History of the Texas Whiskey Trail

A road to the people behind the whiskey

The Texas Whiskey Trail grew from a simple invitation: come see where Texas whiskey is made. Distillery visits could give people something a label alone could not: a chance to meet the makers, see the equipment and barrel rooms, and discover the towns and landscapes that shape their work.

The Association comes first

The groundwork began with the formation of the Texas Whiskey Association in 2018. Its members shared a commitment to consumer education and whiskey made in Texas. The Trail became a way to bring that mission to life, connecting distilleries through a visitor experience that could reach across a very large state.

Membership presales began in January 2019, and the Trail launched over Memorial Day weekend that May. From the beginning, its appeal was personal: visitors could learn directly from the people making the whiskey and discover how differently those makers approached their craft.

Building a statewide journey

The early Trail was organized into regional routes, making it possible to plan a weekend close to home or a longer journey across Texas. Contemporary coverage described North Texas, Hill Country, and Gulf Coast routes. The original membership program used distillery check-ins, points, and rewards, alongside opportunities for special tours, events, and releases.

Education was central to the experience. Texas Highways reported that participating distilleries produced at least one whiskey qualifying for the Certified Texas Whiskey mark. That connection helped visitors understand the Association's standard and ask informed questions about what they tasted.

The certification identifies qualifying whiskey mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in Texas. It is a voluntary industry program, and it applies to individual qualifying expressions. A distillery may offer other products as well. That distinction makes a visit an opportunity to explore the full range of a maker's work while understanding each bottle's origins.

Sharing the stories farther afield

In September 2024, the Trail's story reached listeners through GO TEXAN Explores: Texas Whiskey Trail. The Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Whiskey Association launched the podcast at a State Fair of Texas preview event on September 26.

Hosted by Mando Rayo, the six-episode series explored distilleries and the people behind them, highlighting connections between whiskey making and Texas agriculture. The launch accompanied Texas Whiskey Hour at the GO TEXAN Pavilion, bringing the Trail's makers and stories to fair visitors as well as podcast audiences.

The journey today

Today's Trail guide helps visitors explore North Texas, South Texas, and the Hill Country, with West Texas identified as a future addition. Distillery profiles, maker interviews, newsletters, and tasting features offer ways to learn before a trip and keep exploring afterward.

The invitation remains much the same as it was in 2019: choose a region, make time for the places along the way, and get to know the people creating Texas whiskey. Check each distillery's current hours and tour arrangements before traveling, plan safe transportation, and enjoy the Trail responsibly.

Explore the regions. · Meet the makers. · Learn about Certified Texas Whiskey.