Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/6221
80 / the tasting panel / january–february 2010 "I t's kind of an ongoing thing," says Tito Beveridge, owner and distiller of Tito's Handmade Vodka, referring to the (continual) expansion of his Austin, Texas–based distillery. "I had my original still room, then I built another still house, then a third and fourth still house. The bottling building—we added on to that thing I think four times. It's been pretty much nonstop building projects for 14 years. Which is a happy problem." Even during the current recession, Beveridge expects sales increases of 20 percent this year, as he had last year. But he says the recession has had an impact. "It seems like we sell more half gallons and people are lightening up on the liters, and people are drinking at home a little more." Perhaps the slowed economy will give Beveridge time to catch up with his construction projects. With the on- going expansions, he could potentially increase produc- tion ten-fold, though the build-out will take two more years, and even then, he wouldn't risk letting the product suffer in favor of quantity. "It seems like the more you do, it gets harder to keep the quality up, so we let that be the final determination. It's amazing how even if you're like us and try to do just one thing, it's hard to do one thing really, really good all the time." Beveridge's one thing is his artisanal unflavored vodka, distilled six times in pot stills from American corn. "Mostly we're just trying to make really good sipping vodka that goes down easy and leaves you clean in the morning, at a reasonable price where people can afford it," he says. Beveridge has been "messing around with some dif- ferent stuff" but doesn't have any plans to launch new products in the foreseeable future. The only new thing he'll be launching next year is three new bottle sizes: new 50 ml. and 200 ml. bottles, and an additional round 375 ml. bottle. "I started this thing and I was just making vodka for my friends, and I was thinking it would be great if I could make 1,200 dollars a month. Things turned out a lot better than I thought they would! I look back on it and I think: Here I am a guy who came from the oil and gas business and environmental business to a self-taught distiller—and we ended up being the house vodka at the Bellagio and winning the [San Francisco] World Spirits Competition," he says. "It's been a really interesting ride, and it just seems like it keeps evolving and growing and going and going and going." www.titosvodka.com Tito Beveridge, founder of Tito's Handmade Vodka, surrounded by cases of his growing brand. artiSanal spiriTs Texas longshot tito'S Handmade Vodka Expands, consTanTly by Camper English