Driftwood has never been short on places to enjoy a good drink, but a new family-owned whiskey distillery is betting there’s room for something a little different. Briggs Distilling Co. officially opens Saturday, October 17, bringing a 9,000-square-foot gathering space to the Texas Hill Country where whiskey enthusiasts, families, and even four-legged companions are welcome.
Located at 121 Brownson Lane, Briggs Distilling is the creation of R.S. Briggs and his family, who have spent more than two decades making memories in the Hill Country. What began as a shared family vision has become a full-scale distillery built on land with deep personal connections to the Briggs family.
And unlike some whiskey destinations where the experience begins and ends at the tasting bar, Briggs wants guests to settle in and stay awhile.
The distillery will debut three whiskey expressions under the direction of Master Distiller Colton Weinstein. Its Straight Rye Whiskey offers spice, bright herbal notes, and a lingering sherry finish. Heritage Reserve Bourbon leans into caramel, candy, leather, and cherry, while the Wheated Bourbon delivers a sweeter, fruit-forward profile with subtle tobacco notes.
Each expression is hand-selected, finished, and bottled on-site using Texas rainwater. Guests can explore the lineup through $15 whiskey flights or purchase bottles to take home.
The cocktail program offers another reason to visit, with $12 house cocktails including the Briggs Old Fashioned and Ranch Road Refresher. Frozen drinks, a full-service bar, coffee from nearby Sonder Coffee, and more than 10 mocktails and nonalcoholic selections round out the menu. Nonalcoholic options are priced at $6 or less.
Food won’t be an afterthought, either. Permanent on-site food truck A. T. Eatz Burger Joint will serve burgers, fries, and other casual favorites during operating hours. It’s the kind of straightforward pairing that makes sense in the Hill Country: a solid burger, a good pour of whiskey, and no particular reason to rush home.
Designed by Texas-based M. Elliott Studio, the distillery trades predictable Hill Country farmhouse aesthetics for an industrial-eclectic approach featuring exposed steel, weathered brick, leather, and rich wood tones. The result is intended to feel welcoming without sacrificing character.
Families will find a multi-level, treehouse-inspired children’s play area, while dogs are welcome throughout the property’s designated pet-friendly spaces. Weekend live music, community events, and Sunday family programming are also part of the plan.
“Briggs Distilling was born from family and built for families,” says Bailey Briggs, the company’s vice president of marketing. “The distillery stands on family land, just steps from where generations of our relatives have lived and gathered.”
The grand opening on October 17 will feature local vendors, live music, and drinks throughout the celebration.
With its combination of whiskey, casual food, outdoor gathering spaces, and family-friendly amenities, Briggs Distilling is positioning itself as more than another stop along the Hill Country drinking trail. It’s aiming to become the kind of neighborhood gathering place where the whiskey is worth the drive, but the atmosphere gives people a reason to return.
Briggs Distilling Co.
121 Brownson Lane, Driftwood, TX 78619
Grand Opening: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Hours: Wednesday–Thursday, 3–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Happy Hour: Wednesday–Friday, 3–6 p.m.
Instagram: @briggsdistillingco