Exclusive: Balcones Joins Davos Brands Portfolio, Plans National Expansion

Texas distiller Balcones, known for its range of American whiskies, has partnered with New York-based marketer Davos Brands as it looks to expand distribution throughout the U.S., SND has learned.

Based in Waco, Balcones recently ended allocation for the first time in five years, following the opening of a new distillery in 2016. The $33 million facility’s annual capacity is about 245,000 9-liter cases. The core Balcones portfolio includes Texas Pot Still Bourbon ($30), Baby Blue corn whiskey ($40), Texas Single Malt whiskey ($70), Texas 100 Proof Rye ($40), True Blue 100 Proof corn whiskey ($50), and Brimstone, a smoked corn whiskey ($50).

The brand is currently in 22 states, according to Davos vice president of marketing Danny Mandelbaum, and plans to open all remaining states next year. Balcones is nationally aligned with Southern Glazer’s. Mandelbaum adds that Balcones’ volume has essentially doubled in size each of the past two years as the company has ramped up production. “Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon and Texas Single Malt are the two most important whiskies” in the range as the expansion drive commences, Mandelbaum says.

Balcones joins Ty Ku saké, Aviation gin, Sombra mezcal, Astral Tequila, and Iichiko Shochu in the Davos Brands portfolio. Ty Ku earned Impact “Hot Prospect” honors earlier this year after rising 25% to 52,000 cases in 2018, while Aviation grew by 91% to 38,000 cases. Aviation has continued to surge this year, and is on pace to deplete more than 80,000 cases for 2019, Davos notes.—Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Balcones, Davos Brands

GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT 2021 DATA AND 2022 PROJECTIONS FOR THE WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRIES. ORDER YOUR 2022 IMPACT DATABANK REPORTS. CLICK HERE.