Ranger Creek Distillery in San Antonio released their long awaited RimFire Mesquite Texas Smoked Single Malt Whiskey in late March. After a five month delay due to labeling issues, the one-of-a-kind liquor was finally approved for public sale.
RimFire Small Caliber Series (photo courtesy of Ranger Creek Distilling)
Part of their innovative Small Caliber series, RimFire is designed after smoked scotch-style Islay Malt whiskeys like Caol Ila, and after their own Mesquite Smoked Porter. As a “brewstillery,” exploring the overlap of beer and whiskey (essentially distilled beer), they saw the success of their porter and took it a step further, distilling the lightly smoked mash (sans hops), then aging it in toasted barrels. They say the resulting flavor is reminiscent of Islay whiskeys, but smoother and milder with hints of tropical fruit and vanilla. Easy sippin’ and unique, the first of its kind in the whole-wide-world.
Only 500 cases are set for release, and like their .36 Bourbon Whiskey, it is aged in small barrels, and hand labeled with batch and bottle number, season, and maturation time. And if you want a bottle signed, you can visit one of their release parties around the state, or make a reservation at their production facility in San Antonio, and meet head distiller TJ Miller person.
Ranger Creek is innovative on many fronts. Not only are they the only “brewstillery” in the state, harnessing both beer and whiskey from their mash, they are one of two in Texas making true American bourbon (Garrison Brothers Distillery being the other). Adding RimFire to their caché kicks their product line up another notch and shows what genuine innovation can do for Texas spirits.
I think it’s ballsy and creative and I can’t wait to get my hands on some to explore these new flavors myself.
- Margaret Shugart
