Briggs Distilling Opens in Texas Hill Country With Rainwater Whiskey and Room for Families

A new distillery in Driftwood, Texas, is pairing whiskey made with Hill Country rainwater with live music, a food truck and a place for children to play.

Briggs Distilling Co. marked its grand opening October 17 at 121 Brownson Lane, bringing a 9,000-square-foot venue to land owned by the Briggs family. The business is designed for visitors to spend an afternoon, with outdoor gathering areas and weekend entertainment alongside its whiskey operation.

A family project with experienced hands

Founded by R.S. Briggs, the company draws on the family’s more than two decades in the Hill Country. Bailey Briggs leads marketing, while Jason Kowalkowski oversees operations.

The leadership team also includes Davis Tucker, founder of Austin’s North by Northwest restaurant and brewery, as president. Head distiller Colton Weinstein previously spent nearly a decade leading distilling at Corsair and later co-founded Liba Spirits and Trovador Rum.

According to the company’s account of its beginnings, barrels are selected, blended and finished at the Driftwood facility, where the whiskey is also bottled.

What visitors can try

The opening lineup includes Straight Rye Whiskey, Heritage Reserve Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon. Briggs says its whiskey uses Texas Hill Country rainwater.

Opening prices reported by CultureMap Austin include $10 individual tastings, $15 flights and cocktails ranging from $10 to $14. Bottles are available to purchase on-site.

The drinks menu also makes room for visitors who are not drinking alcohol, with mocktails, sodas, ginger beer and coffee from nearby Sonder Coffee Lounge. An on-site food truck, a treehouse-inspired children’s area and dog-friendly amenities round out the property. Live music is planned for Fridays and Saturdays.

The combination gives mixed groups several ways to use the space: a whiskey tasting for some, food and a nonalcoholic drink for others, with room to stay for a performance.

Briggs is open 4–10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. Current hours and updates are available through Briggs Distilling Co..