Balcones Distilling Reviews

Took a day trip with my wife from Dallas and toured the Distillery. It was fantastic, it was our first stop on the Texas Whiskey Trail and we started it off on the right foot. Everyone was super friendly especially our tour guide. We got to try some fantastic whiskeys, Brimstone was my favorite, True Blue 100 proof was my wife's. They even gave us some commemorative whiskey glasses that gave us $10 off a bottle. I took home a Texas Whiskey Trail exclusive which is super exciting. Thanks Balcones for giving Texas Whiskey a great name!

Great tour! Even better whiskey . Learned a ton about their process, enjoyed the tasting, and hearing their story. Highly recommended.

Took the tour with Chris and his excitement for the process is infectious. Anybody with even a passing interest in the distilling process will have a good time on this tour, they'll get as technical as you want, all while keeping the energy going. These tours fill up fast, defitely buy your tickets in advance, but even if you're just coming for the bar, a good time is sure to be had.

The best blue corn whiskey ever. Single barrel, Brimstone, True Blue. Be sure to visit the tasting room and the gift shop.

Best distillery in usa. Love the single malt offerings. Great visit.

Very very very good whisky. Atmosphere is great and staff is very friendly.

Great tour, our guide was fantastic and thier liquor is good and strong. I highly suggest everyone to take the tour. Please eat before you go. This tour is not for the lightweight!

Best whiskey around. They give free Chex Mix snacks
with every round of drinks. My wife loved the Mojito. Friendly staff too.

Enjoyed the informative distillery tour and their fine craft whiskeys. Plan to come back to check out their new brewery.

Great whiskey, full flavors, and many to choose from. Drinks of the day and a friendly environment. I would recommend the tour to see how it's all made and taste the different kinds of whisky.

I have tried for a week to buy a sample bottle. I called Balcones, the distributor, the retailers on their website but no one had it. 3-4 people are looking for it but no one has come back to me. I will stick with Macallan or Balvenie. It is not such a great achievement to create a small batch of something good and not be able to reproduce your results. I wish I had not wasted my time with this.

I Googled their address to see their facility. It was not a comforting site.

Great experience even during covid. Great place to go.

Our tour guide was very informative and a lot of fun!

Very nice atmosphere and staff. I got a flight of Texas 1 Single Malt, True Blue 100 and Rumble.
I wanted to try their Brimstone and Rye but they told us they were out . A friend of mine got the without a doubt cocktail and it was really good too! I d like to go back again for a tour. One final thing, they have their own parking lot and that is awesome.

Really a very interesting place to visit. Great tasting bar(the whiskey, not the actual bar), and the two fruit cocktails they offer were pretty good too. Loved the tour, as well.

Had a great time on the tour with a very knowledgeable and hospitable host. The flight of tastings at the end was worth more than the tour price.

We really enjoyed the tour and tasting. The staff member that ran the tour and tasting was wonderful. I was, however, very put off by their cashier. We bought 2 bottles while there and of course they needed to see ID. I gave her my military ID since it's easier for me to get out of my wallet and it's what I always use. She refused it and said it wasn't a valid form of ID! She insisted on a driver's license and pointed to their sign that said they require ID which did not say anything about needing to have a driver's license only, just that you needed to show a valid form of ID. I did that and I even tried to explain to her that it was a valid form of ID for alcohol purposes. She wouldn't listen to me and made me dig out my driver's license. I was honestly so shocked that I checked TX law to see if maybe it wasn't a valid form of ID and the law very plainly states that military ID is valid for alcohol purchases. I even told her where to find the DOB on the military ID since they put it on the back and it has confused other people in the past when I've used it for alcohol purchases. I feel that it's not a very welcoming policy for military members and I can't believe that it is their business policy to deny a military ID for alcohol purchases. I hope it was one uninformed employee and not how the business in general regards military members and their service.

No tasting or tours try, but the gentleman I talked to in the bottle shop was very nice. They have a limited run Rum only available in the store. Can't wait until they open up again so I can visit and take the tour.

Didn't get to do the tour this time, but can vouch for great quality and excellent service in the tasting room! Get a discount on a bottle when you get a flight to taste. The specialty cocktails are worth a try. There are also some fun souvenir items available for purchase.

Was the worst experience at any place in Waco. I tried calling twice today to ask questions and received a answering machine. We bought tickets for the comedy show, no food, no cocktail service. We will never go back and will tell others what a terrible place this is. Yes I talked to the management and they couldn't care less. I received a refund from the promotor which I appreciate. Not a word from Balconies interesting.

