Balcones Distilling

Great and friendly staff, especially Don who waited on us at the bar, making great drinks, pouring a great flight, and sharing in knowledgeable conversation! We learned a lot about the distillery, the products and the general area! Purchased a bottle of their 15 year anniversary expression (De Color) and look forward to enjoying it for some time. Would highly recommend this place to any whisk(e)y lover!

Great experience in our visit, both bar and tasting tour. Our guide very knowledgeable and friendly. Whiskey were strong and flavorful.

Took the distillery tour. We had a great time. Our tour guide, Alexander, was terrific. He presented a knowledgeable and clear explanation of Balcone's whiskey making process. A taste testing of five of the whiskey products created by Balcones was fun and informative. Recommend highly.

The tour was short but informative and entertaining! Cool to see the behind the scenes and gave me a greater appreciation for what goes into making a good whiskey. The tasting room reminded me of a wine class. Taught me how to choose a whiskey that suited my palate. The reconditioning of the old building into what it is today was awesome to see. The character and history of the building added to the experience.

The balcones logo and name is based on the valley trench where the distillery originally sourced its water. The distiller opened in 2008 and now operates out of the fireproof storage building which once housed luxury fur coats. This building is one of the survivors of the deadly and destructive 1953 tornado outbreak (along side the Alico building, which was at one point in time the tallest skyscraper south of the Mason-Dixon Line). The distillery boast the “unofficial” largest copper stills. Their single malt and brimstone editions offer a unique Texas smoke and leather taste to it. Its provenance could be attributed to the terry blacks BBQ next door which offers delicious brisket. Diageo acquired the distillery in December of ‘22. Their blue corn based whiskey “Baby blue” is smooth. They also have a micro brewery footprint onsite and at some local pubs.

We came here as a pregame for an escape room and it was a nice experience. If you like whiskey this is such a cool place!! I am not a big whiskey fan so this was not my cup of tea. However I can appreciate the staff and what they have to offer. They have cocktails and spirits such a scotch, bourbon, whiskey, and rum. The drinks are strong and the atmosphere is fitting.

Our group had an excellent and informative tour. Our guide, Cara, was well informed and easily answered our questions. Thanks Cara! After the tour, we had a few perfectly prepared cocktails in the bar. I took home a bottle of single malt and a bottle of rye. The rye makes a wonderful Old Fashioned!

A must-stop every time I'm in Waco. After a couple tasting flights I took home a bottle of the rye and always enjoyed it. I came back next time to have another tasting and get another bottle. This is the best whiskey I've found in Texas. The distillery has whiskey tastings, a full bar of cocktails made from their spirits, and beers as well. There's also a gift shop of their glasses, branded shirts , hats, and a few books. They have tours, a decent size parking lot and, across the road, a couple restaurants and a cookie shop.

I was so excited to finally visit the Balcones distillery. As one of my top two favorite distilleries I was eager to take the tour and get some distillery only releases. They did not disappoint! Not only was the staff amazing and the drinks exactly what I hoped for... I was staying longer afterwards to meet one of the master distillers and the staff told me it was ok to DoorDash food to the tasting room! The tasting room was so comfortable and the perfect setting to enjoy a great glass of whiskey. Definitely would recommend a visit.

Great tasting room with knowledgeable staff. The room is gorgeous, the bar is top, and if you don't want just to taste they have a cocktail menu too. Balcones offers whiskey, single malt, bourbon, rum and beer.

This is world class ! I highly recommend taking the very thorough and fun tour if you are looking for a unique and exquisite experience. The staff are cool and knowledgeable on the entire process and there is plenty of tasting along the way. Stop by their shop to purchase unique whiskey that is only sold in their store -- they have a tasting room like a bar where you can hang out with friends. Their bottles make great gifts !

Aight look. Just keeping it totally real. The tasting room was really cool. Staff were nice and attentive. The whiskey however is just...ok...and I like whiskey. The cocktails however are very good. Try those when you go.

Easy to get to from the highway. The building is large but the tasting room is pretty small but not cramped. We were greeted and served promptly with our server giving us some suggestions and insights on their products. I really liked the Brimstone Whiskey.

Years ago I got a taster of the Texas Blue Corn whiskey. They very occasionally have it in California and it's a treat. This summer I was looking for things to do in Waco and Balcones popped up. I made a reservation for the distillery tour. They far surpassed my expectations. The distillery is top notch and the tour very informative. The tour guides knows his stuff and it's obvious that he is passionate about it. For a small/medium distillery, that is unusual. The whole enterprise is so well put together that anyone who appreciates the art and science of alcohol making will love the tour. The bar and gift store are beautiful spaces and a great place to hang out and try some great whiskeys. Sadly, many of them are hard to get outside of Texas, so if you are a whiskey or rum lover, this place is a must.

