Balcones Mirador Texas Single Malt

Batch: MIR22-1; Date: appears to be 1.19.22 - the 22 is visible, sufficient. Nose: Aromatic, honey, vanilla, exotic fruits, subtle oak, apple, cranberry, and some of that signature Balcones pecan pie, possibly with a hint of sweet potato this time. Palate: Sweet, honey, floral notes, tropical fruit, some potent wood notes, a touch of bitterness, lacking body at mid-palate, hints of red wine, a little citrus, certainly a bit of sweet potato pie. Finish: Slightly bitter, floral and fruity, some intense oak notes, a whisper of cinnamon. This offers a decidedly different profile for Balcones single malt – one anticipates power, significant sweetness, ample malt, and those distinctive pecan pie notes. This expression leans more towards fruitiness and isn't the pinnacle I've experienced from Balcones. It resembles a lighter Speyside or Highland scotch, albeit bottled at 53%. I question if that alcohol content benefits this bottle. It introduces a harshness that conflicts with the more delicate elements. I wonder how it would perform at 46-47%. It could be intriguing. It's also rather pricey for what it delivers. Difficult to consider purchasing another, though I've heard there's considerable batch variance. A positive buzz for a particular batch might entice me back, but I can't imagine acquiring another at a premium over the standard Balcones single malt.

The aroma is strong, offering ripe melon, apricot jam, bubblegum, peach, honey, vanilla, chocolate malt, rubber, and pear. It has very little ethanol, which is excellent. This is a significant departure for Balcones. The palate is nearly identical to the aroma, with the addition of cereal grains and caramel flan. The flavors are so intense and robust that they become tiring, making my sample pour a bit excessive. However, this is a minor flaw I can overlook. The finish is a wonderful mix of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, pineapple upside-down cake, and chocolate, reminiscent of an ice cream sundae. These notes emerging from the fruity nose and palate are both unexpected and pleasing. The finish is exceptionally long, with the sweetness eventually giving way to a spicy bloom of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cherry wood. The texture is thick and chewy. A fruit-forward Balcones? Incredible! This is one of their finest whiskeys and a true hidden gem. My only real criticism is its lack of subtlety or refinement, suggesting it's best enjoyed in smaller amounts. Some might argue that's a good thing, but consider it like choosing between a slice of chocolate cake and the whole thing. Nevertheless, its deliciousness is undeniable. At $79, I'd happily buy it again.

Okay, a blind Texas whisky, let's see if I can even review this here. Thanks to a friend. Nose – apple cinnamon roll? It’s orchard fruit, it’s sweet, intensely sweet. Then there’s a pleasant spice. Very much like an apple pie or cinnamon roll or some kind of nice smelling fruity dessert. Lacking in oak or char or really anything. Okay, it has opened up and is now more honey-sweet and mellow with some vanilla. Less fruity sweetness. Taste – what in the hell is this. Sweet and so familiar with a wine cask finish for sure. It’s apple pie and peculiar baking spices, some bitter notes, some herbal elements for certain, and perhaps some sort of jam or jelly, and I just want to say the jelly is kinda yellow orange….I don’t know the fruit, but that’s the color. Well hot damn, now to score this. I know ZERO about this whisky. I assume it’s a single malt. I’m going with 3.25 stars guys. This is shockingly good. No clue on the price, but I’d buy this up to 100 dollars and I might go higher. One note, this is 56.2% ABV, so it might be a special cask? No clue.

I'm a big admirer of this distillery, particularly their single malts. The standard single malt is very good. The peated expression is absolutely fabulous, and the Lineage is probably my top value-for-money favorite. Therefore, I'm surprised this didn't completely resonate with me. It does possess the signature apricot/peachy notes and pot-distilled character with some complexity. I just find it too hot. While I appreciate barrel-proof spirits, so proof isn't an issue for me. Here, the alcohol is constantly present, reminding you of its intensity and adding a touch of bitter astringency. This detracts from the wonderful distillery flavors that are evident in their other products. For instance, the peated expression is higher proof but lacks these drawbacks. The Lineage shares many tasting notes but is smoother and fuller-bodied at less than half the price. It's not a complete failure; there's enough here to warrant a respectable score, but the price makes repurchase unfeasible in my opinion. Perhaps I received a flawed bottle, but that sounds like a weak excuse for disappointment... 80/100... It's good, but I was expecting a 4-star+ whiskey.

The final pour from a quartet of Texas Whiskeys sampled over the weekend, and it truly impresses. It's remarkable what this distillery achieves in a brief period. This particular spirit's subtlety is its standout feature. While I typically seek robust and bold profiles from Texas whiskeys, this offers the contrary and excels because of it. The delicate fruit notes, complemented by a hint of phenol, are superb. It's reminiscent of Glenfarclas. EXCELLENT WORK, BALCONES! This distillery rightfully holds a leading position in the craft distilling movement.

Bottle open date = 11/2/2020 Today's tasting date = 3/21/2021 Now open for approx. 5 months. Regrettably, this is my least preferred Balcones to date. While it possesses some enjoyable flavors, I detect significant alcohol burn, even when diluted to 92 proof. I had high expectations for this one based on positive reviews, but also noted some sharply contrasting negative ones. This is somewhat unusual, but I will not be repurchasing. I believe the subpar experience may be due to the casks used. It's not terrible, but not memorable for my palate at this moment.