Balcones says making the move from the original facility under a bridge in downtown Waco to 225 S. 11th street, allows it to support additional growth by providing natural gas line upgrades and improved electrical and parking infrastructure.
Balcones president and chief operating officer Keith Bellinger said: “It is amazing to see our long-time dream project come alive. This new facility will not only allow Balcones to meet growing product demand, but will also allow us to welcome whisky fans to the site with features like our tasting room.”
Balcones now has four times the spirit still capacity it once had, with room to grow. The company has promised to maintain the quality and authenticity of its whiskeys.
Since its inception in 2008, Balcones claims to have more than 200 awards and accolades since 2009 and 26 awards in 2016’s first quarter alone.
The distillery has earned titles such as: Texas Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition, Craft Whisky Distillery of the Year by Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky, and Craft Whisky Distiller by Wizards of Whisky.
The new site is said to provide head distiller Jared Himstedt the flexibility to create new styles of Texas whiskeys and spirits. Brand new copper pot stills from Forsyths of Scotland are a feature at the nearly 100-year-old structure of steel, concrete and brick.
Himstedt said: “With the help of this new facility, our product can only improve. I see a promising future for our whiskeys.”
