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A whiskey flight at Seven Grand
A whiskey flight at Seven Grand
Seven Grand/Facebook

Where to Sip Whiskey Right Now in Austin

16 destinations for the brown spirit

by Sommer Brugal Updated
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A whiskey flight at Seven Grand
| Seven Grand/Facebook
by Sommer Brugal Updated

Winter calls for warming brown spirits, and look no further than whiskey. With that spirit, Austin’s bars and restaurants are stirring up classic libations, all while adding a personal twist to each drink. Bring out that inner Ron Swanson.

Here is Eater’s guide to the best whiskey bars the city has to offer. This list includes cocktail bars (Weather Up, Garage), restaurants with an emphasis on whiskey (The Peached Tortilla), and dive bars (The Grackle) alike. There's even a barbecue and whiskey destination (hello, Freedmen's) and others even make whiskey in-house. Throughout the map, there are spots with extensive whiskey programs with domestic and international sourcing, and others with a few standout whiskey cocktails. This update adds Nickel City and Seven Grand to the lineup.

For more drinking needs, there are essential cocktail bars, hot new ones, and versatile bars.

Everything below is listed in an unranked. Any favorite whiskey bars or restaurants missing below? Let Eater know in the comments or through the tipline.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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The Grackle

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The Grackle is exactly what you’re looking for in a dive bar. Its laid-back atmosphere and spacious patio is perfect for hanging out with good friends and enjoying a whiskey beverage of course. With more than 100 types of whiskeys and bourbons to choose from, The Grackle is a no brainer.

1700 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0133
(512) 524-0133
John H./Yelp

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Swift's Attic

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This downtown gem emphasizes the creative, whimsical, and delicious elements of food, which extends over to its cocktails. Find various infused whiskeys, like ginger-infused bourbon for the New Fashioned. For a quicker drink, try the Newgroni with honey bourbon

315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-8200
(512) 482-8200
Swift's Attic/Facebook

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Weather Up

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Weather Up is no stranger to a standout whiskey cocktail. The current favorite is the Stay Down, a spirit-forward cocktail that’s served up, including ingredients like Old Grand-Dad bonded bourbon, Hamilton rum, and crème de cacao for a touch of sweetness.

1808 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0464
(512) 524-0464
Jin C./Yelp

Also featured in:

Freedmen's

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With 180 different whiskeys to choose from, ranging from Japanese rye to all-American, Freedmen’s is a no-brainer for whiskey lovers. Order the Ol’ Schmokey, the extremely smoky cocktail with bourbon whiskey, smoked with the same wood used for Freedmen’s barbecue. The restaurant and bar also features a whiskey of the month.

2402 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 220-0953
(512) 220-0953
Freedmen's/Facebook

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Nickel City

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The neighborhood bar loves whiskey, so much so that it has its own select bottles at next door liquor shop J&J Spirits.

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Nickel City/Facebook

Péché

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Péché believes in old classics with a twist. Take the Old Fashioned, for example. The bar mixes this cocktail with a single-barrel bourbon.

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 495-9669
(512) 495-9669
Peche/Facebook

Seven Grand

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The Los Angeles-based whiskey bar extended its reach to Austin with its latest location in downtown. Members of the bar's Whiskey Society get to indulge in tastings and educational sessions.

405 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
Seven Grand Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Whisler's

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This East Sixth Street favorite is considered ground zero for Old Fashioneds, mostly due to its choice of sugar. The American whiskey-forward bar stays away from granulated sugars, opting in favor of raw sugar instead for its cocktails.

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781
(512) 480-0781
Whisler's/Facebook

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Drink.Well

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The cocktail menu at Drink.Well includes several creative whiskey cocktails. Paper Boat Sailor is made with Japanese whisky, while the others are mixed with bourbons and whiskeys.

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
Drink.Well/Facebook

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Half Step

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From the extensive ice program to the high-quality liquor, Half Step prides itself on serving creative and elegant cocktails. Cozy up indoors while the temperatures are low, and choose from a selection of whiskey-based cocktails this Rainey Street staple has to offer.

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 391-1877
(512) 391-1877
Steven I./Yelp

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Easy Tiger

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Easy Tiger might be known for its delicious freshly baked bread, but did you know the beer garden has a killer whiskey program? The bar boasts a wide selection of national and international whiskey selections. Order classics like Old Fashioneds or Manhattans during happy hour or opt for a signature cocktail on Whiskey Wednesdays.

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
(512) 614-4972
Easy Tiger/Official

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Contigo

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Whether you choose to lounge al fresco (with heat lamps of course), or take cover inside, you’ll want to order one of Contigo’s signature whiskey-forward cocktails. For those colder weather outings, opt for the Contigo Coffee. The rye whiskey and coffee combo will warm you up in no time. For a classic with a punch, order the bacon fat Old Fashioned.

