Balcones FR. OAK Texas Single Malt

A potent and rich aroma. Hints of caramelized butter, cognac, plum pudding, dried fig, and orange tart are present, along with a dark, almost-scorched Christmas cake scent. There's a peculiar aroma, not of smoke but evocative of something burnt, like a wood-fired oven. Abundant warm spices fill the nose. Diluting it opens up vanilla notes and, most significantly, highlights the barrel's influence with a fragrance of fresh, well-maintained wood. A powerful initial taste with strong alcohol, robust baking spices, dark fruitcake, espresso, very dark chocolate, and intense oak tannins. That phantom, near-smoky presence returns, accompanied by a strong treacle flavor. The mouthfeel is moderate. With water, the spirit reveals impressive complexity and depth, gaining sweetness, more spice, significantly more fruitiness (less baked in character), and a very pleasing transformation. A medium to long finish. Notes of baking spices, dark chocolate, and sharp baked fruit gradually fade into a subtly oaky aftertaste. A faint wisp of aromatic smoky spice appears at the very end. Adding water amplifies the bitter chocolate in the finish, extends it considerably, and introduces a cereal sweetness. This is a substantial, assertive spirit that also possesses considerable style, far from a crude assault on the senses. Its relatively high alcohol content is not overwhelming and has surprisingly little sting. It's smooth but not weak or simple. It's more like a sharp blade than a blunt instrument, more a clever remark than a crude outburst. Accustomed to Scotch malt whisky, the profile is somewhat unfamiliar to my palate, though similarities exist. The aroma, in particular, reminds me of very high-proof sherry-aged whisky but has a unique character. That elusive smoky note is quite distinctive, but at its core, the aroma carries the dryness of malt rather than the sweetness of grain. Like all truly excellent aromas, it continues to evolve and unfold in the glass. The palate is expressive and shares some traits with rye whisky, but it is truly its own entity – a Texas malt. I suspect it is relatively young (perhaps 2-3 years old), and its youth is evident, yet it also conveys a maturity beyond its years. It's like a child who matured rapidly. Dilution uncovers malty notes on the palate, and I personally favored it with water (though I always sample high-proof spirits both neat and diluted). I thoroughly enjoyed this whisky, savoring it slowly for about an hour while watching a film. I don't believe this particular expression was distributed in Australia, but other Balcones whiskies are available there for approximately AUS$110-140, which is quite reasonable. I must acquire more of their products. My thanks to a friend who shared a tasting sample received from another friend. Much appreciated, gentlemen. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)

A father had a pre-Christmas conversation with his daughter and wife about Santa. The girl asked if Santa or he and her mother brought presents. The wife, truthfully stating they bought some, didn't satisfy the child. Later, the man, hungover and rushing to pick up his wife, was asked "Truth or dare" by his daughter. Choosing truth, he was asked if Santa was real. He responded by questioning the likelihood of magic reindeer, a 300-year-old man fitting down chimneys, and the consumption of billions of cookies and liters of milk in one night. Realizing his mistake as his daughter, who believed in Santa, looked at him, he tried to change the subject by promising ice cream and asking about flavors. He rushed home, hoping the Santa discussion wouldn't continue, and opened a present from a friend, noting this as the #5 installment in the Santa Chronicles. This is a pleasant dram. Initially young and sharp, the French oak and bourbon flavors blend well once your palate adjusts. Thanks to my friend!

It's a Saturday evening, and my partner and I are settling in to watch The Crown (we're hooked). With a sharp chill outside and a warm fire going, I took this from the sample collection. I believe it's perfectly suited for the mood, courtesy of a friend, naturally. A deep, dark amber-copper liquid contrasts with the clear copita glass. Imagine dates, figs, raisins, oranges, and apples blended together. Add cinnamon and vanilla, then stew in an oaken pot. As these elements combine, steep, and meld, incorporate milk chocolate shavings and Brioche bread to introduce sweetness, maltiness, and yeastiness. This comprises the full and broad aroma. The initial taste is hot and spicy, requiring another sip or two to adjust and discern the flavors. The flavors are rich and dense but difficult to distinguish. Dark chocolate (akin to 95% cocoa), dark coffee, dark fruits, cinnamon, cloves, cracked black pepper, with oak tannins mingling freely. Two tablespoons of water mellow the assertiveness on the palate. The sweeter aspects are brought to the forefront, and the spice recedes while the cinnamon and nutmeg remain unchanged. The fruit notes become slightly more vibrant, with hints of grape and black cherry appearing, while all the drying oak tannins persist. A lengthy and extremely drying finish with lingering traces of currants, chocolate, cinnamon, and oaken charcoal, almost ashy. A potent impact from Texas. A rich aroma and a rich palate built on a strong foundation. Large and bold. If you encounter this, be sure to set aside time; it requires time to develop, time to explore, and time to savor. With the addition of water, the dram becomes more accessible while maintaining its character. However, I find that without water, the boldness provides an enjoyable, untamed, powerful spirit. Discover your ideal pour, as you can customize it to your preference by managing the amount of water. Thank you to a friend for providing this generous sample (as always). [90/100] [Tasted: 1/8/21]

