Briggs Distilling Co.

Grand opening is Saturday, October 17 — 9,000 square feet, a permanent food truck, and whiskey made with Hill Country rainwater

Driftwood's newest pour spot throws its doors open this Saturday. Family-owned Briggs Distilling Co. will open Oct. 17 on Brownson Lane in Driftwood, offering custom spirits, cocktails, coffee and a children's area. This isn't a soft launch — it's a full-day party, free and open to anyone who wants to wander in.

The news. The grand opening runs Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with live music, local vendors, and the kind of cold-drinks-on-a-porch energy you'd expect from a family building something on their own land. The distillery has also now locked in its permanent kitchen partner: A.T. Eatz, slinging burgers, wings, and fries daily whenever the tasting room is open. That's a rare thing for a brand-new tasting room around here — a real kitchen on-site from the very first pour, not a "food truck schedule TBD."

The place. Briggs sits on Brownson Lane in Driftwood, on land that's been in the family for generations. The 9,000-square-foot distillery stands on family land in Driftwood, where the whiskey is crafted with intention and made using Texas Hill Country rainwater, with live music on the weekends, a dedicated kids area, an on-site food truck, and community events throughout the year. It's a family operation through and through: the published leadership team includes Jason Kowalkowski as VP of Operations, Bailey Briggs as VP of Marketing, Davis Tucker as President, and Colton Weinstein as Head Distiller — Tucker founded Austin's North by Northwest, bringing a hospitality and brewing background. Vice President of Marketing Bailey Briggs put it this way in the company's release: "Briggs Distilling was born from family and built for families. The distillery stands on family land, just steps from where generations of our relatives have lived and gathered. For more than twenty years, our family has called the Texas Hill Country home, spending holidays, birthdays and long summer days on the river together."

What's pouring. The distillery offers three custom spirits: Straight Rye Whiskey, Heritage Reserve Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon. The Straight Rye Whiskey has notes of spice and herbs; the Heritage Reserve Bourbon is medium-bodied with notes of caramel and leather, and the Wheated Bourbon leans sweeter with fruit notes. Worth knowing before you go: the launch whiskeys aren't 100% distilled on-site yet — Briggs is beginning with sourced whiskey while its own distilling operation comes online, with much of it coming from MGP and additional whiskey sourced from within Texas, though Briggs selects, blends and bottles its releases onsite in Driftwood. Beyond the whiskey itself, patrons can enjoy the spirits on their own, try them mixed into a specialty cocktail or opt for a mocktail instead, with a selection of coffee beverages also available. Saturday's opening adds boozy snow cones to the lineup, plus the house cocktail list and a whiskey flight for anyone tasting their way through all three expressions. On the food side, A.T. Eatz covers burgers, wings and fries daily during operating hours.

Good to know. This is a kid- and dog-friendly build from the ground up — Briggs Distilling Co. was built by family for families, with a large kids play area outside and plenty of fun N/A drinks for them to enjoy. Posted hours on the distillery's website are Wednesday and Thursday 4–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m. — note that opening day itself runs later, to 10 p.m. Since this is launch week, it's worth a quick check of their Instagram before you drive out, in case hours or the entertainment lineup shift.

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