Ep 495: How Tito’s Built America’s #1 Vodka Brand Without Celebrities or Flavors

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupTito’s Handmade Vodka is a unicorn in the spirits industry. No flashy bottle. No celebrity endorsements. No flavored vodkas. Just one meticulously crafted, fan-favorite product and a brand voice that feels more like a friend than a corporation.In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Taylor Berry, VP of Marketing at Tito’s, to discuss:How Tito’s grew from a Texas startup to the #1 vodka brand in the U.S.Why they refuse to launch flavored vodkas despite massive industry pressureThe power of word-of-mouth marketing and bartender advocacyHow the new Spokescart campaign embodies the brand’s ethos and drives engagementWhy their Vodka for Dog People initiative is more than just good marketingPlus, Taylor shares insights on advertising strategies, in-person activations, and how to build a brand that people genuinely love.🔊 Listen now to hear how Tito’s keeps winning by staying true to its roots.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction02:03 - Taylor Berry’s journey from Apple to Tito’s04:20 - The origin story of Tito’s Handmade Vodka08:10 - Why Tito’s branding hasn’t changed in 25+ years11:30 - How Tito’s became a craft vodka pioneer14:05 - The bartender connection and word-of-mouth growth16:00 - Why Tito’s refuses to launch a canned cocktail19:00 - Vodka for Dog People: A philanthropic brand platform22:20 - The thinking behind “With Tito’s” and the Spokescart26:30 - How Tito’s rolled out their Spokescart ad campaign30:00 - Measuring success without first-party sales data34:00 - In-person events and the future of Spokescart37:20 - Sticking to one product: No flavored vodka at Tito’sHashtags#TitosVodka#DTCmarketing#BrandStorytelling#Spokescart#TaylorBerry#CraftVodka#AlcoholMarketing#DirectToConsumer#DogLovers#BrandAuthenticity#MarketingCampaigns#DTCpodcast Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video