Chip Tate had a vision for something new, something greater than pasta sauce or man bags. He aimed to establish his own Texas whiskey tradition, and thus Balcones American craft distillery was born. Despite its location within an old welding shop under a bridge in Waco, Texas, the distillery has proven to be the ideal location for producing exceptional whiskey. Chip and other Balcones members crafted much of the equipment on site by hand, using sheet metal, welding tools, and hammers, making it a truly craft distillery. Balcones produced the first-ever Texan whisky, the Texas Single Malt, and the first-ever Blue Corn whisky, the True Blue, both of which have received an impressive 140 accolades and international awards. These include the 2015 Grand Global American Whiskey in the New York International Spirits Competition, the 2015 Texas Distillery of the Year in Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky, and the 2014 Craft Whiskey Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition. With ten unique whiskies and spirits, Chip has successfully achieved his goal of making truly Texan whiskies and continues to win awards along the way.