Did the tour and it was really fun and interesting. Great whiskey and other distilled spirits.

Awesome selection of spirits! Some unique to Texas flavors via their corn selection. Really appreciated the flight and opportunity to sample several whiskies and their attention to detail in making cocktails. They offer a military discount and apply the price of the flight if you purchase a bottle! Came two days in a row and look forward to further sampling of the single malt I brought home.

We came here for an event on a Friday evening. We went the bar area and I enjoyed a flight while my wife had a mixed drink that they had as a special. We met up with some friends while we were there and enjoyed the social atmosphere.

I really liked the fact that I got a discount on purchasing a bottle since I had gotten a flight. I ended up purchasing a bottle of Baby Blue since I thought it was a good introductory bottle and since it was so smooth to drink.

We entered in a corn hole tournament and had quite a bit of fun. I'm looking forward to going back for another good time with family and friends.

Really enjoyed our first visit here - would have been so much better if we hadn't been under Covid restrictions (no tasting, etc)...but the staff was great and we loved the vibe of the place! Can't wait to come back when it's fully open and enjoy a tasting.

Excellent product, & the tour & tasting room experience was a highlight of my time in Waco. Nick, the tour guide, was knowledgeable & relaxed; really helpful with understanding the distilling process. Highly recommended for whisky (& rum) aficionados. Their mixed cocktails were great too; try the Sazerac for the perfect blend.

Cool place with a nice tasting room. We tried the $10 flight. Would like to come back to do the tour.

Just go. It's something everyone needs to do. The building itself is cool. Picked up some gifts and really enjoyed the stating. There is so much to do downtown, but this needs to be high on your to do list while in Waco.

Great place to stop amd get some great Texas whiskey, even better to spend some time and see how's it made!!

Great experience! We went on a tour led by Andrew. It was informative and a fun time

Great atmosphere and friendly staff...the drinks aren t bad either

We drove up from Houston to try the Highland Plains
We did 2 taster flight, so tried 6 different whiskeys
Nice outdoor tent space

Our guide was very knowledgeable, answered our questions, and made it a great experience.

Really enjoyed the tour and tasting afterwards. Great way to end a week.

This place rocks! The people are just as excited about their whisky as I was to try it. I will be back for sure.

Wow....the ambiance was the first thing that truly captured my attention. A portion of the old manufacturing facilty craftily turned into a small intimate setting to enjoy. But I quickly learned that was just a hint of things to come.

Their drinks are truly amazing; wonderfully crafted and served. The flavor is deep and smooth with subtle hints of specific flavors chosen for each of the special label offerings. I do admit I am new to the world of darker liquors, but I can discern quality and flavor with the best of critics.

Additionally, the experience is topped off with the inclusion of various jazz musicians from the Waco area.

The overall experience was as close to perfect as one could wish for. I highly recommend Balcones, especially their version of the Old Fashioned.

Great tour! We booked a tour and visited the distillery. The tour lasted about an hour (maybe a little more), and was great! We learned a lot about the whiskey process and got to taste 6 of their products! Highly recommend if you are in the waco area.

Great distillery in the middle of Waco! Not far from Magnolia and shopping. Cool vibe and rustic interior. Easy accessibility in and out. Tour guide was very informative and personable! I felt like I was on a personal tour- they were very welcoming and friendly like everyone in Waco. And the bourbon and whiskey were excellent! We would have bought the True Blue and Whiskey but couldn't fly it back with us :( Great place- must stop while in Waco.

This is the place that got me into whiskey in the first place. I make sure to always take my out of town guests here to introduce them to some of the best whiskeys. They have all loved it as well. Every time the staff is always friendly and loves to talk about all the different products and how they are all made. Looking forward to the next limited release!

Wow
Had a sip of a sample in Glasgow Scotland
And its an awesome distint flavour n smell blew me away
I had a sip of each and i think im gona have to be buying 3
As a true Scotsman born n bred in the Highlands this is a beautiful drink
I love burbons and have tasted over 20. But this is just beautiful
Just shows what a day trip can bring

Thank you Texas

Stephen
P.S. im a Cowboys fan

Went for Ryefest. Outdoors plaza but no dogs allowed. Sorry pet-unfriendly place. BUT Later: Got in after all with dog. Thanks. Great fun now.

