous in trying new dishes and we revel in a great dining experience. Find people with whom you can share tips, learn, and geek out.

4. Read Books and Watch Shows/Movies

There is a wealth of information out there and it’s easily accessible, thanks to e-books and streaming services. In addition to my new “Hacking Whiskey” book, I’ve collected a few food-focused books and gravitate towards books and shows about food.

For foodie media, I love “The Third Plate” by Dan Barber, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan, and am currently reading “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” by Barbara Kingsolver. I’ve also been working my way through the books “Wine Folly” and “The Beer Bible” to learn more about the history and types of wine and beer, respectively. For shows, I like “Parts Unknown,” “Chef’s Table,” “Ugly Delicious,” and “Salt, Heat, Fat, Acid,” which are all on Netflix.

5. Take a Class

Learn from the experts. If you’re interested in a subject, why not invest your time and money into it? In a class, you’ll be able to ask questions and get hands-on experience. You’re also likely to be in a class with people who are interested in the subject as you are! [I’ve got a big list of creative classes in Austin you should check out.]

What are you passionate about and how do you stay curious about it?

P.S. Want to hear more foodie adventures? I have a thing for craft chocolate, I also like craft beer, and I’m on a year-long local eating challenge this year.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Being Passionately Curious + Cocktail Class at Treaty Oak Distilling appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Disclosure: Treaty Oak Distilling invited me to their ranch for a tour and to try their drinks and food, all complimentary to me. All opinions in this post are my own.

There comes a time when you finally stop and consider what you’re eating and drinking. We all have that cocktail we started with to get the job done. Then, we grow up and it becomes less about sustenance and how it makes you feel and more about how it tastes and how it was created. For me, I found a love for gin and its botanicals.

Treaty Oak Distilling created a line of gins that stand out from the rest, and I was lucky to visit their ranch to learn more. Keep reading to hear all about my visit!

Waterloo Gin

Let me first introduce you to Waterloo Gin, Treaty Oak’s gin brand. They currently have three distinct gins that will be the stars of your bar cart. What sets them apart are the unique flavors and the quality. The distillery focuses on using local ingredients to create their spirits, from Texas limestone filtered water to the sourced botanicals.

The signature gin, Waterloo No.9, has proved its brilliance, winning awards in various gin competitions. The botanicals of lavender, juniper, coriander, anise, ginger, pecan, orange, lemon, and grapefruit zest will surely enhance a martini or gin and tonic.

The longest-aged gin on the market, Waterloo Antique Gin has the power to turn whiskey and bourbon lovers into gin drinkers. Barreling the gin in American White Oak barrels gives it the rich color and depth in flavor. Try the Antique Gin in the gin spin of a Manhattan – the Martinez.

The game-changer for me was the Waterloo Old Yaupon. It’s a unique take on an Old Tom Gin, featuring botanicals like Yaupon Holly, Juniper, Kaffir Lime and Anise, which are back-sweetened with Wildflower Honey. The result is a gin with tea notes, giving cocktails like a Tom Collins or Bee’s Knees, a subtle twist.

Treaty Oak Distilling – Distilling Gin and Whiskey

Not new to the industry, Treaty Oak Distilling was founded in 2006 has been doing some soul-searching to re-do their branding. The end product is beautiful and a true representation of what they believe in and produce. In working with a marketing company, they’ve adopted elements that help tell their story better and convey their focus on innovation and quality of ingredients.

Hanzoku is a Japanese word translated to rebel or resistance to convention, and you’ll see it on their bottles. It embodies Treaty Oak’s desire to pay tribute to the traditions of distilling but also bring new ideas to their products. This is best represented by the unique tastes of their products but is followed through by the shape of their bottle and the design on the glass. I love the simple yet powerful strike of color that makes the bottles elegant yet fun.

If you are familiar with the brand, they also produced rum, vodka, and beer, but they’ve dialed back their production to focus on their gin and whiskey. Maybe one day they’ll be added back into the mix, but for now, Treaty Oak is on the way to win over gin and whiskey drinkers across the country through their partnership with Mahalo Spirits Group.

If you prefer whiskey, be sure to check out their whiskey line that includes Red Handed Bourbon Whiskey (sourced bourbons re-barreled), Red Handed Rye Whiskey (sourced bourbons re-barreled and aged 10 years), and Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon Whiskey (grain to glass local whiskey aged four years).

The Cocktail Lab

One of the reasons we were invited to visit the ranch was to experience The Cocktail Lab, the distillery’s new speakeasy lounge. This reservation and first-come, first-served private space will hold about 40 guests and feature a craft cocktail and food pairing menu. What I love is this lounge will focus on science, the art of cocktails, and creativity. It’s perfect for adventurous foodies who want to explore new flavors. I can see The Cocktail Lab as a fun activity for a celebration, like booking the space for a birthday. Keep an eye out – this space will be opening very soon and you don’t want to miss these cocktails.

Touring the Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch

This sprawling 28-acre ranch in Dripping Springs is nothing like Austin in terms of space. There’s plenty of it plus free parking. But the contagious energy of entrepreneurship, the pride in its culinary endeavors, and the ideals of perfecting a craft are also things that vibrate through Austin.

When you visit, you’ll need to grab a drink in the Rickhouse Bar, where the cocktails are simply delicious. Here you’ll also find plenty of shaded seating.

Next door is the tasting area where you can sample the gin and whiskey. Peek inside the distillery where the action happens! Next to the distillery is the barrel building, where gin and whiskey are cocooning towards its final transformation.

They’re making some changes to the ranch in the next few months, including remodeling the tasting room and restaurant, so look forward to a beautiful new presentation soon. If you’re doing a spirits tour in the Hill Country, this should definitely be a stop!

Ghost Hill Restaurant

Last but not least, there’s food! Focused on Texas-inspired cuisine, Ghost Hill Restaurant is led by Chef Chris Andrews and the menu is full of barbecue! All the favorite meats are available – brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, sausage – plus, we were lucky to try the new beef belly sandwich that is coming to the menu. It was the best thing I ate there! Also, check out the daily specials since they are always testing new recipes.

You’ve probably had sweeter quick bread like banana bread, but I could eat this dill quick bread every day!

On the sweet side, the Rosemary Cake with bourbon fig chutney and brown butter whipped cream was a delightful ending.

Another feature I’m impressed by is the commitment to sustainability. They currently use compostable and biodegradable products, among other practices. One day, they hope to produce much of their ingredients on the land and support regenerative agriculture.

Conclusion

It’s clear to see there are a lot of exciting things happening at Treaty Oak Distilling. Soon it will be exciting to see people outside of Texas embrace our secret. If you’re in Texas and haven’t tried Treaty Oak’s products, check your local liquor store!

Location: 16604 Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Hours: Thursday and Friday 4-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-6pm
Tours: Saturdays, 1-6pm at the top of the hour; 45-minute tours for $15 per person
Treaty Oak Distilling Website | Waterloo Gin Website | Instagram | Facebook

I’m curious – what’s your go-to cocktail?

P.S. While you’re out there, maybe you should visit Hamilton Pool.

Always on an adventure! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post How Treaty Oak Distilling Will Challenge Everything You Know About Gin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.