Today we’d like to introduce you to Codi Fuller.
Hi Codi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My dad and uncle started Highway Vodka 8 years ago. I was in college at the time and, being a young college kid, was very uninterested in what my parents were working on. Though I was not really into it at the time, I’d help my parents make boxes and bottle vodka in the very beginning. I would also do the model scheduling for the promotional events that we would have at liquor stores and other events. Essentially I was learning the process without realizing it.
Fast forward to 2020 when COVID hit, alcohol sales began to pick up exceedingly. By that time we were already on the shelves and had distribution and the distributors were looking to purchase more products to place in the stores. My dad and uncle knew they needed additional help and offered me to come learn how to distill vodka! Of course, I was interested and I started immediately! I worked for about 6 months 40 hour weeks to really learn the process and I’ve been distilling now for almost two years.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a pretty smooth road because I always have my family there to help me, but coming from a completely different industry, it took some getting used to that this would be my everyday job. Aside from being the distiller, I was also promoted to General Manager. I think that’s been the hardest part for me because this is my first management job and there’s so many different aspects of the business that I have to handle and I’m sort of a perfectionist so I want to make sure I’m representing the company the best I can. Being a small company still, everyone has multiple roles to play in order to get the job done. Though some days may be challenging, I always overcome and I think that’s what makes me feel amazing at the end of the day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Highway Vodka is Texas’ first hemp based vodka. We are a small black owned distillery (the first black owned distillery in Texas) located in Pearland Texas. Our vodka is made with organic hemp, locally sourced corn and artisan aquifer water that is actually sourced from an artisan aquifer that is 300 ft. underground and is located on the property. It’s super smooth and it has a semi sweet and nutty flavor, its 57 calories, gluten free, and a great sipping vodka! What sets our vodka apart from others is that you don’t get a hangover from drinking it! Yes, you heard me, NO HANGOVER.
Because we make our vodka with hemp, the hemp oil produced during fermentation filters out all impurities in the vodka that would normally give you a hangover. We currently only have vodka but we are working on a hemp based whiskey also! As of right now, you can find our product in Texas (Houston, Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels) at Specs and Total wine and over 150 bars and restaurants in the Houston area specifically. We also just expanded in to the Atlanta, Georgia and Florida and Southern California markets.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Houston because I feel like though we are rapidly growing we still have a deep rooted culture that you can’t find anywhere else! We have the most beautiful women in the world and the best food EVER! The down south vibes are always present and if you leave, you will never find anywhere else like our city!
The thing I dislike about the city is the traffic omg!! I have just a few words about that : CALIFORNIANS STOP MOVING HERE. LOL
Pricing:
- 750 ml bottle – $19.99
- 1L botlle – $25.99
- 1.75 L bottle – $ 32
Contact Info:
- Email: codi@highwayvodka.com
- Website: www.highwayvodka.com
- Instagram: @highwayvodka
Image Credits:
Nightfall Motion Pictures