I want to share a story about a great company. I recently bought a bottle of Balcones whisky who are from Texas. It is now a favorite of mine. I did have a small issue though. I email them and told them the cork top had a small hole in it. It was not a complaint, but I just wanted to pass on an FYI do that they could address it if needed. They responded to my e-mail saying that they appreciated the feedback, would look into it and send me a new cork. Talk about great customer service! The whisky is delicious and the company is great.

My husband is currently serving oversees and recieved an email about the FR.Oak release! He was so bummed that he was missing it by just a few weeks (Finally coming home!!). I decided that I would just give the distillery a call to see IF there was anything that could be done. I live in Houston so while it is not a far drive, it would be something to plan for and with the release on a Thursday, it made it that much more difficult! I spoke with Carole over the phone who immediatley was open to do and help anyway she could. She thanked both my husband for his service and me for the support.... I was literally in tears with her kind words. I will be headed up to Waco to not only thank Carole in person but pick up a bottle of the special FR. Oak soon! THANK YOU, Carole- for making this all possible, for your level of customer service and your support for our military!

Bought a flight with True Blue, True Rye 100, and True Blue 100. Bought bottles of the latter two to take home. The Rye is extremely dry and provocative. True Blue 100 maybe my new favorite. Wish I had tried the French oak single malt.

One of my favorite establishments in Waco. My family regularly frequents the facilities either on tours or just to have a nice cocktail. My personal favorites are the Brimstone, Single Malt, and True Blue. I also like their beers, particularly the English Ale. Even if you don't like whiskey, I highly recommend going on the tour.

This was my second visit and enjoyed the knowledgeable, well informed and well prepared tour guide's presentation. Sampled a couple of expressions that were new for me and enjoyed them. Pleasant staff and really nice whisky made for a terrific experience.

Didn t get a bottle of Brimstone PX because i was doing the tour! Should have skipped it if i knew they were going to sell out even though they said i could get one after the tour then all the receptions said was Oops Sorry disappointing after an amazing tour with grate people clean distillery, and amazing tasting!

We had an amazing tour and really enjoyed the tastings. Margaret was great -- really knowledgeable and passionate!!!

Stopped here to pick up some whiskey for a gift after visiting Magnolia Market. Staff was very knowledgeable and helped us with our purchase.

Dog friendly! I don't like whiskey but loved the Moscow mule cocktail they served. Friendly staff. Would recommend.

I had a great time touring the Balcones distillery. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer any question we came up with. The gift shop was well stocked and the bar offered something for any taste. I would definitely recommend this tour to anybody interested in how whiskey is made.

The greatest whisky I've ever tried !
Nice place,

Great place, super nice bartenders and tasty whiskey to boot!

Very interesting whiskey distillery. I like the wooden aesthetic and the whiskey flight sampling at the bar. If feeling classy is your thing, give Balcones a shot! (No pun intended).

Absolutely great whiskey. I cant wait to try the texas bock!!! These guys know there stuff!

Simply astounding whiskey. After having tasted many bourbons, scotches, and other whiskeys across America and across the world, I can honestly say that Balcones features some amazing whiskeys that are among the best I've ever had. This is a real gem in the heart of Waco and taking a tour of their new distillery is a must on any tourist list.

Excellent whiskey with excellent staff presenting said whiskey!

We went on a tour, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly! This is an awesome place to visit if you like whiskey!

Very informative and entertaining tour, and the samples were a plus.

As seen on Drinking Made Easy! Whiskey!! I mean Rumble!

Visited on Sat (10/7) after recommendations from several locals the night before. It was fantastic! Great vibe, beautiful building and the whisky was top notch. Employees were very knowledgeable and friendly. Great experience. I'm all the way from MN and can't wait to go back. Will have to bring my husband and do the whole tour next time. Be sure to let me know when you start distributing to MN! I brought back a bottle of the single malt, but I don't think it'll last long. ;)

This place is so fun - our tour guy, Andrew, was great! The tour was interesting and we enjoyed the whiskey tasting :). Thank you!

I can't really judge too much because COVID has shoved the action outdoors. So tasting was in the tent in the parking lot. But I really enjoy their stuff so that helped. I got the bottles I wanted, that I couldn't buy at Specs. So overall, a success!

This place is fantastic! If you have never done a distillery tour, this is the place to do it. The whole process and their story is pretty phenomenal, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Our tour guide Chris did an amazing job and really represented his company well. Great Operation and cant wait to see where you all go in the future.

This place is fun just to hangout and drink and eat some BBQ from the food truck but the tour was awesome. My husband and I learned a lot. The stuff is nice and will answer all your questions. It is a must when in Waco

Not really worth a visit. Has a few of different alcoholic beverages, it's handcrafted , but prices are high. Unless you really something local, it's worth a visit., otherwise skip.

