Flanigan’s Texas Distillery and Winery is a historic gem in the heart of Bertram, Texas. The distillery’s tasting room is built in a 1904 stone and brick building that once was a lumberyard and then a hardware store.
If you’re a Matthew McConaughey fan (and who isn’t in Texas?), you may recognize the building from the set of The Newton Boys.
Stepping into the distillery really feels like stepping back in time. The grand staircase in the center of the room looks like something from the westerns my dad loved watching. Flanigan’s Distillery is an absolute must-see on the Burnet Wine Trail.
Flanigan’s History
Owners Dana and Dr. Kevin Flanigan have a passion for making spirits and wine. Kevin is a surgeon and Dana a lawyer, and they both enjoyed different wineries and distilleries as they traveled through the years.
During their travels, they started thinking about making spirits and creating their own experience. When you visit, not only will you get to meet the owners, but they will personally tell you their story along with a few jokes. They have a passion for passing their knowledge on to you, and Buddy and I enjoyed listening to their stories.
When you stop by, ask them about the history of the Old Fashioned cocktail–it’s really interesting!
Food & Drink
As you enjoy your food and drink at Flanigan’s, you’ll be able to see the distillery across from the tasting room, where the spirits are made.
Flanigan’s Distillery offers different types of whiskey, wine, and homemade, organic food. Their philosophy is that whatever they serve should be something they would want to eat at home. They make two spirits from potatoes and a sipping whiskey from corn, and their Grappa is probably the smoothest that I have had.
There are a couple of different food offerings on their menu (all Irish of course). Most everything is made in-house and organic. While we were there, we had a corned beef sandwich. The corned beef was made in-house, as well as the homemade sauerkraut and pickles.
Our daughter had clotted cream and strawberries with her traditional Irish tea and loved it so much she’s learning how to make clotted cream herself! Everything that we ordered was amazing. I was really glad to hear Dana talk of plans to open for Irish Breakfast in the near future!
As far as drinks go, we ordered the Old Fashioned with both types of spirits to see which we liked best. We found that both were equally good. We also tried their Go ask Alice drink on another visit, which we also enjoyed and would order again. The drink was made with lemon juice and a pea flower tea poured over that makes it change color!
The ingredients used to make their cocktails are all made in house or of best quality. Most everything they do is about experiencing history.
Flannigans spirits can now be found at Total wine in the Austin/Cedar Park area. You can also buy some of their spirits when you visit, of course, which I highly recommend.
Visiting Flanigan’s
Parking at Flanigan’s is easy, and there is outdoor seating when it is not 100 degrees in Texas. They’re located right over the railroad track in Bertram. As soon as you cross the tracks, turn left. You’ll pass the distillery before you make it to the tasting room immediately after.
Make sure to check out their website for their hours before you visit, since they have limited hours as of now. You’ll also be able to find out about any events or special happenings at Flannigans.
The next time you are anywhere near Bertram, stop in and experience Flannigan’s. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as we did!
