Sips & Sites & Bites

For Shiner, beer just isn’t enough.

On Valentine’s Day, February 14th, the Texas icon releases its first-ever rye whiskey, adding a bold new chapter to the bourbon it rolled out last fall. If that debut signaled Shiner was serious about whiskey, this rye makes it clear they’re here to stay.

Texas Legend Straight Rye isn’t just a side project with a famous name slapped on the label. It’s crafted from a sweet mash of malted rye, yellow dent corn, and two-row barley, then double copper pot distilled. From there, it heads into heavy toast, level 1 char barrels and rests in a single-story open-air warehouse … which, in Texas, means the elements have plenty of say in the final flavor.

And that flavor? Big and layered, just like you’d hope from a Texas rye.

Expect a full-bodied pour with notes of cinnamon, clove, and citrus leading the charge. There’s a brightness to it, but it doesn’t run sharp. Instead, those classic rye spices are rounded out with toffee, vanilla, and a warm baking-spice finish that lingers without overstaying its welcome. It’s the kind of rye that feels just as comfortable neat as it does standing tall in a Manhattan.

What makes this release especially interesting is that it’s coming from Shiner’s own first rye distillation … not sourced, not rushed. This is the distillery flexing what it’s been quietly building.

“This release represents a defining moment for Shiner as we continue to evolve beyond brewing and establish our place in Texas whiskey,” said Tom Fiorenzi, Director of Brewery and Distillery Operations. “Bottling whiskey from our first rye distillation reflects the long-term vision we have for the distillery and the standards we’ve set from day one.”

That long-term vision matters. Plenty of breweries dabble in spirits. Fewer commit to building a true distilling identity. Shiner seems intent on doing just that … honoring its brewing roots while carving out a distinctly Texan whiskey profile.

It’s also worth noting that rye feels like the right move. Bourbon may dominate shelves, but rye brings personality. It brings spice. It brings backbone. And in a state that doesn’t do subtle particularly well, that tracks.

For longtime Shiner fans, this is a chance to see the brand through a different lens. For rye drinkers, it’s another Texas contender stepping into the ring. Either way, this Valentine’s Day just got a little more interesting.