You simply cannot go wrong with stopping in. The whiskies are incredible, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere cannot be matched. Chris as a tour guide was great!

Very nice here. Lots of whiskey to sample on flight and cocktails as well.
A little warm though. Well, either that or it s the whiskey.

It was a very interesting and well presented tour and our tour guide was outstanding. On top of all that, their whisky is very good.

What a fun place and it s great to see how they did/do it! We have been to many distilleries in Scotland and Ireland and this was equally as much fun and the libations just as good. I especially like the single malts. If you buy a flight of samples the reduce the price of a bottle so we walked out with 3 bottles to keep us in the spirit on our trip around Texas.

This is a very nice venue and these guys take their whisky seriously. I stopped in for a tasting two weeks ago. Great bartenders providing friendly, prompt service. A good crowd enjoying themselves. I tasted their single malt whiskies, and that's the only reason I gave them a lowly 3 stars. The whisky is not done well. The ABV is excessive and the flavor is too harsh for a single malt. Even when I added a little water, the flavor was remnant of cough syrup. I'll give them a few years to figure it out. Regardless, I'll be back to taste their bourbon-style corn whisky.

Will update the more we drink of it. Inside was clean.

Quick tasting during the family vacay; didn t have time for the tour, but: great whiskey, friendly staff and kids are ok in the tasting room!

Simply the best whisky I've had. Managing to impress even in these difficult times too. The outdoor seating and service was incredible. Cheers!

Great place to go to grab drinks or go on a tour! Drove down from Dallas and went on a tour and tasting. Everyone was very knowledgable and friendly. It was worth the day trip!

Great whiskey - the bartenders are nice and helpful, the tours there excellent. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and the whiskey tasting at the end of the tour was great. If you enjoy whiskey, this place should be on your list.

Easily the best whiskey in Texas. Has won many national awards as well. Great space with nice, knowledgeable staff. Take the tour, it's a blast!

They have a tent set up to allow the facility to remain open when with social distancing requirements. The setup is really nice with heaters and the staff was attentive to service as well as ensuring that people were following the rules that allow them to remain open. Of course the whisky is great as well. A good setup overall given the damper that covid has put on outings like this.

Highly recommend.

Very cool atmosphere, great service & whiskey, excellent cocktails!

Excellent whiskey made here in the USA. Wish it was available here in Missouri but it makes the drive to Waco a lot easier knowing it's made there.

*Happy update: It's now available in Missouri! Great!

Highly recommend the tour of Balcones. We found it interesting and fun. At the end there was a full tasting too. Great people, great products, will be back again soon!

Bartenders were very nice. I highly recommend checking Balcones Distillery out, you won't be disappointed.

Best Whiskey I've ever had was the Brimstone they make. And I can say that confidently after going on the Kentucky Whiskey Trail with more than 7 distilleries.We even got to buy a small bourbon barrel. It was awesome!!

Quality spirits that are actually distilled (check the label people) in Texas. Stop in the tasting room and bring your questions and thirsty mug. Your taste buds will thank you.

Great spirits made by awesome people! Went for the pre-release of the Rum and Rum cask finished Single Malt. Both are delicious. The people there are always friendly and I've found my new favorite whisky.

Great whiskey. Wish we could have checked out the distillery but we were forced to sit in a large tent due to the BIG C that is taking the world by storm. Speaking of storm it was a windy wet night. We stayed warm and fuzzy with the assistance of the tent and great spirits. Living in MN the option to return will be difficult but as a bonus for me I found a local liquor store sells it. I shall support you from 1200 miles away.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish. Great location in a beautiful town. Great tour, staff and product. This one will be hard to top!

Really enjoyed the wide list of drinks. Went with a group and every drink was very good and decently priced. Not a ton of space but we re lucky it was not very full when we dropped in. Definitely check it out.

Great experience! Excellent tour and tasting. My wife doesn t drink much bourbon (especially straight in the glass) and had a good time trying different varieties. Genuine tasting room and atmosphere. Highly recommended and will be returning.

I can't say much due to the COVID crackdown of everything fun. So ya, tastings outside in a tent. But, it is what it is. I had a flight of stuff I wanted to taste. My buddy and myself had a beer and a mixed drink, then left with the bottles I could only buy there. So, great success!

Nice place to sit and sample good spirits. The people were knowledgeable and friendly. Atmosphere was clean and welcoming. No complaints.