Spirits · Waco, Texas
Balcones Distilling
The Waco distillery that helped start a Texas whisky tradition.
- Founded
- 2008
- Founded by
- Chip Tate
- Based in
- Waco, Texas
Making it since
2008
Their story
Chip Tate founded Balcones in Waco, Texas, in 2008, setting up in an old welding shop under a bridge. His aim was to start a Texas whisky tradition of its own.
Tate left the company in 2014 after a dispute with the board, which bought out his stake. Balcones has carried on in Waco and remains one of the best-known names in Texas whisky.
How it's made
In the early days, Tate and the team built much of the distilling equipment themselves from sheet metal. Balcones made what it describes as the first blue corn whisky, True Blue, and its lineup includes Baby Blue, Texas Single Malt, Texas Rye, Pot Still Bourbon and the smoky Brimstone.
Our featured pick
Cataleja: Fifteenth Anniversary Texas Single Malt Whiskey (750ML)
$160.00
Cataleja Texas Single Malt is one of the most complex and unique whiskies Balcones has ever made. It's a testament to the Balcones commitment to exploration, experimentation, and an unyielding dedication to our craft.This single malt began its maturation journey in barrels previously used to age Kentucky bourbon, and after three years of the Texas climate's concentrating effects, was transferred into decommissioned Sherry Solera casks that were meticulously hand-selected from...
Shop Balcones Distilling
6 in stock
Why we carry them
We point whisky fans to Balcones when they want to taste what Texas does differently. Baby Blue is a friendly start, and the Single Malt is worth the step up.
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