Balcones Rumble Cask Reserve

The container is a fairly standard glass design with a lot of helpful details about the liquor printed on the label. The dark background of the label, accented with gold and white lettering, complements the spirit's hue nicely. However, the variety of different typefaces used on the label is a bit excessive. Overall, it's a visually appealing bottle for display. Appearance: A deep, lustrous bronze color. Smell: Similar to the less intense version (the regular Rumble), but with significantly more impact. This spirit is almost 66% alcohol by volume, so I strongly suggest adding a small amount of water. The dominant element is the turbinado sugar, accompanied by abundant deep molasses notes. The honey is not very prominent behind the brown sugar, but the fig flavor is certainly present. All the components combine smoothly into a flavor profile reminiscent of "Toffee/Christmas Cake." Taste: This is where the liquor presents a notable challenge. It's 66% alcohol by volume, yet it dilutes quite easily, requiring a very precise balance between something harsh and something overly sweet. I tend to add too little water, so much of what I perceive has an underlying alcohol presence. Nevertheless, the flavors it supports are genuinely excellent. This doesn't resemble a whisky or a rum; it stands out as its own distinct spirit. As you taste it, you start to detect the honey mingling with the sugar, but the dark fruit, fig, and date flavors bind everything together. The sugar and sweetness arrive very quickly at the forefront, transitioning into notes of holiday cakes and dried fruits. The finish is a pleasantly bittersweet sensation. This spirit is definitely not for novices. While it may seem straightforward, achieving the correct balance with water requires a skilled hand and palate. However, when you get it right, the reward is substantial. "Brandy-soaked, sugar-coated figs" accurately summarizes my experience with this spirit. If that description appeals to you, you'll likely appreciate it.

Balcones has become a whiskey brand worth recommending; their releases are skillfully made, and you can discover a well-balanced spirit. This particular expression is 62.6% alcohol by volume, aged in a "rumble cask," which is another Balcones release, a sugary spirit. On the nose, it's astonishingly sweet. Maple syrup, burnt sugar, brown sugar, and thick caramel. The aroma is amazing. A second taste revealed cherries and other red fruits. On the palate, it was sweet and grainy. Red fruits, BBQ sauce, and chili spice. After an initial taste, it brought out corn and a lot of grain. The aftertaste was spicy and very straightforward. A chili/pepper explosion and some cinnamon. Overall, it falls a bit short in the aftertaste, but the intensity and the sweet and spicy flavors are well-executed. I'm not sure I would buy it again, but it will be remembered for quite some time. My rating is a solid 84 out of 100.

I can definitely detect the rum in this Rumble. When I saw fig mentioned in the description, I realized I didn't have a strong enough recall of that taste to identify it, so I obtained a fig. It's indeed present! I found this to be much more enjoyable than I had anticipated and I'm curious how future batches will compare to this one bottled at 65.6% ABV.

Another remarkable spirit from Balcones. While not a whiskey, it possesses all the intricate qualities one expects from Balcones. The fig and honey are prominent on the nose, and despite the high proof, it feels velvety. I enjoy adding a drop of water to mellow it slightly.

For the most part, it's a balanced, strong cask strength rum, but a sour, woody note hits the roof of my mouth with every sip, which I dislike. I'm not sure what causes it, but it ruins it for me.

It's technically a rum, sort of. And I'm sampling the 47% ABV version. The initial aroma is of oak barrel, but dark sugar and fig aromas become more prominent with further smelling.