18 Apr 2024 - Last Day at San Antonio and Rebecca Creek Distillery Tour/Tasting

 

This was our last day here in San Antonio TX and Fort Sam Houston RV Park.  We had a great time here and will definitely be back.  There is, of course, a lot to do and see here and we did not finish everything we had on our list.  I spent the morning making several phone calls and then completed our predeparture tasks a bit early because we made arrangements with our friend Frank Leota to meet him at Rebecca Creek Distillery for a tour and tasting.  He had a little surprise for us yet to come!

The tour start time was 1800 hrs and anyone that knows the traffic in and around San Antonio understands what the traffic is like this time of day!  So we started out early to be there in plenty of time for the tour.  What normally would be about a 35 minute drive was almost an hour.  As we arrived the parking lot was already becoming full.  

We made our way to the saloon and they were set up for the start of San Antonio Fiesta which lasts from today through Sun, Apr 28th.  

The saloon filled rapidly and soon our tour guide arrived.  It was Frank Leota!  He apparently works for Rebecca Creek Distillery and has since 2009!  We just thought we were going to meet him here tonight and do a tasting, so what a surprise!  So we headed over to another building along with one other couple, and Frank guided us through the process of making whiskey and vodka.  

Our tour started in the bottling area and Frank explained the process.

The bottling line

We then moved into the distilling area and Frank described starting with processing the mash and the differences in their products.

Filtration equipment eliminates impurities and refines the flavor

A huge copper still

Some nearly pure alcohol

Equipment used to measure alcohol content

We then moved into the tasting room which is also their store.  We sampled many of the Rebecca Creek whiskey and vodka products

We bought a couple items that we will include in a fund raising auction at both the Texas Alliance Rally and the National Alliance Rally in Goshen IN.  

Again, it was great seeing our friend Frank Leota last night at dinner, and tonight at the distillery wrapping up our stay here in San Antonio.  As we arrived back at Fort Sam Houston and passed the National Cemetery, we reflect on those who raised their hand and swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.   What a beautiful area this is.  

Tomorrow morning after rush hour we will head south to Mercedes TX where my sister Karen lives and we will be staying there for the next five nights.