Balcones Peated Texas Single Malt Whisky

Balcones Peated Single Malt - 2021 Release Neat // Glencairn Appearance: Ruddy brown with a touch of copper. Resembles nicely stained red oak. The legs form quickly and stay. Nose: Smells like a freshly opened package of bacon bits, orange zest, apricot and blackberry jam, and toasted sourdough. The nose has great variety. It draws you in and doesn't sting with alcohol burn, allowing for long, deep inhalations. Is it just me being a Texan, or is there a red dirt scent here too? It reminds me of turning on the A/C in my grandfather's farm truck on a hot summer day. Great memories unlocked. Palate: Wow, the flavor profiles transition very distinctly here. It begins with salty, smoky bacon, then shifts to a juicy slice of blood orange, followed by a nicely buttered slice of sourdough toast. This concludes with a very smooth, luxurious oak spice. Finish: Oak spice begins and simmers pleasantly with a nice layer of oak smoke on top. Blonde toast and smoked candied bacon are also present. Several minutes later, I'm tasting red hots and a fruit candy mix - like if you just plunged your hand into a bag of jelly beans and ate everything at once. Beautiful. I finally acquired this after several weeks of waiting, and WOW, does it deliver. I particularly appreciate the complexity on the finish - I'm still tasting this one 5-10 minutes later and discovering new flavors. This is fantastic stuff that I'm extra proud of because it originates from the Great State of Texas. We make good whiskey. 95/100 My scoring system: 59 and below: Bad. Not worth buying. 60 - 69: Decent, but with obvious flaws. Might buy, but very price dependent. 70 - 79: Pleasant to good, worth buying, but nothing spectacular that wows me. 80 - 89: Good to very good. Insta-buys that I actively seek out. Must contain some “wow” moments. 90 - 94: Greatness has been achieved. No detectable flaws, and every moment is sheer pleasure. 95 - 100: This is where I score my “best of all time” drams. Similar to lower 90s, but with something tangible/perceptible that sends it over the top.

My assessment: 16/23. Balcones Brimstone did not impress me, so I was hopeful this offering with actual peat would be superior. Aroma: Smoke dominates, with a hint of savoriness. It's challenging to discern other notes; it's rather unremarkable. Faint hints of apple, coffee, and perhaps the slightest touch of cherry eventually emerge. After several minutes, a whisper of that distinctive Balcones tart maple malt appears, followed by an herbal quality that adds a peaty dimension to the smoke. Taste: Ashy, smoky with a subtle chocolate presence, some herbal notes, white pepper, and rainbow pepper. A pleasant maple sweetness underlies a tart maltiness. There's a mild meatiness that isn't overpowering. The pepper and herbaceousness combine well, providing some complexity. The smoke leans towards campfire rather than distinct peat. Occasional hints of orange and lemon, with cherry appearing in larger sips. It's potent but not harsh, which is expected given its alcohol content. Finish: Lingering smoke, pepper, and sweet malt. Comparison: I rank this higher than Westland Peated (15/23), though not significantly. It doesn't quite reach the level of Amrut Peated (17/23). I'm considering a 16 or 17. I'm not entirely certain if it surpasses Loch Lomond 12 (16/23), so I'll assign it a 16. There's definite potential here, but it lacks complexity, and the flavor profile isn't fully cohesive. I appreciate the core Balcones character, but the campfire smoke doesn't seem to harmonize perfectly with it. Revisiting for a final few sips, the campfire smoke is much less pronounced. Despite its youth, it exhibits a complexity exceeding that of Amrut Peated, with better flavor integration than previously noted. I might upgrade this to a 17. It's a close call between 16 and 17, but I'll stick with 16. My gratitude for the sample! My perception of this spirit evolved considerably during my time with it. I would welcome the opportunity to obtain a bottle for further contemplation.

Nose - Surprisingly refined and mellow. Light smoke over a gentle sweetness. I can't believe this is a higher ABV. After letting it sit for a while, I get a nice sweet, warm caramel, and a peated, powerful note, but a second sniff and it's gone. This isn't the most aromatic whisky available if you don't let it develop, but it's rewarding if you do. Taste - Well, forget everything on the nose. It's a punch-to-the-face Balcones single malt. Cinnamon, oak, funk, Texas heat, caramel, vanilla, and... peat? Okay, so yes, I detect some peat here; it's subtle and hidden for sure, but at the same time, it's overt and in your face. That's kind of the magic of this pour. If you've had Balcones single malt, it's a BIG, BOLD whisky, and this is even more so. Because of that, you might miss what is actually a tremendous peat punch because it's hidden in the oak, or is the oak hidden in the peat? I can't tell. However, on the finish, you really get a nice lingering peat element... and cinnamon, oak... and Texas. I'm doing it, a rare 3.0 from me. I am thoroughly enjoying this. Uniqueness is pushing me higher, but not just for uniqueness; it's because I want more of this intense Balcones sweetness, sugars, and spice with peat. This tastes like a $150 bottle, get one if you can. I might have to arrange a bottle shipment myself. Heavy water pour for science. My experience has been that water, when added to cask strength, can really bring out the flaws, so let's see if this holds up to higher standards. So the water has done NOTHING to the flavor. It's honestly not even thinner. The flavors are slightly muted, but still the same. I added about 20% water here. A touch of minerality is emerging, but I think that's from the water itself as I didn't have bottled water ready. Really, really well done, Balcones.

