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"Set on a dusty road in Dripping Springs and opened in 2018, this Texas distillery is a crowdfunding-powered, community-driven whiskey lab where nearly 3,000 Patreon subscribers vote on everything from facility layout to barrel types. Founded by Austin transplants Rex Williams and Daniel Whittington—who built followings with the Whiskey Vault and Whiskey Tribe YouTube shows—the project was financed via Patreon (raising over $30,000 in its first month) on land donated by Williams’s father near a gothic 'Wizard Academy' tower. The space functions as a judgment-free tasting hub (with a dedicated room called the Fang and Feather) and an experimental production studio run by head distiller Kyle Wells, who re-distills, blends, and ferments unconventional flavorings such as durian and cherry juice and executes member-voted ideas. Notable experiments include an Errant Barrel batch made by aging a Scottish Island new-make malt five months in new oak, dumping and proofing, then re-aging 14 months in a Buffalo Trace barrel, and early single-malt batches that were half-peated and finished in white oak after member votes. Many releases are available only on-site and sell out quickly, and the overall vibe emphasizes unpretentious, communal whiskey nerding that connects online members and in-person visitors." - Clara Wang
Distillery with whiskey tastings, cocktails, and unique barrel-aged spirits