You ain't gotta live out in the boonies to guzzle down some of that good ol' white lightning.
Attention all local boozehounds and dipsomaniacs: call off your searches, shut down your sketchy distillery in Jeb's backyard, and prepare your livers. It's time to hit the streets of Austin for some tall glasses of the hard stuff. Bathtub gin. Firewater. Rotgut. Call it whatever you'd like but moonshine is moonshine and moonshine is awesome. Despite popular belief, Austin is home to a select group of bars and speakeasies that offer special batches of the good stuff. Look no further; here are five of the coolest spots in town to drink some of that home brew.
Contributed By Ryan Ricks
Photo Credit: The Hightower Facebook
1209 E 7th St.
Specializing in new Texan cuisine and savory cocktails, The Hightower is one of Austin's coolest new drinking hangouts. Spacious and cozy, The Hightower offers gourmet food and drink in a casual, no B.S. environment. With an extensive array of spirits including bourbon, whiskey, vodka, tequila, and more, The Hightower keeps the grain flowing. Oh, and of course, the bar offers a select and exclusive batch of moonshine, sometimes pairing the alcohol with a build your own Bloody Mary station.
Photo Credit: www.MoonshineGrill.com
303 Red River St.
Obviously, we couldn't forget about Moonshine Patio for this list. Like its name suggests, this friendly-neighborhood bar specializes in good ol' moonshine and other spirits. Comfortable and relaxed, but also sprinkled with a dash of swank, Moonshine is something of an ideal watering hole. The menu offers an array of great cocktails but the Blind Mule stands out as a favorite, a potent blend of moonshine, lime juice, and ginger beer. It's stout, but refreshing drink that would make ol' Will Faulkner proud. Head to Moonshine Patio for some boozin'.
Photo Credit: Freedmen's Facebook
2402 San Gabriel St.
Laid-back and retro, Freedmen's is a saloon style watering hole that specializes in smoked meats, whiskeys, and of course, moonshine. With its rustic, vintage-inspired aesthetic and its extensive beer and liquor selection, Freedmen's is one of Austin's coolest and most atmospheric places to drink. The bar, as you may have guessed, offers a wide and impressive array of spirits from bourbon to tequila to moonshine. The bartenders are friendly and jovial, always eager to pour you a stout glass of whichever poison that you prefer. Freedmen's is like a flashback to the wild west where the vast rivers of moonshine flowed ceaselessly on and on.
Photo Credit: www.Bar96Austin.com
96 Rainey St
Located on Rainey St., Bar 96 is something of a fish out of water. Surrounded by more upscale venues, Bar 96 persists as the district's blue-collar stalwart, one that still actually serves moonshine. Their version of white lightning comes in the form of Lustre Lemonade, a midnight moon strawberry lemonade moonshine, is refreshing, savory, and potent as can be. With a spacious backyard patio and its friendly waitstaff, Bar 96 perfects the concept the homespun bar serving delicious cocktails to thirsty patrons.
Photo Credit: Crystal Creek Distillery Facebook
906 S. Pace Bend Rd.
Crystal Creek Distillery is the first and only (official) moonshine distillery in Austin. But Crystal Creek isn't just your typical bathtub gin manufacturer. The distillery specializes in high-grade moonshine, "distilling the highest quality of 'shine made from Texas-grown ingredients to create a unique taste that is perfect for drinking on the rocks or in almost any combination of mixed drink." With flavors like coconut, grapefruit, coffee, acai berries, goji berries, and ginger, Crystal Creek is sure to be one of this summer's go-to booze wagons. Head out to the distillery for an authentic moonshine experience.
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