Don't order gift cards from here. They use a 3rd party vendor and will state there's nothing they can do. No refund and no resolution. I'm out $100.

At first we were a bit apprehensive as the bartender was persistent in getting our order to the point where I had to keep asking for him to give us a minute so we could read there really good drink menu. He finally cracked a smile and was great from there on out. Funny and a great drink maker made it a nice break from the Silo's excursion. Whiskeys are of course super good, but the creative drinks were the stars. BTW they also have beer! You can even order from a local cafe while you are there.

Wonderful service even though the bar and everything was closed, they gave me multiple tastings of 6+ whiskeys and rum. Left with a bottle of the Single Malt classic Texas whiskey. So good. I will need to come back for a full flight and experience.

We love this place and the whiskey is amazing. The atmosphere is just breathtaking and takes you to another time and place.

I've been to Balcones multiple times as they are my favorite whiskey to date. I grew interested in Texas Whiskey a few years ago when I was given a sample of Balcones and told about the Texas Whiskey Trail. Every time I visit this distillery, they have fantastic cocktails that are creative and fun. The staff is always welcoming and appreciates the business whether your first visit or 100th. Balcones is a pioneer of Texas Whiskey along with defining what American Single Malt is all about. If you have not tried Balcones yet, give it a whirl - you will be impressed. I highly recommend their Brimstone and "1" single malt to start out - they are quite delicious and represent what Balcones is all about.

Great find in Waco - greeted and served by Theron -he was not only welcoming but very knowledgeable. We did a flight with a few extras...yes. Bought a few bottles and will return. Thanks Theron for a great tasting experience.

If you are interested in learning more about good whiskey, especially Texas Whiskey, Balcones is a must visit.

Hubby and I plan 1-2 dates a month around the alphabet. We we're on "W" and what is a better stop than WACO and WHISKEY. I cannot tell you how big of a smile I got from my husband when we turned into Balcones Distillery. Just so you know, my husband loves his WHISKEY. Back to Balcones, I booked a tour and tasting as part of our "W" experience. Balcones is located in WACO where they began distilling in 2009. It all started in an old WELDING shop under a bridge where they shoehorned a WHISKEY distillery inside a quaint building. Balcones is a grain to glass distillery. They craft many WHISKIES and spirits which have received WORLDWIDE recognition. We enjoyed the tour and of course the tasting at the end. It was WORTH the tour and our guide was funny, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Guide was knowledgeable and cocktails were great at their bar. Only things that I would note. Their tours. A little underwhelming for a distillery of this caliber. Tour was too brief and rushed for my opinion. Tasting room was small and no seating.

We really enjoyed our visit to Balcones, which is located in a neat old building. Our tour guide was Eric and he was very knowledgeable and funny, making our tour very educational and memorable. We sat at the bar after our tour and had two great bar tenders. Theron and Nick were both awesome and our drinks were amazing! We can't wait to go back for another tour and drinks!

An amazing experience from (in my opinion) the best Texan distillery there is. can't remember the tour guides name off the top of my head, I know he had a big beard and wore a kilt, but he was insanely knowledgeable about the entire distilling process and easily answered every question that was asked by everyone on the tour. The stills are truly breathtaking and the entire facility is immaculately clean and welcoming. I would recommend this place to anyone even if whiskey isn't necessarily "your thing", the history you learn about the city of Waco is well worth the cost of admission.

Creative and intelligent experts, provided a fun and interesting tour! And the tastings and the education sold me! I loved the Cataleja, the Texas Rye, and the Baby Blue! I used to only drink Old Fashioneds, but I have graduated to drinking my whiskey neat!

Due to COVID, they are not giving tours or using their indoor tasting room. They have set up an outdoor tasting tent in the parking lot with some additional outdoor seating around fire pits and picnic tables in the shade. It's a nice setup, but I did feel a little cheated when I saw the spaciousness of their indoor tasting area... Hubby and I shared 2 flights and each found one in our flights that we liked. We bought a couple of bottles before leaving and were a little surprised that we were still charged for our tastings. We are used to having tastings waived if you purchase something. All in all, it was a pleasant experience.

