Who Created Tito's Handmade Vodka

Who Created Tito's Handmade Vodka

Tito's Handmade Vodka was created by Bert "Tito" Beveridge, a Texas entrepreneur who founded the brand in 1997 in Austin, Texas. Beveridge positioned the vodka as a handcrafted, small-batch product made from yellow corn and distilled six times in pot stills. The company is now owned by Brown-Forman Corporation, which completed its acquisition of Tito's in 2014 after years of growth in the premium vodka category.

The brand is widely recognized as one of the leading craft vodka producers in the United States. Tito's is known for its square bottle, minimalist labeling, and strong presence in the premium spirits segment. It competes with brands like Grey Goose, Belvedere, and Ketel One, and is frequently cited in rankings of top-selling craft vodkas in the U.S. market.

Founder Background and Business Strategy

Bert Beveridge is a former geophysicist and real estate investor who entered the spirits industry with no prior distilling experience. He used personal savings and raised capital from friends and family to launch Tito's Handmade Vodka in Austin, Texas. The company started as a micro-distillery and grew steadily by focusing on quality, word-of-mouth marketing, and a direct-to-consumer sales model.

Tito's was one of the first craft distilleries in Texas to receive a distillery license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The brand's early strategy emphasized small production volumes, handmade methods, and a clear positioning as an affordable premium vodka. This approach helped Tito's build a loyal following and attract attention from major spirits distributors and investors.

Brand Growth, Ownership, and Market Position

Brown-Forman Corporation, a global spirits company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, acquired Tito's Handmade Vodka in 2014. The acquisition gave Brown-Forman access to Tito's strong retail distribution and growing brand equity in the premium vodka segment. Tito's continues to operate under its own brand name within Brown-Forman's portfolio of spirits companies.

Tito's Handmade Vodka is now one of the top-selling vodka brands in the United States, with widespread availability in liquor stores, restaurants, and bars across the country. The brand is frequently referenced in industry reports and consumer rankings as a leading craft vodka option. For more details on Brown-Forman's spirits portfolio, visit https://www.brown-forman.com, and for information on U.S. spirits market trends, visit https://www.forbes.com.