Continuing my exploration of Balcones, the next spirit was supposed to be Brimstone, but the sample has disappeared. After checking with my wife and daughter and searching the house, I've concluded it was either a misplaced game or a pre-season practice run for Santa, refueling with spirits instead of cookies. Regardless, it's gone, and in its place, I'll be sampling the French Oak single malt that a friend generously provided. The aroma begins with toasted cinnamon raisin bread covered in melted butter, followed by jubilee cherries, candied orange peel, and figgy pudding. This gradually shifts to spices like cinnamon, cloves, Earl Grey tea, leather, and antique polished oak, with a strong ethanol presence. The palate has a medium body, starting with brioche bread, then raisins, orange zest, and peach cobbler. This is followed by cacao nibs, toasted walnuts, leather, and tannic oak, with a pronounced ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length, featuring dark chocolate, espresso, candied cherries, orange zest, bit-o-honey candy, figgy pudding, leather, and tannic oak. Another enjoyable whiskey from Balcones, delivering bold flavors. However, the tannic oak and high alcohol intensity make it harder to discern individual tastes before it fades into a mild tannic conclusion with coffee, dark chocolate, and dark fruit notes. It's less tannic than the True Blue cask strength but not as well-rounded as the Blue Corn bourbon, placing it between the two.

The aroma offers rich caramel, raisin, fig, dark chocolate, brown butter, cinnamon toast, apple, grilled peach, nutmeg, clove, substantial oak, vanilla, black pepper, ash, leather, tobacco, and cherry, with a moderate to high ethanol burn. The flavor profile includes raisin toast, apple, dark chocolate, coffee, rich salted caramel, cinnamon, allspice, molasses, maple, graham cracker, nutmeg, clove, spicy oak, vanilla bean, toasted marshmallow, black cherry, black pepper, tobacco, and leather, with a moderate to high alcohol bite. It finishes long with rich caramel, tannic oak, dark chocolate, and strong baking spice notes. Given my recent experiences with Balcones, it's no shock that this French Oak expression is another success. The scents and tastes are amplified, as expected from Balcones. The caramel, dark chocolate, and baking spice elements are incredibly rich, balanced well by sweet dark fruit flavors. The finish lasts for an extended period, allowing ample time to savor the experience between drinks. It's remarkable that this level of richness can be present in a spirit aged less than two years, though I'm no longer surprised by this in Texas whiskies. Unfortunately, the French Oak expression doesn't seem to be widely available. I haven't found a retail price, but I estimate it's at or above the $100 mark. I won't seek this out to add to my collection, but it's delicious and definitely worth trying if you can locate it. Fortunately, I didn't have to, as a friend very kindly provided this sample for my review.

Extremely dark in appearance. The nose presents a delightful sweet, oaky profile. It's reminiscent of a dark wooden table, followed by a jammy note, possibly cherry and berry. There are also notes of tobacco and leather, typical of aged spirits. The taste mirrors the aroma, but intensified. It's surprisingly drying and very oaky, yet the oak flavor is highly enjoyable. I detect some elements similar to transitional Balcones single malts, with cinnamon, slightly funky, and burnt malt characteristics. Adding a drop of water reveals more sweetness. I perceive some maple-like notes and, unexpectedly, not a significant bite from the French oak, just a fuller, more intense oak presence. Alternatively, perhaps the intense French oak spice masks the drying alcohol? If you're seeking a white oak element alongside the Balcones malt, this is an excellent choice. Once again, thanks to a friend for the sample. I dislike reviewing from samples, and this is perhaps the one I dislike reviewing from a sample the most because I'd truly want to spend a week with it. It shows real potential for higher scores, but for now, it's a 2.50, firmly above average, though I set a very high bar for a 3.0. That said, I believe this has all the makings of a 3.0 and could achieve it if it were slightly less drying.