First visit and I really enjoyed it. Took the distillery tour. Christian was a great tour guide. It was hot out that day so he was good about trying to keep us in the shade. It was very informative, and the tasting was a really cool part. Met some good people on the tour. Went back to the tasting room afterward. Had the Texas Dove which was a really good whiskey cocktail. You could order food from the restaurant across the street if you chose to. You can buy bottles, branded clothing, and accessories there too. Just bummed that I forgot to buy a hat. Definitely worth the trip.

Tour was very fun and informative! Whiskey samples weren't bad either! Tour guide was knowledgeable!

Very cool vibe at Balcones. Awesome brick building and the staff know their stuff. I broke away from my wife and daughters visiting The Silos, so I didn't have a lot of time, but enjoyed my visit just the same. Not sure if I could have got a flight for outside to go with a cigar, but if so, that would have been epic.

A must stop for whiskey lovers. Probably a dozen different varieties of bourbon, whiskey and rum available to sample (3 half-ounce pours for $12). They've also added draft beer to their offerings. You can buy up to 2 bottles per adult to take home. Balcones has done an impressive and thoughtful job of adapting the tasting experience to keep it safe during the pandemic. A well-ventilated but heated outdoor tent contains maybe a half-dozen well-spaced tables. Flights are served in sturdy single-use plastic nosing glasses that make great (and free) souvenirs. The spiked eggnog, aged 1 year, is a real treat if it's available (seasonal).

There's not much to do in the area so we came here after finding it on Yelp. Small area but looked cool inside. Lots of whiskey flavors and it was cool to try a few. The beer also tasted good. Staff was nice.

Nice gathering place for drinks. We had great cocktails in the tasting room. Nice decor.

I haven't even tried the whiskey yet and I already love this place. Easy to get to. Great parking. And a nice atmosphere for trying something new. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable about their stuff. (Okay, now I have a flight in front of me!) I have three of their whiskies in front of me and all are quite good. I've been to multiple distilleries and many of them struggle providing any nuance or flavor profiles, differences at all. These guys do! Unbeknownst to me, they also have beer and gin. After this flight I will have my standard old fashioned with their Baby Blue. Cheers!!

The tour/tasting was well worth the time and money. A great activity while my wife and mother-in-law spent the afternoon at the Silos. It's within walking distance from Magnolia. The guide was knowledgeable, entertaining, and friendly. I was alone, but having others in the tour group took away any awkwardness. Highly recommend.

Have to say, one of my favorite places for me and sweetie to visit. We always do a flight of whiskey and beer. Never disappointed. Paul could be a little more hospitable, but that's ok, still enjoy the place! We always have some of their whiskey in our cabinets, including our Tres Hombres.

First things first! You definitely want to take the tour. Sadly, we moved around so much we didn't get there in enough time to enjoy that experience. Distillery tours always give such amazing insight and educational information on the eco-system to keep things balanced. I was on a specific journey this day because of The Pint Exchange from Houston Texas. They've been working with Balcones to do a barrel aged Imperial Stout. This was a collaboration I was excited to try and bring back from extra crowler. This stout comes in at a big body 14.7%. It's delicate and lush creamy mouth feel of warm coffee and boozy !! Just my type of party. I had no idea that made beer as well as liquor on site. A friend had the cold IPA (Lucid) 6.8% and a cocktails. I believe the Texas Dove. It's a nice space. Being height deprived I'm not fond of the high stools but they also had lower seating. Since we had a group we needed that space. The staff was pleasant and handled the surge of customers well right before closing. I gotta go back to sample more of Balcones.

Balcones Tour My father and I did the distillery tour. We enjoyed every minute. I was surprised to find out they have rum, too! Our guide, Andrew, did a fantastic job of explaining their processes and answering our questions. If I were the owner, I'd give Andrew a pay raise. Everybody was super nice and welcoming. Good vibes all around. Highly recommended.

Wonderful distillery tour!! We really enjoyed their cocktails. The ability to buy limited edition bottles was awesome.

My husband being the lover of bourbon wanted to check out this place on our Waco trip. We stopped by on a quiet Tuesday afternoon. We ordered a variety of beverages while sitting at the bar. I enjoyed watching the bartender make our drinks. My husband got a flight of three bourbons - blue (3/5), rye (4/5) and pot still (3/5). I asked my husband to rate each one. I ordered the Campfire Blues (5/5) which was super delicious. It is infused with Baby Blue with lime and jalapeños. Highly recommend! Secondly, my husband had a mule with bourbon (5/5) and I had a drink with a play on a mojito (4/5). We had a great experience trying different drinks.

