In the heart of Texas, Swift Distillery stands as a display of Texan tenacity when it comes to braving the craft spirits space — in particular, the production of single malt whiskey, which is steeped in historical and cultural values. Owned and operated by Nick and Amanda Swift, the distillery is not just a business but a testament to passion, precision, and perseverance.
Their journey, filled with extensive travel and learning, has culminated in the creation of a whiskey that embodies the spirit of its makers and the heritage of its craft. The Swifts stayed true to their original mission and kept a steady hand in spite of shifts in the distilled spirits world, their own production facilities in Driftwood, and the everchanging palate of the end consumer. After over a decade of distillation behind them, they have both a history of their own and quite the story to tell.
Nick, an accomplished painter with a focus on watercolor and oil, approaches the art of distillation with the same meticulous care and creativity as he does his canvases. Amanda, a trained biologist, delves into the intimate details of the distillation process, her scientific expertise coming to the fore as she manages the conversion of starches from their single malt grains into simple, fermentable sugars, known as the amylolytic process.
The couple shared a love for fine food and exceptional single malts. Their dream to create a unique Texas single malt whiskey led them on a journey across the globe, where they immersed themselves in the art and science of distillation.
“We traveled throughout Ireland, Scotland, France, and Japan, learning distillation techniques from both whiskey and Cognac producers,” Amanda recalls. “In Cognac, we learned about barrel aging and how to move the whiskey around in the casks to extract the most amount of flavor. At Yoichi (Nikka), we befriended their head distiller and learned a lot about maximizing the efficiency of our distillation process. From Irish and Scottish experts, we gained insights on optimizing our mashing process to extract the most from our grain.”
The knowledge gathered from their travels was just the beginning. Amanda emphasizes that perfecting their production process was a matter of trial and error, honed over more than a decade.
“Distillation is all basically the same: grain + yeast + water = alcohol. It’s the details that make it unique,” she says.
Swift Distillery sources its barley from the UK, choosing varietals based on yield and flavor. They use a traditional Scotch-making yeast, the M-1 strand, which has proven to be the best fit for their process. Copper alembic pot stills with direct fire heating are employed, with cold condensers and precise cuts on the final product stills to ensure quality.
Authenticity is at the heart of Swift Distillery’s philosophy.
“For us, making a traditional single malt means using only one type of malted barley and aging it in a once-used bourbon barrel before finishing it in wine casks,” Amanda explains. This traditional approach is complemented by the unique climate of Texas, which accelerates the aging process.
Swift Distillery offers two distinct expressions: one finished in Oloroso casks and the other in Sauternes wine casks. The Oloroso cask imparts nutty aromas with notes of dried fruits and lightly toasted nuts, while the Sauternes cask infuses the whiskey with sweet, fruity flavors, accented by apricot and citrus notes.
While Texas offers unique advantages for whiskey production, Amanda is quick to point out that every distiller faces challenges. “Each producer around the world has to figure it out. That’s just the nature of life and business. Texas is home, so it’s where we learned to distill. It’s about doing what works for you and making the kind of whiskey you want to make.”
A significant part of Swift Distillery’s mission is educating consumers about whiskey. “Most people don’t really know what whiskey is,” Amanda says. “I usually explain that whiskey is a broad category, much like wine. Whiskey is made from grain, yeast, and water, which is then fermented, distilled, and aged in barrels.”
The Swifts also pride themselves on their hands-on approach.
“Since the beginning, it has been Nick and I making the whiskey. We truly can say our four hands made this. At one point, I wrote the date on every bottle, but now our neighbors join our bottling parties, and one of them, Cindy, with her beautiful handwriting, writes the dates.”
The future looks bright for Swift Distillery. “We hope to keep growing and expanding into new markets. We are currently working on two new expressions, a Chardonnay Finish and a Madeira Finish,” Amanda said.
As for how to enjoy Swift whiskey, Amanda’s advice is simple: “Drink it however you like it, but please drink it!”
Swift Distillery is not just about making whiskey; it’s about crafting an experience, a story, and a legacy. For those fortunate enough to get their hands on a bottle, each sip is a journey — a blend of art, science, and a little bit of that maverick attitude that Texas is known for. After traveling the world seeking inspiration and expertise that would put them on the path to crafting a fine single malt whiskey, it’s the simple beauty of the Texas Hill Country that serves as Nick and Amanda’s motivation to lead their growing operation and love for the craft.
swiftdistillery.com
Sold in Spec’s, Twin Liquors, and Total Wine, and many independent retailers.