Thursday, December 22, 2011

Top Gift Picks for the Holidays


Since I'm sure everyone is out looking for those last minute gifts, I thought I would throw out a few of my favorites.  Of course, since I'm a distiller, they focus on Texas booze and the like.  Here's my top ten list for 2011:




  1. 1. Waterloo Gin.  I thought about burying the lead, but I just can't.  We're really proud of this newest release from our distillery and it's starting to be found a little bit more easily on the shelves.  All Texas botanicals and a truly Texas attitude - grab a bottle today if you haven't already tried it.  
  2. Tito's Vodka.  Always gotta mention Mr. Beveridge's iconic elixir at the top of any list.  The first Texas distillery is still making extraordinary vodka and you can even find it in a sweet gift bag this holiday season.  
  3. Jester King beers.  Basically, any of them.  I've been a fan of everything I've had from these guys, but it's hard to beat the barrel-aged Boxer's Revenge.
  4. Balcones' 1.  A recent release from Balcones Distillery in Waco.  Lead guy Chip Tate is doing some really awesome and creative craft distilling.  This jewel is my favorite thus far with some forward fruit and slightly smoked finish.  I'd be pumped to find this in my stocking.
  5. Tempranillo-Cabernet blend from Inwood Vineyards.  A solid winemaker in Texas that pays close attention to our climate and terroir.  You'll be pleased the complexity of this jewel.
  6. Argus Cider.  The first cider-makers in our state.  Really good stuff and very different as few people have had craft made ciders. 

7. Paula's Texas Lemon.  This is still a favorite of mine, and not just because it makes a sweet Texas Icepick when mixed with our Graham's Texas Tea.  Delicate and floral, it can even be enjoyed with just a splash of soda. 

8. Ranger Creek .36 bourbon whiskey.  Out just in .375's right now, it's worth the cost.  Solid Texas whiskey with some depth to it, even at 9 months of age.  

9. Real Ale 15th Anniversary Ale.  Big hops and big malt = my kind of beer.  Additional props to these guys as well for making really kickass beers for 15 years in the heart of the Hill Country.

10. Adelbert's Belgian Style beers.  Kind of cheating here since you can't get this stuff yet (as far as I know).  However, they're right around the corner from us and I've had the opportunity to taste some of their brews with owner Scott Hovey.  With the premature inclusion here, I don't even think I need to say I was blown away.

11. Treaty Oak Aged Rum.  As long as I'm cheating, I thought I would plug our upcoming release.  We should have this out in limited quantities by the end of February.  We're going all out on this - single barrel, barrel strength, unfiltered.  Honestly, it's a rum made for craft-whiskey drinkers.  I can't wait to share it.



That sums up my holiday list, although there are a ton of great products I wasn't able to get to.  Happy Holidays and remember to always drink local!

Daniel Barnes

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Intern with Treaty Oak!


As I'm hoping you're all aware of by now, we recently released our Waterloo Gin.  Treaty Oak Aged Rum will be following shortly, along with three other product releases we have planned for next year.  We're also moving into several more markets.  It's a good time for us right now, but we're also getting really swamped.  Thus, we've decided to see if there might be a few interested individuals out there that would be interested in coming aboard with us for an internship.

We're looking for marketing interns (in all major Texas cities), design interns, and anyone that is interested in "apprenticing" as a distiller.  The work will be hard, but I can guarantee a ton of educational value and some awesome perks along the way.  Plus, there's always a good chance that someone might kick-ass and get a full time opportunity.

Start Date: January 2012
Availability: M-F with weekends as necessary, approximately 20 to 40 hours/week

Please reach out to me directly at
daniel.r.barnes@gmail.com with your resume and cover letter, and of course shoot any questions my way.


Daniel R. Barnes
Treaty Oak Distilling Co.  

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Feast at Jack Allen's Kitchen


This past Tuesday evening, we were lucky enough to team up with the folks out at Jack Allen's Kitchen for a cocktail and food pairing dinner to benefit the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.  Lone Star is a really great organization, and you can learn more about them at their website. 
The cocktails featured all three of our Treaty Oak Distilling products:  Waterloo Gin, Treaty Oak Rum and Graham's Texas Tea.  Cocktails were created by David Toby and Tom Kaam.  Jack Gilmore and Chris TenEyck were the chefs behind the food, which featured various meats from Broken Arrow Ranch.


The first course was a wild boar chile and blue corn bread muffin served with the Texas 75 - Waterloo Gin, Paula's Texas Lemon and champagne.  Great combo that really blended the spice of the chile and effervescent softness of the cocktail together well.  Next up was the achiote grilled half quail paired with the Pepperita.  The Pepperita was perfect - lime and jalapeno flavors coming through strong and melding perfectly with the sweet potato crush the quail was served on.  


Third came the antelope osso bucco chile relleno and my personal favorite cocktail, the cucumber basil press.  The relleno packed a pretty good amount of heat, but the cooling cucumber and basil drink always tamed it down.  The fourth course was a wild boar and axis meatloaf served with the Orange Treaty.  The Orange Treaty is Treaty Oak Rum, fresh squeezed orange juice, orange sherry and simple syrup.  A winning combination as the rosemary that found its way both through the meatloaf and the cocktail.  The final course was a goat cheese pumpkin tart and a Graham's Cider.  The goat cheese pumpkin tart was almost like a light cheesecake and was a perfect finish to the meal.  The Graham's Cider was truly awesome - a combination of Graham's Texas Tea, apple cider, apple bitters and a cinnamon foam.

I can't say enough great things about the meal or the Jack Allen's team.  Service was impeccable as we were done with the entire dinner within two hours and never found ourselves without a drink or food in front of us at all times.  I hope that they'll have us back to do this again soon and thank you to everyone that was part of making this a success!



Daniel R. Barnes
Owner & Distiller
Treaty Oak Distilling Co.