I have been a consumer of their distilled products for about 12 years. This was my first visit to the distillery. Fabulous location nicely presented product. Tastings were reasonable and offered product not available elsewhere. Great trip. If you like whiskey stop by.

A fun tour, including four tasty sample pours of their products. I recommend visiting their bar for cocktails and enhanced pours, beyond those included during the tour. They, also, produce several beers onsite worthy of a taste.

Even though the tasting room is currently shutdown (more CoVid fallout), they have a tasting tent setup. The drinks are tasty (I would suggest getting a flight and then a cocktail with your favorite) and the staff is as friendly as always. The only downside is it's a little toasty

Fun and informative tour and fantastic whiskey and spirits. Highly recommend Balcones.

Rumor has it that I like whiskey and sometimes whisky. I didn't have time for the tours this trip but will make a special effort another time. The Master classes (4 classes of 3 hours each) are what I'd enjoy, but I might have to settle for the VIP or the regular tour. See the home site to learn more. ( https://balconesdistilling.com/visit/ ) This business is a delightful addition to a city that needs it. This is not simple and cheap distilled spirits but rather top shelf varieties! I've read and heard what makes this spot on Earth and this building so important to getting the best out of every barrel. It being almost in the middle of the Texas population sure can't hurt and it is just blocks off the main highway (I35)! The gift store and tasting bar are impressive even if small. I suspect they will need to find a new place as this venture grows. The staff are exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly! I'm jealous of Yelpers in Waco as this would be a great Yelp event location!

This is a cute little distillery to stop by if you're in Waco (or live there). The prices are pretty high - around $12-15 per drink or tasting. The quality is good, and flavors varying. There are some that are very similar taste to Scotch whisky. My main gripe was that it's not a place to get the tasting explained - as in the notes and flavors of each sample. I was hoping I'd learn a bit more about the whiskey I was trying. The ambiance was more of a bar vibe than a distillery (in my opinion), we had a good time nevertheless. Tours seem to be able to be booked last minute, which is a bonus. We didn't do it, but if you're interested in the process of how they make their whiskey - I'd say go for it.

Balcones is one of the best distillery. The whiskey and other drinks could stand alone with greatness, but the atmosphere is amazing. Everyone is friendly. And the tour is highly recommended. Pics of drinks below.

Excellent choice for a visit if you are a fan of craft brewing. Flavored and traditional bourbon and rums are well described on the menu and deliver the expected flavor profile. Wife tried the Dark & Stormy, Queen Anne's Revenge (both were excellent) and the Rum Rizz which was good but a step below the others. I started with a Manhattan (excellent flavor) and the Bourbon Smash bookended a flight of bourbon. Smash was a good palate cleanse after the bourbon flight which was a great value (generous pours) and very tasteful. Definitely recommend this destination.

Drinks, service was impeccable. Had the best whiskey sour here, it was an excellent experience.

Great distillery in the center of Waco TX. I did a bourbon flight then an excellent house old fashion with some bar snacks. Didn't do the tour or food due to lack of time but would be interesting. Staff were attentive , knowledgeable and made a tasty OF. Purchased 3 small shot size bottles ( single malt, pot still, baby blue) at a local liquor store for my own personal flight which fit my budget and travel schedule well.

Interesting tour and then tasting. Highly recommend doing this. Friendly staff!! Bought some whiskey and rum.

The whiskey sour is exceptional! Great service. Nice atmosphere. We bought a few souvenir shirts and sweatshirts too.

Exquisite experience for the casual drinker, distilling enthusiast and whiskey snob. A wide swath of variety and detailed understanding of every step in each process. Alexander led a great tour with an answer for every detailed question. A must to experience for anyone out 2-4hrs from Waco.

Great place for whiskey tour and a great time with our friends and trying this place.

Very nice staff. Great tasting flights. Also have wine, beer, cocktails , and mock tails.

Dropped by on the way home. They have set up a tent out side so there more room with outside chairs and games. This is the first whiskey tasting I've done and really enjoyed it. They have a bunch of whiskeys to choose from and can buy them afterward. A great experience.

This place is a great stop if you are in or passing through Waco. Check for their hours and if you can, try to get on a tour! The gift shop has a bar feel to it. You can order flights of different bourbons or you can order a cocktail. We did both and we weren't disappointed!! The decor is really cute and somewhat rustic, the old fashioned was on point, and the workers were very friendly!! I look forward to going back and doing a tour. Will definitely come by again as I am a fan of Balcones!!