I’ll make no bones about this, spirits aren’t really my thing. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m all about the grape and not the grain. So imagine my surprise when I was invited to a Whisky tasting. Not any old random shindig either, a UK launch tasting for a multi award winning American Whisky. With eyebrow raised, and never one to turn down the chance to be one of the first in the UK to try something new, I cordially accepted.

In 2008, after a summer of intensive training under Jim McEwen of Bruichladdich, Balcones Distilling was set up in

Waco, Texas by company President and Head Distiller, Chip Tate. During 2002 Chip received his diploma from the Institute and Guild of Brewing and Distilling’s (IGBD). He then went on to work as a professional brewer and brewing consultant around the US before settling into distilling.