2019 Texas Whiskey Festival Winners Announced

Writer’s Note: I was a judge at the Texas Whiskey Festival, and the festival organizers covered my lodging costs.

Another year is in the books for the Texas Whiskey Festival, an event now having wrapped up its second outing that focuses up promoting whiskeys either distilled or bottled in that state. Texas, as we’ve highlighted in the past, is an emerging regional craft whiskey market that’s seeing a number of strong distilleries showcase their wares on the national scene, particularly in the bourbon category.

Judging the 2019 Texas Whiskey Festival (image copyright The Whiskey Wash)

I had the pleasure of being a judge for the festival once again, tasting through a fascinating mix of whiskeys during the event. There can only be so many winners per category, however, so presented to you below are those that won awards for 2019:

1. Bourbon Distilled Grain to Glass in Texas
   1. Ironroot Republic Harbinger
   2. Garrison Brothers Balmorhea
   3. Ranger Creek .36 Bourbon
2. Bourbon Bottled in Texas
   1. Oak and Eden Bourbon & Spire
   2. Ben Milam Single Barrel Bourbon
   3. Treaty Oak Red Handed Bourbon
3. Rye Whiskey
   1. Balcones Texas Rye 100 (Grain to Glass)
   2. Ben Milam Rye Whiskey (Bottled in Texas)
   3. Yellow Rose Distilling Rye Whiskey (Bottled in Texas)
4. Malt Whiskey
   1. Spirit of Texas Pfluger Single Malt
   2. Balcones Texas ‘1’ Single Malt
   3. Real Spirits Distilling Signature Whiskey
5. Whiskey Distilled Grain to Glass in Texas
   1. Balcones True Blue 100
   2. Andalusia Whiskey Co. Stryker
   3. Real Spirits Distilling Double Barrel Whiskey
6. Whiskey Bottled in Texas
   1. Oak and Eden Cabernet Steeped
   2. Dripping Springs Distilling Republic Whiskey
   3. Austonian Spirits Austonian Whiskey
7. Peoples Choice Award
   1. Garrison Brothers Distillery
   2. Ironroot Republic Distilling
   3. Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery