Art and whisky come together in Brooklyn at The Other Art Fair! The fair is only here until May 11th and it takes place at ZeroSpace located at 337-345 Butler Street and tickets are still available here! Balcones Distilling will be on deck throughout the fair to serving up whisky cocktails and samples to attendees 21+.
Secret NYC caught up with head distiller Jared Himstedt to chat about Balcones’ Artist-in-Residence program and featured NYC artist Isolina Minjeong. Himstedt is a ceramic artist himself and elaborates on the similarities between crafting whisky and art. Check out our full interview below!
This is the second year you’ve teamed up with The Other Art Fair, can you elaborate on that relationship?
Our relationship with The Other Art Fair is rooted in a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, creativity, and independent voices. Just as every artist brings something deeply personal and expressive to their work, we strive to do the same with our whiskies. Last year’s collaboration opened our eyes to how natural the connection is between what happens in the studio and what happens in the distillery. This partnership gives us a chance to celebrate both – to showcase how Texas whisky and contemporary art can challenge conventions and invite people to see familiar things in a totally new light.
Can you explain the Balcones’ Artist-in-Residence program and what it means to you?
The Balcones’ Artist in Residence program is our way of honoring the creative spirit that drives both whisky-making and visual art. It’s not just about providing a platform for artists; it’s about creating space for dialogue, inspiration, and interpretation between two seemingly different but deeply connected crafts.
This year’s artist is Isolina Minjeong – what was it about her artwork that connected with you?
Isolina’s work has this amazing sense of movement and emotional depth that really struck us. Her art feels both personal and universal, which is a balance we are often working with as we craft whiskies. She captures transformation – layers of texture and feeling – that mirrors the journey of whisky as it begins life in forests and fields, alchemizing into whisky and eventually maturing in Texas’ extreme climate. There’s a kind of confident vulnerability in her work that we deeply relate to. It’s not afraid to evolve, to shift, to challenge. That spirit really resonated with us.
Can you talk about your own background in art/ceramics and how it influences Balcones? And how does having a group of artists on the distilling team do the same?
I actually started in ceramic art, so I’ve always been drawn to tactile, hands-on processes that rely on intuition and material knowledge. Like distilling, it’s about understanding your medium, but also letting it speak back to you. That sensibility carries over into how we approach whisky at Balcones – there’s science, of course, but also feel, instinct, self-reflection and creative decision-making.
What’s special is that many people on our team also come from artistic backgrounds – printmaking, music, sculpture, writing – which gives us this beautifully diverse language when we talk about whisky. We’re doing more than making something to drink; we’re creating an experience that tells a story, that invites curiosity and emotion. That artistic mindset shows up in everything – from how we design a new expression to how we name it, bottle it, and share it.
For anyone who hasn’t had Balcones Whisky, how would you describe it?
Balcones whisky is bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in place. We strive to do our part in representing Texas with our part of the whisky making process. We take pride in representing Texas through our unique contribution to the whisky-making process. Our Texas climate is wild – temperature swings of 30 to 40 degrees in a single day – and that volatility shows up in the glass through the depth of flavor. It’s whisky that invites you to take your time and explore. We are working in new directions, getting to saunter and wander our way forward and help create what Texas Whisky can be.
What would be a major difference between making a Texas whisky versus an NYC whisky?
The first thing that comes to mind is climate. Texas doesn’t age whisky slowly or politely. The climate is full-on: intense heat, sudden drops in temperature, fluctuations that force the spirit and the wood into this constant push and pull.That makes for whiskies that are rich, dense, and with flavors that are layered and unapologetic. In NYC, the climate is more temperate – with subtle changes over the seasons. The whisky might age slower, take longer to develop, maybe lean more elegant. But here in Texas, the weather isn’t patient, and neither is our whisky. It’s shaped by the extremes, and that’s what gives it its character.
Whisky making can be considered an art form in itself – do you draw inspiration from other art, music, film, books when making or thinking about making whisky?
I think whisky-making is as much about mood and narrative as it is about ingredients and process. Sometimes I’ll be listening to a piece of music and it’ll unlock a feeling or dynamic that relates to the whisky making process. Some subtle juxtaposition of components that is crucial to how the whole composition comes together. A film will spark an idea about structure and pacing, the way a scene builds tension and releases it – or viewing how a mundane and common moments becomes epic by use of lighting, framing, etc…same with a tasting journey.
BALCONES. Distilled and bottled by Balcones Distilling, Waco TX. Please drink responsibly. Don’t share with anyone under 21.