Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
About the Distillery
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling is a brewstillery in San Antonio, Texas, where beer and whiskey are produced under one roof. The distillery works grain-to-glass with Texas corn, malt, and rye in small batches and offers bourbon, rye, and a mesquite-smoked American single malt. The combination of local ingredients, craftsman-like approach, and public tours makes the place an active gathering point for locals and visiting whiskey enthusiasts.
History
Early development and core idea
Ranger Creek's whiskies are based on a grain-to-glass approach, originally developed by co-founder and Head Distiller emeritus TJ Miller. The concept has since been to mill Texas grain, mash, ferment, distill, and age at the distillery in San Antonio, so the raw material can be traced through the entire process.
Development of range and personnel
Through the product pages it is evident that different people have been responsible for distillation at various times; new head distillers and assistants are named in the product texts, while the lineup has expanded to include more year-round releases, single-barrel selections, cask-strength releases, and experiments with smoke and alternative casks.
Raw materials and production
Production follows a grain-to-glass principle: Texas corn is milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled onsite in small batches. The rye edition is made from 100% malted rye, the bourbon series is based on Texas corn, and the distillery uses both standard malt and hand-smoked malt for their single malt. The mesquite-smoked single malt highlights an in-house cold-smoking technique, with each batch using around 500 pounds of hand-smoked malt. Production emphasizes small batch sizes, single-barrel options, and a craft approach throughout the process.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation occurs under the Texas climate, often described as aging 'under the Texas sun'. Ranger Creek uses several cask formats, from small 5–10 gallon casks to traditional large oak barrels, and rye releases have often been aged in used .36-bourbon barrels. The distillery also works with experimental finish casks such as aging in orange wine barrels for special releases and offers single-barrel selections and cask-strength bottlings.
Whiskies
The core lineup includes the .36 series (including .36 Texas Straight Bourbon, small-batch .36 and .36 White), the Small Caliber Series (including .44 Rye and Rimfire), and the mesquite-smoked single malt. In addition to year-round releases, Ranger Creek offers single-barrel reserves, cask-strength releases, and distillery-only releases with priority access for whiskey-club members. Small batch sizes, the single-barrel program (Small Barrel Union), and ongoing special releases are central elements of the portfolio.
| Whisky | Type / Series | ABV | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .36 Texas Straight Bourbon | Bourbon | Traditional large oak barrels | Flagship bourbon, small-batch, aged in traditional large oak barrels and matured under the Texas climate. Originally developed by co-founder TJ Miller; production continues onsite.; Nose: Vanilla and brown sugar with hints of new wood; Palate: Mellow caramel, butterscotch and light cinnamon; Finish: Long, lingering sweet notes with a hint of warmth | Current; Core range; Year-round release within the distillery's lineup; available in Texas retailers and via web shop in selected states | |
| .36 Texas Bourbon | Bourbon | Small 5–10 gallon casks | A small-batch Texas bourbon aged in smaller casks (5–10 gallon) and matured under the Texas sun as part of the distillery's grain-to-glass approach.; Nose: Vanilla and maple syrup with prominent oak; Palate: Strong caramel, new wood and cinnamon; Finish: Short, warm, spicy, and dry with a sweet undertone | Current; Core range; Year-round release; available in Texas retail and via the distillery shop / selected shipping partners | |
| .36 Texas Cask Strength | Bourbon (Cask Strength) | Barrel (direct from barrel, uncut/unfiltered) | Cask-strength release consisting of select single hand-picked barrels, sold undiluted and unfiltered as a limited, powerful expression of the .36 Bourbon.; Finish: Sold 'directly out of the barrel'; unfiltered and undiluted | Limited; Limited release; often distillery-only or via whiskey club | |
| Texas Landmark - Mesquite smoked whiskey | American Single Malt (hand-smoked) | Smoked/dried | The original American single malt from Ranger Creek, where malted barley is hand-smoked with Texas mesquite using an in-house cold-smoking technique. Each batch uses around 500 pounds of hand-smoked malt. | Current; Core range; Year-round releases and special editions; available in-store and selected retailers | |
| .36 White | White dog (unaged bourbon) | The distillery's 'white dog' — bourbon before maturation in oak barrels. Highlights the sweetness from Texas corn and is used both as a mixer in cocktails and as a 'white dog' for tasting compared to the aged .36 Bourbon.; Tasting notes: Sweet and lightly fruity profile | Current; Core range; Year-round release; available in-store and selected retailers | ||
| .44 Rye | Rye Whiskey; Small Caliber Series | 47 % | Used bourbon barrel (.36 Texas Straight Bourbon) | 100% malted rye whiskeys from the Small Caliber Series, aged in reused bourbon barrels to let the grain's character come through. Recommended as sipping whiskey or in classic cocktails like Old Fashioned.; Nose: Cinnamon, mint and toffee; Taste: Strong and compact with notes of clove and tobacco; Finish: Clean, warming finish with lingering notes of fresh bread crust | Current; Core range; Year-round release (Small Caliber Series); available in Texas retailers and via the distillery's channels |
| Rimfire | Small Caliber Series | Name mentioned as part of the distillery's year-round lineup (Small Caliber Series). | Current; Core range; Year-round release (indicated in portfolio) | ||
| .36 Single Barrel | Bourbon (Single Barrel) | Single barrel selection | Single-barrel releases of the .36 Bourbon, sold as special releases or via whiskey club and distillery-only events. | Limited; Limited / distillery-only / whiskey club |
The whiskies' style and flavor profile
Overall, Ranger Creek's whiskies span several common directions: vanilla and caramel/butterscotch from the bourbon products, spices such as cinnamon, clove, and black pepper in the rye releases, and a clear, but often light, mesquite smoke in the single malt. There are also notes of mint and toffee noted for the rye, and the youthful .36 White highlights a sweet, lightly fruity character.
Visiting the Distillery
The public can participate in a combined 'brewstillery' tour that shows both beer and bourbon production. The tour includes three tastings and lasts 60–90 minutes; the price is $20, designated drivers pay $5, and children under 6 attend for free. Tours are limited to 20–25 participants and require advance registration. There is also an optional VIP Whiskey Sampling Experience for an extra fee. The tasting room has set hours during the week, including Friday and Saturday evening hours, and the venue hosts events and private functions for 10–250 guests.
The stated hours are Tasting room hours: Mon–Thu 12PM–6PM, Fri 12PM–9PM, Sat 12PM–9PM, Sun Closed. Brewstillery tour every Saturday 1PM & 3PM; Distillery Sensory tour monthly Friday 6:30PM.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and craft
Ranger Creek explicitly works from a grain-to-glass philosophy with a focus on craftsmanship, small batches, and the use of local Texan ingredients. The distillery emphasizes authenticity in production, experiments with smoke and casks, and engagement with the public through tours, tastings, and a single-barrel program.