# Why the recent boom in vodka distilleries in Austin?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** liquor-alcohol\
**Created:** [July 31, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518 "2017-07-31T17:21:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518/21 "2017-08-04T22:27:44Z")

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A 1 liter bottle of Tito’s will set you back 22.98 at Ace Spirits in Chicago. Smirnoff 100 proof is only .99 cheaper.

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518/22 "2017-08-05T07:38:10Z")

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I don’t think I have ever seen Tito’s for less than $26

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518/23 "2017-08-05T17:30:51Z")

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I’m sure you’re all waiting with anticipation, but I tried CH Vodka, proudly advertised as Made in Chicago. Because Chicago is know for vodka? Anyway, it is fine for a mixing vodka, and I doubt I could tell the difference between CH, Tito’s, and Deep Eddy. Perfectly fine for a cape cod or a bloody mary, but I don’t think I’d want it for a martini. Still, $20 seems to be the floor for a decent enough vodka in the Chicago area, particularly if you like to get your liquor delivered.

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**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-boom-in-vodka-distilleries-in-austin/792518/24 "2017-08-06T21:58:30Z")

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I design craft distilleries for a living and have looked at several of the distilleries mentioned in this thread to help with their expansions.

The main reason for the vodka boom is that vodka is 99% marketing and it is quick to cash flow. Aside from the GNS bottler and redistillers vodka is still crazy cheap to make. A molasses based vodka will take about a drum of molasses to make about 24 9-liter cases of vodka or 294 bottles. So ingredients will run you about $200 and labor ~$450 plus taxes ~$800 and ~$1,000 in packaging plus some overhead and other things will get you $10/bottle and even cheap craft swill can wholesale for $15/bottle. Now if you get a decent marketing push or win an award then you’re wholesaling at $20/bottle and doubling your money. Of course, the smart people are using NGS which you can buy for $5/gallon and dilute and re-bottle and your cost per bottle drops to ~$60 in labor, with the same $1,800 in taxes and labor and your cost is $7 per bottle and you can double up even at the low end of the market.

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