I’m sure more than a few of you have a barrel from these guys. Partnerships sure can get messy. Their whisky has been near impossible to find around DFW lately, I wonder if this has anything to do with it. The “whisky guy” at a local Total Wine was telling me a large amount of their product was being sent over seas to Asia. I guess whisky is making a big surge over there.
http://www.dallasnews.com/business/headlines/20150103-waco-whiskey-venture-hits-sour-patch.ece
Ugggg. what a disaster. Choose your partners wisely. Even then, it’s a tightrope walk.
This one came out a while back. Similar stories are told in the Craft beer industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/business/how-dreams-and-money-didnt-mix-at-a-texas-distillery.html?_r=0
Edit - same article.
The good news is that he is starting a new place… I wish Chip all the luck!
Is it good news? I’m not saying it is entirely his fault, but it sounds like he mismanaged the hell out of balcones in regards to the expansion.
Good point, and hard to say. There are always two sides to the story. I have only heard second hand stories about this - and the frankly dramatic versions in the reporting. I suspect some PR from Balcones and investors to prevent brand problems.
Texas is better for having Chip Tate prove that small distilleries can succeed. His unique/crazy approach probably doesn’t scale up that well, and even Garrison is having issues meeting demands. They seem to be moving much more deliberately however with the new still and moving to full size barrels… while maintaining a fairly consistent product. Balcones can take his processes and scale them, and leverage a successful brand… but to what success is to be seen.
Tate is known for his passion for quality and wacky personality but is a very good distiller. I hope his new venture is successful. As you point out, that may not contain an ounce of good common business sense. Still (pun intended) - I would count Balcones a success contributed to Tate to this point, and a good chance he will succeed in this next venture.
I don’t disagree. Chip made Balcones what it is. What I doubt is that it could become a powerhouse brand. I think the appeal in the brand is the craft/boutique ideals that he brought to it as well as the great product.
With the new owners, it’s just a name IMO. Not unlike Apple in the 80’s when they fired Jobs.