Current Owner and Corporate Structure
Tito's Handmade Vodka is owned by Tito's Vodka, Inc., which operates as a subsidiary of the publicly traded company Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BF.A, BF.B). Brown-Forman acquired full ownership of Tito's after completing a deal that brought the brand under its spirits portfolio. The acquisition positioned Tito's within a larger group that also manages brands such as Jack Daniel's, Finlandia, and Herradura, giving Brown-Forman a stronger foothold in the premium and super-premium vodka segment Brown-Forman corporate site.
The ownership structure means that Tito's Vodka, Inc. is not a standalone public company, and its financial results are consolidated within Brown-Forman's broader earnings reports. Institutional investors who buy Brown-Forman shares gain indirect exposure to Tito's performance, while the brand continues to operate under its own name and packaging in the United States and international markets SEC filings.
Founder and Brand History
Tito's Handmade Vodka was founded by Tito Beveridge, who started the brand in Austin, Texas, in the mid-1990s. Beveridge built the company around a corn-based, small-batch distillation process and a direct-to-consumer sales model that relied on word of mouth rather than large advertising budgets. The brand became known for its hand-made claim, distinctive blue-and-white packaging, and growing popularity among craft spirits consumers.
Path to Acquisition
As demand for Tito's grew, the company attracted attention from larger spirits groups. Brown-Forman moved to acquire Tito's, finalizing a transaction that brought the Austin-based brand into the Brown-Forman family. The deal allowed Tito's to retain its identity while accessing Brown-Forman's distribution, marketing, and capital resources, and it marked a shift from a founder-led private company to a brand within a multinational publicly traded corporation.
Financial and Market Position
Tito's is one of the top-selling vodka brands in the United States, with strong retail and bar penetration across multiple categories. Brown-Forman reports Tito's sales as part of its spirits segment, where the brand contributes to growth in the premium vodka subcategory. The brand competes directly with other leading vodka labels and benefits from Brown-Forman's global distribution network and brand portfolio strategy.
Brown-Forman's ownership of Tito's is reflected in its public financial disclosures, including quarterly and annual reports filed with regulators. Analysts tracking the spirits industry monitor Tito's sales growth, margin contribution, and market share as indicators of Brown-Forman's performance in the vodka segment, and the brand's continued expansion supports Brown-Forman's overall revenue and earnings outlook Forbes business coverage.