San Luis Spirits Releases Dripping Springs Gin

Dripping Springs GinDripping Springs, TX- San Luis Spirits­–maker of the award-winning Dripping Springs Vodka is giving the Texas Hill Country a few more reasons to raise a glass as it announces the opening of public distillery tours, a new tasting bar and the addition of an artisan gin to its already acclaimed spirits line. Located in the Hill Country, 25 miles west of Austin, San Luis Spirits will be opening its doors beginning September 2 to welcome visitors who want to tour the facility, learn about the micro-distilling process, and of course sample the handcrafted spirits.

Established in 2005 by brothers Gary and Kevin Kelleher, San Luis Spirits is a family-owned operation that focuses on the art of small batch distilling with natural ingredients. The company’s line of homegrown spirits is led by award-winning Dripping Springs Vodka, made with non-GMO, sweet, Midwestern corn in 50-gallon batches and micro-distilled in handmade copper pot stills.

Soon, the public can take the short trip out to Dripping Springs to see exactly how the small-batch distillery lovingly creates thousands of cases of premium vodka each year–from kernel to cap. Much like winery or brewery tours, visitors to the distillery will get an up-close and personal look at the meticulous process of creating a quality spirit–one that involves custom-made equipment, patience and a lot of know-how. Distillers will be on hand to lead the hour-long tour of the facility, answering questions and sharing their anecdotal adventures in vodka-making. After visitors get a guided glimpse at how the vodka is made, they’ll get to taste the fruits of the distillery’s labor, putting their newly acquired knowledge to use as they sample the spirits in the tasting bar.

Tours will be available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week at 1pm and 3pm, by reservation only. To create a more intimate experience, tour groups will be limited to six people. For $10 per person, visitors will receive a guided tour and tasting of all four of San Luis Spirits’ offerings, and a branded shot glass keepsake. Full size bottles and other gift items are also available for purchase. Reservations can be made at the Dripping Springs Vodka website: www.drippingspringsvodka.com.

Gin Joint

After years spent perfecting handcrafted vodkas, San Luis Spirits is tackling another beloved spirit with the same passion and small-batch quality that put it on the beverage map years ago. Dripping Springs Gin is a reinvention of a traditional juniper forward London dry gin, with soft floral notes, a hint of spice and fresh citrus from the Rio Grande Valley.

Dripping Springs Gin is the first foray into non-vodka spirits for the small town distillery. “Gary and I have worked on a gin recipe and process for years,” says Co-founder Kevin Kelleher. “If we were going to use the Dripping Springs trade name, we wanted to make sure it was a world-class product. The challenge was to capture and balance the essence of nine unique botanicals, but finish it off with the soft mouth feel and minerality present in Dripping Springs Vodka.”

Most vodkas and gins are made in stainless steel column stills that toss out thousands of gallons a day. We’re on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Dripping Springs gin process takes three days to produce a final 55% cut from a single 40-gallon batch. It’s kind of an old fashioned concept, but first and foremost it really is about quality. If you make a quality product and price it fairly, it will find a home with a group of discerning consumers,” Kelleher adds.

Available for tasting and purchase at the distillery, the gin will be on store shelves in September.

A Taste of Texas

San Luis Spirits offers a series of signature premium spirits including the multi-award-winning flagship beverage, Dripping Springs Vodka–made with non-GMO corn in small batches and micro-distilled in handmade copper pot stills. The vodka is then mixed with pure, mineral-rich artesian spring water from the Hill Country for a truly Texan approach and a distinct taste. After a slow filter through Swedish activated carbon, the lush and balanced vodka is ready for sipping. Dripping Springs Vodka is sold in a dozen states and won the Vodka Purity Trophy and Gold Best in Class at the 2008 International Wine and Spirits Competition, the world’s largest and most prestigious spirits competition. It is the only American vodka to ever have won the Purity Trophy.

The 100% natural Dripping Springs Texas Orange is made with same careful attention to detail, only this time the smooth vodka is flavored with hand-zested Texas oranges.

Released in 2012, 1876 Vodka is San Luis Spirits’ innovative take on premium Texas well vodka. Paying homage to the year that ushered in the adoption of the Texas Constitution–the high quality, yet affordable vodka is a perfect base for cocktail mixers. 1876 Vodka is the proud recipient of the Double Gold Medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and is the only Texas vodka to have received this award in its price point.

The newest addition to the award-winning line up, Dripping Springs Gin is an artisan gin crafted in small 40-gallon batches in the Texas Hill Country and, as always, is GMO and gluten free. The gin uses a proprietary blend of nine select botanicals, including hibiscus, cardamom seed and fresh Rio Grande Valley oranges to balance and add depth to the traditional juniper flavor.

About San Luis Spirits

Founded in Dripping Springs, Texas by brothers Gary and Kevin Kelleher in 2005, San Luis Spirits is dedicated to the art of distilling world-class products in small batches. The company was the second distiller in Texas, and the recipient of the third Distilled Spirits Permit License in the state. The company’s initial product, Dripping Springs Vodka, was awarded the prestigious Vodka Purity Trophy and won the Gold, Best in Class at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2008. San Luis Spirits also makes 1876 Vodka, winner of the double gold medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2014, the company launched Dripping Springs Gin.