Very casual but sophisticated tasting experience. High quality whiskey, relaxed and beautiful space. Prices are outstanding. I typically go for a rye whiskey, but I actually didn't prefer the rye here, it tasted smokey. The single malt was very smooth, and the blue corn had a super interesting marshmallow flavor. I got several bottles for gifts. Not sure why this place was so quiet on a Saturday night? Maybe it is more popular during the day for tours. I rather enjoyed the quiet. Excellent service and experience. read more

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. read more

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We needed something to do while in Waco. Balcones Distilling tour stood out as something to do. From beginning to end the experience was informative and engaging. Our guide was very knowledgeable and extremely passionate, walking us through the history, production process, and unique features of their spirits. We even learned a lot about the history of the building itself. The facility was clean and charming, blending modern craftsmanship with traditional methods. One of the highlights was the tasting session. Every sample had its own distinct flavor. From the Baby Blue, to the Texas 1, to the Lineage to the Rye, you are bound to find a flavor that will tickle your taste buds. The staff were friendly. There is an area where you can purchase various bottles of whiskey and souvenirs. The tour was great! I highly recommend this tour to anyone needing an outing while in the Waco area. Add Balcones to your top 5 things to do in Waco list. read more

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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. read more

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Love this place. Me, and, and, a group of friends came down here during the 4th of July weekend for the first time to try out the drinks. I'm impressed, I loved all the ones I've ordered and the service was great, and the server was nice and attentive. Bartender was quick to make drinks, and just overall, easy going. Awesome experience, and good prices with a nice ambiance, and chill place! read more

Balcones Distilling - Menu - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Top notch whiskey! Get a full fleet or two with a friend and make memories. Brought home their best bottle for a gift and delighted to know you can order their fine fare thru "Total Wine". read more

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. read more

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Came in for a tour for something to do in Waco. We loved the atmosphere. Alex was our guide. He was fun and energetic. There is some machinery, but you get to see some of the process. There is sampling at the end of the tour. We came back to try some of the other products not sampled on the tour. We each got a "Flight" of three different blends. All were different, bring your best taste buds. They will be challenged on multiple fronts with the hints and notes of various flavors. Seasonal menu and regular menu to choose from. There are also mixed drinks using their alcohols and they have a brewery on site that they sell its wares in their tasting room. Paul was awesome in his knowledge of their product and pairing it to the wife and I. We are coming back. We want to try more. Great little gift shop and tasting area. Open Noon to 9pm Tues-Sat. Take the tour Thursday-Saturday. Well worth the time. read more

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Great tour and delicious spirits! Definitely worth the trip. You can do a tour or have drinks in the lounge. read more

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Campfire Blues - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Came across Balcones Distilling while planning a girls' trip to Waco. Booked the Introductory Tour & Tasting, which I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in spirits. The behind-the-scenes tour (something not offered by most distilleries) was so informative and our guide was a lot of fun. As someone who has only recently gotten into drinking whiskey, I really appreciated the guided tasting. We finished off our visit with drinks at the bar, where they offer a unique menu of seasonal cocktails. The entire experience was five stars. I cannot say enough good things about them. Balcones was a highlight of the trip. read more

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. read more

Balcones Distilling - The exterior of the distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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 ! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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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). read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Part of the distillery trail - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Beer flight - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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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!! read more

Balcones Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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

Balcones Distilling - When we did a whiskey tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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! read more

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Whisky for whisky balls! While I did not need to justify a stop at Balcones, making a popular Christmas treat with whisky from home was reason enough. This allowed for holiday libations such as Lemon on a Pear, a Dr Pepper Old Fashioned, and Egg Nog. You can find select products from Balcones at your local liquor store, but if you can get to Waco, the distillery is worth a stop so that you can try the cocktails. Also, buy a sweatshirt! So soft. read more

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - $12 tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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 read more

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

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Flight time !! Letters at bottom match the description in the other picture. - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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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. read more

Balcones Distilling - Dad and I - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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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! read more

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! read more

Great atmosphere and awesome customer service. We had a great time. Will definitely recommend it read more

Balcones Distilling - We had a great time and the tour was great! Thank you. - Distilleries Near Me - Waco, Texas

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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