Top Craft Whiskeys to Try This Season: Still Austin, Skrewball, New Riff, Good Trouble, Frey Ranch & More

From the sun-soaked fields of Texas to the rolling hills of Kentucky and the farmlands of Nevada, a new generation of distillers is redefining American whiskey. Each bottle tells a story—of innovation, tradition, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Whether it’s Still Austin’s grain-to-glass perfection shaped by wild Texas weather, the sweet-savory surprise of Skrewball, or the social impact behind Good Trouble Bourbon, these standout spirits offer more than just a pour—they embody passion, purpose, and place. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting whiskeys and distilleries making waves across the country.

Still Austin

Sharing information about flagship spirits from Still Austin Whiskey Co., an Austin-based distillery that makes 100% of their spirits in-house, from grain to glass. They’ve given birth to a new type of whiskey using wild central-Texas weather fluctuations that helps age their whiskey to perfection. Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aka “The Musician”) - The flagship spirit, distilled with care from Texas-gown grains and oak-aged at least two years in our Hill Country rickhouse. As subtle and complex a bourbon as you’ll find anywhere.

Skrewball

This harmonious blend of seemingly disparate flavors might seem a bit surprising, but it’s a whole lot of delicious. A little salty, a little sweet, a little savory, and always smooth, Skrewball is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before. It’s a perfect celebration of the unexpected, wild, and wonderful in all of us.

New Riff

New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is a genuinely high-rye at 30% rye, 65% corn, 5% malted barley; aged at least 4 years and widely considered way too good to be that young. Located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, New Riff Distilling is an independent, family-owned distillery founded in 2014 in Newport, KY. They are a New Riff on an Old Tradition, that tradition being Kentucky sourmash whiskey making. New Riff produces award-winning Bourbon, Rye, Gin, and Single Malt whiskey, all crafted with a commitment to quality and transparency. The Aquifer Tasting Room, located on the third floor of the distillery, features cocktails, flights, and pours of New Riff’s award-winning spirits, including rare, limited-edition, and exclusive releases. An absolute steal at $39.99 MSRP.

Good Trouble Bourbon

With its smooth, robust flavor, Good Trouble Bourbon embodies the spirit of making a difference. By using bourbon as a tool to bring people together, it lives up to its name—fostering dialogue, connection, and progress. A portion of proceeds supports the Be Good, Do Good, Shine Your Light Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports inclusivity, equity, and tolerance through community-driven initiatives. Founded by entrepreneur and social impact advocate Dee M. Robinson, Good Trouble Bourbon is more than a spirit—it’s a symbol of resilience, purpose, and the power of challenging the status quo and urges its drinkers to look for good trouble.

Frey Ranch Distillery

Frey Ranch Distillery, one of the top craft distilleries and only farm distilleries in the country, was founded in 2006 by “Whiskey Farmer” Colby and his wife Ashley Frey on their 2,000-acre family farm in Fallon, Nevada. The Frey family has been farming in Northern Nevada for over 150 years, continuing today with Frey Ranch Distillery, one of only a few distilleries in the world to grow, harvest, mill, mash, ferment, distill and bottle 100% of its whiskey grains on-site. Their core line includes an award-winning Straight Bourbon made with a 4-grain mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row barley-malted on site, and a bottled-in-bond Straight Rye Whiskey made with 100% Winter Cereal Rye. Colby Frey is a brilliant farming mind and noted tinkerer, having created his own “Nevada Peat” for an American single malt, and built an ice cream machine out of an old John Deere tractor. Frey Ranch is a year-round working farm that also offers tours and tastings to the public. To learn more, visit freyranch.com. 

Oaklore Distilling Co.

Oaklore Distilling Co. - an American craft whiskey brand based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have a signature four grain bourbon that highlights the state's exemplary aging conditions given they are based in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. Press release attached.

Doc Swinson's Golden Hour Straight Rye Finished in Rum & Port Casks

There are few natural compliments in this world that just go together. The spiciness of rye whiskey perfectly complimented by rich and juicy elements of decades old port casks. This juxtaposition is then perfectly tied together with a hint of sugar cane and citrus from the rum casks. In this instance, the wildness of the rye whiskey is almost tamed, a refinement allowing for the unraveling of identifiable notes from brown sugar, banana bread, raspberry compote all intertwined with a symphony of sensations on your palate. Find out what makes Doc Swinson's Golden Hour so special.