Nose: Woodsy, salty, medicinal – something distinctly like wood charcoal, though I'm not completely sure. I'll stick with that assessment. Swirling reveals stone fruit, caramel, vanilla, all thoroughly infused with charcoal smoke. Faint hints of fine tobacco – cigarette smoke, cigar ash. Bacon and figs, baked goods, sweet bread. Earthy and peaty, but less so than traditional peated Scotch. Nuts with a citrus tang. There's definitely ethanol present, which is expected given the proof (67.9% ABV on this bottle – or perhaps 62.9%? The label is handwritten...). An incredible aroma, truly a powerhouse. Palate: Intensely sweet with the characteristic Balcones pecan pie flavor. Smoked nuts. Smoked and grilled fruit. A significant amount of bitterness perfectly balances the sweetness, which I appreciate (though some might dislike it). Very rich salted caramel. Spicy cinnamon begins to integrate. Slightly stale, crispy burnt bread. Mint and menthol, surprisingly reminiscent of a young rye (despite no rye content). The finish is intensely spicy – hot cinnamon rapidly builds to a level just shy of habanero chili pepper. Considerable tannic bitterness persists throughout, yet it remains blackstrap molasses sweet. An incredible whisky. It delivers a shock and awe level of sheer power. My only minor criticism is its lack of subtlety, which I generally prefer. The bottle indicates a minimum of 36 months aging – perhaps double that would yield a bit more smoothness and subtlety. While not essential, I believe it would enhance the experience. Nevertheless, this is special and worth seeking out. My thanks to a friend for the recommendation. I likely wouldn't have discovered this without their assistance.

The aroma presents a blend of peat and mesquite smoke, charred meats (resembling brisket), bacon-wrapped dates, black tea, candied pecans, dried figs, chocolate-covered raisins, polished mahogany, leather, and a pit master's secret, "death-defying" dry rub, accompanied by a strong ethanol burn. The taste is an explosion of flavors; essentially, imagine a flavor genie granting your every wish – whatever someone finds delicious in this, I'll believe it. Let me list some of my genie-granted wishes: it begins with a very thick texture, featuring pecan pie and wildflower honey, brisket, dark chocolate, bacon-wrapped dates, Jamaican jerk eggplant, Bit-O-Honey candy, Sour Patch Kids, a smoked s'mores sandwich, steeped black tea, leather, and the pit master's secret dry rub, with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is extended, with notes of brisket, chocolate-covered bacon, dates, dried figs, Bit-O-Honey candy, toasted marshmallow, and espresso, lingering seemingly endlessly. This is a robust, assertive whiskey where all these flavors come at you intensely before the next one takes over, yet it manages to maintain balance without any single flavor dominating. A remarkable whiskey; if you see it on the shelf, seize it, take it home, rub the bottle, open it, and discover the flavor genie's offerings. My thanks to and for providing this spirit and for your excellent tasting notes.

This is exceptional Texas single malt. Consider it a Texas version of Stagg Jr., at least in terms of proof. The flavors are quite distinct. Poured neat, it's actually better with a couple of drops of water to open it up, but neat is entirely manageable. There's a lot happening here; it might start with an ethanol hit, but be patient. Butter pecan, Milky Way, Maypo cereal, and smoked honey define the sweet profile. It also offers dusty malt, a new car scent, black beans, seasoned oak, and a puff of smoke like a burnt electrical circuit. It's like a fusion of Balvenie Peat Week and Bruichladdich Classic, but far more potent. The mouthfeel is rich and oily, leading to a palate explosion. Intense dark honey, graham cracker s'mores, Three Musketeers, and creamy malt are all balanced by Texas sunshine and weathered oak. This is framed by a Bit-O-Honey candy bar engulfed in smoke. The finish is a slow fade of nutty sweetness, smoldering beehive and barrel notes with some added char. Overall, I'm amazed. The sheer intensity combined with complexity at such a young age is remarkable, likely due to the relentless Texas heat facilitating rapid extraction. If you enjoy a smoky, malty, honey profile, you will adore this. It might be difficult to locate but is well worth the effort... 98/100... It has improved since being opened (a little air calms the intensity). A magnificent Texas Single Malt!... Remember, this will affect you quickly, so proceed with caution.