2027 Anchor Ln, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 614-2260
(512) 614-2260
Contigo/Facebook

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Garage

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The parking garage cocktail bar has a strong whiskey collection including an emphasis on Japanese whisky.

503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3490
(512) 369-3490
Christopher F./Yelp

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The Peached Tortilla

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If you’re partial to international whiskeys (or whisky), look no further than The Peached Tortilla. The impressive whiskey menu includes a range of options from household names like Jack Daniels to local Texas bourbons to Irish whiskies to a number of Japanese whiskies as well. Stop in on Whiskey Wednesdays to sample the restaurant’s featured pour.

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
(512) 222-8781
Peached Tortilla/Facebook

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The Grackle

1700 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

The Grackle is exactly what you’re looking for in a dive bar. Its laid-back atmosphere and spacious patio is perfect for hanging out with good friends and enjoying a whiskey beverage of course. With more than 100 types of whiskeys and bourbons to choose from, The Grackle is a no brainer.

1700 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0133
(512) 524-0133
John H./Yelp

Swift's Attic

315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

This downtown gem emphasizes the creative, whimsical, and delicious elements of food, which extends over to its cocktails. Find various infused whiskeys, like ginger-infused bourbon for the New Fashioned. For a quicker drink, try the Newgroni with honey bourbon

315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-8200
(512) 482-8200
Swift's Attic/Facebook

Weather Up

1808 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Weather Up is no stranger to a standout whiskey cocktail. The current favorite is the Stay Down, a spirit-forward cocktail that’s served up, including ingredients like Old Grand-Dad bonded bourbon, Hamilton rum, and crème de cacao for a touch of sweetness.

1808 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-0464
(512) 524-0464
Jin C./Yelp

Freedmen's

2402 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705

With 180 different whiskeys to choose from, ranging from Japanese rye to all-American, Freedmen’s is a no-brainer for whiskey lovers. Order the Ol’ Schmokey, the extremely smoky cocktail with bourbon whiskey, smoked with the same wood used for Freedmen’s barbecue. The restaurant and bar also features a whiskey of the month.

2402 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 220-0953
(512) 220-0953
Freedmen's/Facebook

Nickel City

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

The neighborhood bar loves whiskey, so much so that it has its own select bottles at next door liquor shop J&J Spirits.

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Nickel City/Facebook

Péché

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Péché believes in old classics with a twist. Take the Old Fashioned, for example. The bar mixes this cocktail with a single-barrel bourbon.

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 495-9669
(512) 495-9669
Peche/Facebook

Seven Grand

405 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

The Los Angeles-based whiskey bar extended its reach to Austin with its latest location in downtown. Members of the bar's Whiskey Society get to indulge in tastings and educational sessions.

405 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
Seven Grand Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Whisler's

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

This East Sixth Street favorite is considered ground zero for Old Fashioneds, mostly due to its choice of sugar. The American whiskey-forward bar stays away from granulated sugars, opting in favor of raw sugar instead for its cocktails.

1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781
(512) 480-0781
Whisler's/Facebook

Drink.Well

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

The cocktail menu at Drink.Well includes several creative whiskey cocktails. Paper Boat Sailor is made with Japanese whisky, while the others are mixed with bourbons and whiskeys.

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
Drink.Well/Facebook

Half Step

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

From the extensive ice program to the high-quality liquor, Half Step prides itself on serving creative and elegant cocktails. Cozy up indoors while the temperatures are low, and choose from a selection of whiskey-based cocktails this Rainey Street staple has to offer.

75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 391-1877
(512) 391-1877
Steven I./Yelp

Easy Tiger

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Easy Tiger might be known for its delicious freshly baked bread, but did you know the beer garden has a killer whiskey program? The bar boasts a wide selection of national and international whiskey selections. Order classics like Old Fashioneds or Manhattans during happy hour or opt for a signature cocktail on Whiskey Wednesdays.

709 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
(512) 614-4972
Easy Tiger/Official

Contigo

2027 Anchor Ln, Austin, TX 78723

Whether you choose to lounge al fresco (with heat lamps of course), or take cover inside, you’ll want to order one of Contigo’s signature whiskey-forward cocktails. For those colder weather outings, opt for the Contigo Coffee. The rye whiskey and coffee combo will warm you up in no time. For a classic with a punch, order the bacon fat Old Fashioned.

2027 Anchor Ln, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 614-2260
(512) 614-2260
Contigo/Facebook

Garage

503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

The parking garage cocktail bar has a strong whiskey collection including an emphasis on Japanese whisky.

503 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3490
(512) 369-3490
Christopher F./Yelp

The Peached Tortilla

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

If you’re partial to international whiskeys (or whisky), look no further than The Peached Tortilla. The impressive whiskey menu includes a range of options from household names like Jack Daniels to local Texas bourbons to Irish whiskies to a number of Japanese whiskies as well. Stop in on Whiskey Wednesdays to sample the restaurant’s featured pour.

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
(512) 222-8781
Peached Tortilla/Facebook

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