From Waco Texas, Balcones was ‘birthed’ as an idea in 2008 and started distilling a year later. They combine blue corn from New Mexico with Texas grown barley and have been putting out a range of whisky expressions from malts to bourbon to rye, with rum thrown into the mix as well.
Balcones Single Malt 53%
- Nose – Rather than a clear bourbon stamp, we sensed something with – dare I say it? A sherry-like influence. A bit shy initially, as it opened up, we found nuts, raisins, more and more interesting with a decidedly fruity bent
- Palate – First impression was ‘yummy’, while not complex, it was the kind of dram that grows on you, a nice warm toasty quality, rounding out quite happily with fruit
- Finish – Didn’t register
Whereas the Hudson’s Baby Bourbon aromas were more interesting than the palate, we found the opposite here. The nose was interesting but the palate was its best feature. A good sipping whisky…
So what do the Balcones folks have to say about their Texas single malt?
- Nose: ripe, buttered stone fruit, banana and pears; honey and rose water with delicate citrus accents
- Taste: silky and full on the palate; lightly toasted bread with fresh butter and marmalade
- Finish: long finish with lingering toast and burnt sugar notes morphing into rich malt and wood flavors with counterbalancing acidity
Here was our full American quartet:
- Hudson Baby Bourbon 46%
- TBWC 24 year Bourbon No 1 48%
- Balcones Single Malt 53% – This one
- Whistle Pig Rye 50%
With more from our 2019 Master of Malt Advent Calendar…
- Summer minis – Brenne Cuvée Spéciale French Single Malt Whisky 40%, Mackmyra Äppelblom 46.1%, Mackmyra Glöd 46.1%, Longmorn 10 year Batch 3, 48.3% (TBWC)
- Dunkerton Drams – Nikka Days 40%, Lakes Distillery Steel Bonnets 46.6%, Starward Nova 41%, Fettercairn 10 year 40%
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