In this new era of craft beverages, it seems like everyone we know is Instagramming their most recent home-brew. But, can you imagine trying to figure out how to create your own alcohol from scratch without the wonders of Google? That’s exactly what Bert “Tito” Beveridge set out to do in Austin, Texas in the mid-90s.
Using something called the library, Tito was able to unearth old photos of moonshiners and prohibition-era busts, but not much else on the subject of distilling. Armed with these photos, Tito built his very first still using copper pipes and a simple outdoor fryer.
Fully committed, Beveridge spent his nights sleeping in a one room shack by his still, and his days perfecting his process. From hand-bottling vodka to re-writing the laws on distilling in Texas, Beveridge was breaking boundaries and setting the precedent for the micro-distillery movement.
Beveridge definitely had the drive to distill, but how does a self-taught vodka enthusiast go from sleeping in a shack to successfully creating a vodka that’s so smooth you can drink it straight? According to Beveridge, “I basically just kinda kept working at it and working at it. We bought every vodka that was on the shelf, we put them in little mason jars and tasted all of them and came up with the two best ones. When mine consistently beat those two then I figured that I had my formula right.”
Of course, success doesn’t happen overnight. After years of hard work canvassing liquor stores and bars and introducing their brand at local parties, Tito’s Handmade Vodka began to build a dedicated fanbase in the Austin, Texas area.
In 2001, Tito’s Handmade Vodka beat out 71 other vodkas to be awarded the Double Gold Medal for vodka at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Thanks in part to that recognition, Tito’s Handmade Vodka was able to expand sales and distribution throughout the United States. Today, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is enjoyed not only nationwide, but in several other countries, as well as on airlines like American and Jet Blue.
Luckily for you, there’s no need to book a trip for a taste. With Saucey, you can get Tito’s Handmade Vodka delivered to your door in minutes. Use promo code: Beveridge10 for $10 off your first order now.
