Austin Texas, The Place No Russian Thought To Fear

When you think of award-winning vodka—or any vodka at all—you don’t naturally picture the sunny climate of Texas. Most people associate vodka with Russia, imagining stern men in bearskin hats surrounded by snow. The Russians have long dominated the vodka market, producing many of the world’s finest vodkas. While they’ve faced competition from France’s Grey Goose, they probably never expected a Texan to beat them at their own game. The vodka causing all the disruption is Tito's Handmade Vodka, crafted at the Mockingbird Distillery in Austin, Texas—the state’s first and oldest legal distillery. At the helm of this operation is Bert Butler Beveridge (yes, that’s his real name!), a Texas native who transitioned from the oil industry to the mortgage sector. After property prices plummeted, Bert turned his hobby of making flavoured vodka for friends into a full-fledged business. His childhood nickname, "Tito," given to him by his Latino caregivers, stuck—and became the name of his vodka.

This is a truly exceptional vodka—super smooth with a slight sweetness, thanks to its base ingredient of yellow corn instead of the more common wheat or potato. The vodka is distilled six times, following the philosophy that "five times is not enough, and after seven, it makes no difference." Tito initially began distilling with just one pot still made from two Dr Pepper kegs and a BBQ! While things have evolved since then, the vodka is still crafted in the same way, entirely within the Texas-based distillery.

Since its humble beginnings—producing just 1,000 cases a year in 1997—Tito’s Vodka has grown into a $85 million enterprise spread across 25 acres. Despite its success, the company remains small, employing fewer than 18 people. The vodka gained mainstream traction after years of perseverance when, in 2001, Tito’s Handmade Vodka won a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for best vodka. This was an extraordinary achievement, considering 70 other premium vodkas—including Grey Goose, Belvedere, and Ketel One—were competing. The win was unanimous among all judges, a rarity that solidified Tito’s place as a top-tier vodka.

Amazingly, Tito’s surpassed many vodkas that carry significantly higher price tags—Belvedere sells for over £35, while Tito’s sits around the £27 mark. This accolade marked the beginning of many prestigious wins, including scoring 95 points from Wine Enthusiast, receiving 4 stars in the Spirits Journal, and being named the World’s Best Vodka & Tonic at the Ultimate Cocktail Challenge. In 2013, its status was further elevated when it became the exclusive vodka served on all United Airlines flights.

Tito’s journey to establishing his distillery was far from easy. Texas had never approved a legal distillery before, under the assumption that state law forbade it. After extensive research, Tito proved there was no legislation preventing a distillery, and his license was granted. Financing the business was another challenge—he had to rack up approximately £45,000 across multiple credit cards just to get started. Purchasing 13 acres of land, he constantly moved debt from one card to another to stay afloat. Before his major win in 2001, Tito spent countless nights couch-surfing while building his brand—almost entirely through word-of-mouth marketing.

In the end, his tireless effort, dedication, and financial risk paid off. Tito has revolutionized vodka in ways he never imagined. And beyond the business, he’s a man with a heart—he’s created a sanctuary for abandoned cats and dogs at the distillery’s property and has rescued over 100 animals since starting. That says a lot about the kind of person he is.

You can see what all the fuss is about by grabbing yourself a bottle of Tito's Handmade Vodka.