Texas Whiskeys BYOB (Course #214)

Leaning into the idea that everything is bigger in the Lone Star state, Texas Monthly reports that over 100 spirits distilleries are located throughout the state, though the first legal distillery opened less than twenty years ago.

Texas craft whiskey growth has the climate to thank. To qualify as a bourbon, the alcohol must age in new, charred oak barrels. The longer the liquor stays in the barrel, the more complex and flavorful it becomes. In states like Kentucky, bourbon typically ages at least four years.

Texas achieves the same results in half the time. The hot, dry climate, with extremely high temperatures throughout the year, is essential to the growing success of Texas bourbon. When temperatures rise, the alcohol in the barrel expands; when they fall, it contracts. This continuous barrel contact intensifies bourbon's flavor, color, and character.

Vinepair adds that Texas is the country's second-largest alcohol market. High-volume sales and built-in loyalty (re: Texans' fierce sense of state pride) make producing Texas whiskey a home run. Texas distilleries have taken a firmly planted seat at the whiskey table, creating bold bourbon whiskey expressions.

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