Balcones Pilgrimage

I am recognized as a devotee of Balcones, and I embrace it. This is another formidable malt from the Waco distillery. If you appreciate Lineage (and who doesn't?), consider this a more intense, aged rendition. The aroma is intense, featuring bold apricot and nectarine, followed by robust malt, aged cheese, leather, and oak tannins. It possesses a unique funk that seasoned palates will enjoy. The taste delivers a punch of ripe apricots and dense malt, alongside a delicious cheese danish, with hints of old books and toasted oak around the edges. The flavor intensity is exceptional, offering a rich and potent experience. The finish is enduring, with the fruit, malt, and cream cheese funk persisting into a dry oak fade for equilibrium. The dessert casks contribute an extra layer of perceptible sweetness and richness. It's a powerhouse among Balcones Peated expressions. In my opinion, these are the finest American single malts available. Powerful, rich, intricate, and splendid. I know this particular bottle is rare now, but believe me, you desire it.......92/100

Served neat, this high proof is intense! It still presents strong notes of apple and earth on the nose and peach black tea on the palate, particularly the kind you'd consume from a mason jar on your grandmother's porch. However, when served over ice with time to rest, it truly blossoms. Flavors of apple and stone fruits are joined by earthy tannin notes, similar to leather and the aforementioned tea, along with a subtle smoked peach essence that any seasoned Texan should recognize. At its high proof, this is not a spirit to sip neat unless you can tolerate significant heat. But served on the rocks near a crackling bonfire, or on a back porch on a warm summer day, nothing surpasses this excellent "half-peated" single malt. I secured mine at release from the Balcones distillery and will continue to enjoy it on every hot southern afternoon I can.

The nose is full of peach, with a hint of banana. Its defining characteristic is a malty softness. The palate is even more pronounced with peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream flavors. It's rich, viscous, and candy-sweet. I would thoroughly enjoy this after a substantial steak dinner.