Balcones

Since 2009, Balcones has experienced remarkable growth, to the point of now being considered the largest whiskey producer outside of Kentucky and Tennessee . The distillery was established in Waco, Texas , in a former welding shop transformed into a place of creation and innovation.

Driven by an unwavering passion—and sometimes by necessity—the founders of Balcones went so far as to design and manufacture the machinery and equipment essential to the production of their whiskies themselves. This handcrafted machinery , still in use today, is an integral part of the distillery's identity.

In 2008, the site was completely redesigned: the walls were demolished, the roof replaced, and a copper still from Portugal was installed. Distillation officially began in 2009 , with particular attention paid to the selection of raw materials, notably blue corn from New Mexico and malted barley from Texas . Initially a small, artisanal distillery, Balcones took a further step in 2016 with the opening of a larger distillery, complete with a visitor center.

Balcones has also established itself as an innovative player in the US malt whisky market , setting its own standards. Contrary to common practices and US legal requirements—which mandate neither a minimum three-year aging period nor the exclusive use of malted barley—Balcones adopts a more rigorous approach. While the majority of American whiskies are continuously distilled in column stills, Balcones exclusively uses pot stills , custom-designed by the prestigious Scottish foundry Forsyths in Rothes .

The Texan climate, marked by extreme variations, accelerates the aging process. Balcones takes advantage of this with an original method called "Yard-Aging," which involves temporarily exposing the casks to the intense Texas sun to enhance the interaction between the wood and the whisky. All Balcones whiskies are bottled without coloring or chill filtration , guaranteeing an authentic and natural expression.

Master distiller Chip Tate personally and meticulously oversees every cask leaving the distillery. This commitment to quality is regularly recognized at international spirits competitions.

The Balcones Texas Single Malt – Classic Edition notably won the title of “World’s Best American Whisky” at the World Whiskies Awards 2014, and then “Best American Single Malt” in 2016. The distillery has also been honored every year since 2015 with gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
And yes, at Balcones, the word "Whisky" is intentionally written without an "e," in the Scottish style. Read less