Balcones Cataleja

The nose is entirely unpleasant with burnt rubber, smoke, wet cardboard, grape must, earthy damp cellar, and root vegetables (turnip? beet?). But then something strange occurred... the burnt rubber and cardboard aromas vanished, replaced by overripe date, salted caramel, strawberry, and plum. I've never experienced anything like this before. Am I drunk? The ethanol is prominent and sharp. Things improve on the palate with prune juice, brown sugar, port wine, sherry, white grape, vanilla, fudge, clove, allspice, black cherry, coffee, and vegetal beet. While reading that back it sounds good, it sounds better than it tastes. Hard to describe, but the flavors are unruly and all over the place. The finish is long with creme brûlée, pencil eraser, barrel char, dark chocolate, toasted oak, leather, black pepper, mint, sulfur, and astringent iodine. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, chewy, and slick. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't enjoy this whiskey; there were too many strange/off notes at every stage. A hot mess express. For the $119 I paid for this bottle via mail order, I regret my life choices. Strange because I usually enjoy Balcones, but this one missed the mark significantly for me.

The nose has sherry all over it, there’s also gunpowder, amaro, raisin, fig, berry jelly, caramel, almonds, something herbal, vanilla, oak, leather, butterscotch, toffee, malted barley, orange, cherry. On the palate, again heavy sherry cask, very very heavy that is, with grape jelly, berries, amaro, Dr. Pepper, vanilla, raisins, Jolly Ranchers, sweet, but somehow not too much so. Finishes sweet and fruity, dry with a touch of spice. What a level of complexity, the layers take almost no imagination. They’re distinct and potent, morphing back and forth with each visitation. This isn’t my favorite single malt. My favorites would be a bit less sweet and fruity. But for complexity I know I haven’t met its equal.

Cateleja is a complex spirit. Raisins, truffles, sulfuric dry sherry sweetness, chocolate, dates, tobacco, and mature grapes. Cons: 1. The price. 2. The rotten egg flavor from sulfuric sherry, which is prominent when the bottle is first opened. (A popular Youtuber review even began with a frown about the rotten egg note, but later admired its 'complexity'.) Pros: 1. Complex 2. Unique 3. Perhaps all those dark flavors will coalesce and harmonize with some air and time as it opens up... I'm taking a half-glass-empty approach, especially after comparing it to the instantly pleasing and wonderful Glendronach batch 12 right afterwards...

I have over 120 bottles. My initial sit down with this one I was very torn as to if I loved it or hated it. I'm about 1/2 way into this bottle now and it's become my favorite go to. It can be totally overpowering especially for people that think Blanton's is the end all be all. Everything from the nose to the finish are over the top. My best description of this one is it tastes like Peated Russell's Reserve 15. Russell's 15 was my favorite bottle unfortunately it's gone belly up and I can justify what that bottle cost now.

Man is this the best thing I've had from Balcones. You start off with some caramel, wet oak, damp hay, brown sugar. You then get some intense fruity notes, mostly dark prune and strawberries along with walnuts. The finish had a toasted coconut, baking spice and fruity finish that's long and flavorful. Proof point is perfect as well so all and all this has jumped to the top of my fav single malts. I really need to try more from Balcones.

I'm checking out all the feedback to pinpoint any off notes. All I'm detecting is dried fruit, sherry notes, a touch of berries, banana, and brown sugar. It's genuinely tasty. Surprisingly smooth for nearly 60% ABV. Sips very pleasantly. The texture is delicate, yet it leaves a remarkably extended aftertaste. This bottle has been open for several months, with 90% remaining. The cost is a bit steep.