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by Bill Dante
Most of my life I have been a wine drinker. I drank various mixed drinks, which usually wound up being the same bland mixed drink when I went out socially, during the 80’s. But I never had the opportunity to enjoy good bourbon and rye until much later. A few years ago, on New Year’s Eve, we were introduced to Devils River Whiskey as the clock struck twelve. We were totally surprised by the taste and smoothness. We sat around for the next couple of hours, into the new year, having the bartender pour us various whiskeys from around the world and compared them to Devils River Whiskey. I was stunned at how shockingly smooth the Devils River whiskey was and was determined to find out why!
Since then, I have learned to understand how great whiskey and ryes are made. I found out about the importance of the kind of water used and of course the blend of quality grains, charred oak barrels and even the filtration system. That’s when I came to realize that the actual historical Devils River, north of Del Rio, was the most pure, pristine and one of the best tasting waters in the entire state of Texas.
BAM! The lights went off and that’s when it hit me. One of the major differences with Devils River Whiskey is the water.
Let me give you a little history lesson on the Devils River in southwest Texas. It was discovered in the 1600’s by the Spanish conquistadors and they didn’t have much luck going further west along the river because the river was wild and untamable. The Spanish named it San Pedro River.
In 1848, a very famous Texas Ranger, Captain John Hays, (Hays County, San Marcos Texas) who was feared by the Comanches and Apaches, along with about 70 others attempted to forge a passage between San Antonio and El Paso. The Devil’s River was and is not for the weak of heart. It winds over ninety-three miles with rushing waterfalls, rugged canyons, roaring white waters, major flooding, and underground tributaries, ending in the Del Rio Texas area. It is folklore, after months of travel, that John Hays said, “This is no San Pedro River, this is the DEVILS RIVER!” The name stuck and it’s still pure, pristine and wild but a little more tamable! Its remote area, in an unfriendly environment, reduces pollution from humans including their animals. Pure and pristine, the river is filtered by mother nature and limestone, leaving it the purest in the state of Texas. Also, the Devils River Whiskey distillery uses infrared filtration to catch anything that mother nature missed. Now we know where that legendary name comes from.
In April of 2017, Mike Cameron, CEO and President of Devils River Whiskey released to the world his premium, small batch, smooth tasting whiskey. Within a short period of time, the whiskey was winning gold and double gold medals and numerous other major awards around Texas and the country. Those awards can be seen on their website, devilsriverwhiskey.com.
Just a few months ago the Devils River Whiskey distillery opened its doors and officially cut the ribbon in downtown San Antonio. I mean it’s literally downtown, right in the heart, on Houston Street, one block from the famous Riverwalk and just two blocks from The Alamo. In addition, its right across the street from the Buckhorn and the Former Texas Rangers Museum, where there is a display honoring Captain Hays. The distillery is in the Burns building, 401 East Houston Street, and the building is in the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1918 the building was originally a mercantile until 1932, which was right in the middle of the prohibition era. The design perfectly fits the style and overall ambiance of the distillery.
We were at the grand opening and also had the privilege of seeing, over the last few years, the creation and design take place. The distillery has become one of the most talked about in the country.
You enter the multi-level building through a charming wrought iron enclosed patio. You’ll notice the breath-taking chandeliers that are only outshined by the massive, gleaming copper kettles. It’s as if you stepped back in time and are standing inside an opulent 1920’s speak-easy dripping with the decadent elegance of that era. In fact, you almost expect Leonardo DiCaprio’s character from the “Great Gatsby,” to be right around the corner. Yet, the entire vibe of the place is comfortable and relaxing and makes you want to sit a while to savor and sip the smooth golden elixir created by nature and the genius of Mike Cameron.
Something that caught my eye and taste buds recently was their Devils River Coffee Bourbon Whiskey. It is already award winning, no surprise, and blended together with their great smooth whiskey, infused with unfiltered, 100% Blue Agave and, locally roasted, coffee beans from Columbia, Brazil and Honduras. “Together makes a lot of sense,” says Mike Cameron, “We decided to take on the challenge of marrying these two beverages into one sinfully smooth whiskey, with our emphasis on quality and technique. They are a match made in heaven!”
If you’re visiting San Antonio or live here, you will not want to miss an opportunity to enjoy live music and appetizers while touring the new Devils River Whiskey Distillery.
Sin responsibly!
