Tito's Vodka

Tito's Handmade Vodka is a vodka produced in Austin, Texas, created by Bert Butler “Tito” Beveridge. Bert received the nickname name "Tito" or "Bertitio" from his latino caretakers in childhood. Distilled six times, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made from yellow corn, instead of the more common wheat or potatoes, resulting in a mildly sweet aftertaste.

Commercial production began in 1997 when Beveridge formed Fifth Generation Inc., becoming the first legal distillery in Texas [cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2002-04-19/food_feature.html|publisher=Austin Chronicle|date=2002-04-19|accessdate=2007-06-04|title=How a little Austin distillery caught the attention of worldwide vodka drinkers|first=Wes|last=Marshall] and producing just 1,000 cases that year. In 2007, he will have sold over 160,000 cases and maintains all production at the south east Austin distillery, where he is currently expanding from one potstill to ten and from one bottling line to four. Despite a lack of commercial advertising, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has gained market share thanks to some prestigious awards, affordable pricing, and word of mouth advertising. Currently, it is distributed coast-to-coast across North America and Canada. [cite web|url=http://www.austin360.com/xl/content/xl/500/2005/food500_05-12-05.html|publisher=XLent from the Austin American-Statesman|work=The Fortunate 500: Food and drink stars|title=People who toast the foodie social scene|first=Kitty|last=Crider|date=May 12, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-04] Sales and distribution boomed in 2001 after Tito’s Handmade Vodka unanimously won the Double Gold Medal for vodka at the World Spirit's Competition in San Francisco, beating out 71 other high-priced vodkas. [http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/pdfs/medals_01.pdf] Also that year, it received a four-star ranking from "Spirit Journal" [ [http://www.polishedpalate.com/events/vf2006/tampa/tastings/ Vodka Fest with Gin 2006-Tampa Tasting Notes ] ] and has just won four stars again in the latest edition. (2007)

Despite the growing distribution, Tito’s Vodka employs fewer than 15 people and is still handmade in small batches. Tito's has also received multiple Growth Brand Awards by the Beverage Information Group, a beverage alcohol research firm.

References

*cite web|url=http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2005/10/titos_handmade_vodka_review.php|title=Titos Handmade Vodka Review|publisher=Liquor Snob|month=October | year=2005
*cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2002/sb20021010_7271.htm|title=Handcrafted Hooch for Highbrows|publisher=BusinessWeek|date=2002-10-10

External links

* [http://www.titos-vodka.com/ Tito's Handmade Vodka]