Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon

Rating: 16/23 I've generally liked Balcones' blue corn releases (aside from Baby Blue), so I was curious about their take on a standard bourbon using blue corn. Nose: Very musty, then reminiscent of flavored vodka. Unpleasant! It's strange. I don't detect corn in the mustiness; it just seems underdeveloped and unappealing. Perhaps it needs time. I do get a faint meaty aroma right now, which isn't ideal. Hints of caramel, barrel spices, and caramel are present but very subtle. A few minutes pass, and there's still no significant development. I suppose this is all there is. Palate: Sweetness from caramel and musty blue corn. An odd fruity layer combines with bitter herbal notes. Maybe a touch of apricot with some tangerine? Quite unusual for a bourbon. The bitter herbal flavors are more typical and somewhat generic. There's a hint of char and a definite sour mash character. Ginger and black pepper are the primary spices. It becomes increasingly bitter, spicy, and tart. Overall, the palate is decent but rather bland and not very balanced. It's slightly peculiar, but not in an engaging way. There are some interesting hints of maple syrup and char. The dominant flavor, however, is the musty blue corn. Finish: Somewhat bitter and charred with hot spices. At times, I detect notes of musty corn. Not much is happening here, and it lacks the sweet richness I anticipated. - Conclusion - Old Forester 1920 (18/23) is superior to this. It's rich and more engaging. This is more muddled and dull. I'd rank this slightly above my Garrison Brothers single barrel cask strength bottling (15/23), but not by much. They are close. This could be a 15 or a 16. Russell's Reserve 10 (15-16/23) offers more complexity and is more accessible. It seems likely to be slightly better. That suggests I should rate this a 15. It's solid, but a rather disappointing dram. Still, a 16 is certainly possible. Revisiting this, it's definitely better than the Garrison Brothers. It might be at the higher end of the Russell's Reserve range. I now think this is more likely a 16. Pikesville Rye (16/23) is comparable to this as well. I believe this should be a 16. Thank you for sharing this,!

Nose: Assertive, oak-forward, and drying to the point of bitterness. A hint of new make funk likely due to its youth. Notes of burnt sugar, vanilla extract, and char. Dusty corn, cigar tobacco, and leather. Tastes like real maple syrup on blueberry pancakes with browned butter. Over-roasted coffee notes are present. Subtle wintergreen notes linger in the background. I'd compare this to Stagg Jr., which I recall being more abrasive and intense. This suggests it doesn't quite hit its stated proof, though it's still high. Palate: The combination of proof and oak delivers a powerful wave of flavor and texture. Charred oak dominates, followed by burnt corn nuts and a touch of vanilla frosting. It's tannic, with reduced macerated red fruits and buttered popcorn. Hot baking spices and abundant black pepper are prominent, concentrated on the mid and back palate. It feels like the EQ was maxed out, akin to a musician pushing all their amp knobs to eleven. Medium mouthfeel. Finish: Predictably, it features a substantial amount of oak, burnt caramel, and vanilla. The ethanol is cooling during retronasal olfaction, and the Kentucky hug provides warmth. The flavors gradually subside, revealing notes of orange, chocolate, leather, Sumatran cigar tobacco, and black pepper. Tannins and oils contribute to a lingering finish. Eventually, menthol and mint character emerge before fading out with burnt popcorn and oak. Medium-long length. Other notes: This bottle is 27 months old and bottled at 130 proof. Its exceptionally dark color for its age is noteworthy. I've revisited this multiple times, finding new nuances with each tasting. It requires significant acclimation; despite being several glasses in, the core flavor profile remains consistent, but I'm discovering more subtle notes than I typically would. This could easily join my collection of "must-have" bottles. Highly recommended for those who enjoy cask strength, heavily oaked whiskeys.

Currently I'm on a Balcones streak, as they appear to be one of the few distilleries producing genuinely good whiskey at fair prices. While other distilleries release spirits that are too young or sourced NDP for significant sums, Balcones consistently offers impressive products for under $100. While not every release suits my palate, there's a wide variety of tastes, and they seem to have something for every enthusiast or casual drinker. Continuing my Balcones exploration, I'm sampling this blue corn bourbon, bottled at 128 proof, courtesy of a friend. The aroma begins with freshly made buttermilk blueberry pancakes drizzled with very dark, high-grade maple syrup, followed by wildflowers, then old leather saddles, hay, and a sun-baked old barn, with a moderate ethanol sting. The taste presents a thick, oily mouthfeel, starting with fresh cornbread soaked in honey, followed by notes of orange peel, cherries jubilee, and apple pie filling with candied pecans. This gradually shifts to spices like cayenne pepper, pipe tobacco, leather, and old musty oak, with a strong ethanol burn. The finish is lengthy, featuring espresso, dark chocolate, dried figs, dates, candied pecans, cornbread with whipped honey butter, worn cowboy boots, and pipe tobacco that lingers for minutes. This is an outstanding whiskey with the big, bold flavors Balcones is known for, yet it maintains a harmonious balance where no single flavor dominates. Compared side-by-side with Garrison Brothers Cowboy bourbon, it was surprisingly close, though the Cowboy had better balance. This one is a bit more tannic and has a stronger ethanol burn despite being lower proof. So, even though the Cowboy bourbon came out ahead, considering the price, this offering provides a bourbon under $100 that closely rivals a whiskey costing over $200. If you enjoy a substantial, high-proof whiskey and are fortunate enough to find this bottle, seize the opportunity for a significant Texas bourbon experience.

Aroma - butterscotch, vanilla bean, dusty corn, funnel cake, caramel corn, honey, milk chocolate, baked apple, cherry, rich oak, orange zest, black pepper, sweet dough, nutmeg, cinnamon, leather, tobacco, floral note, moderate to high ethanol burn. Palate - caramel corn, butterscotch, vanilla, cherry, powdered sugar, apple, rich oak, chili pepper, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, dark chocolate, coffee, leather, tobacco, lemon, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing long with rich caramel, coffee, baking spice, and citrus zest flavors. Oh yes. I knew I was going to like this, and I do. Balcones does corn whiskey right, and this is no exception. It’s rich, deeply sweet, and powerful. And pours with an extremely dark, beautiful mahogany color. The aroma has everything you want in corn whiskey. Caramel, vanilla, sweet fruits, and confectioneries, underpinned with rich chocolate, marked baking spices, leather, and strong oak. The palate is rather similar. Oily, rich, and brash. Did I mention it was rich? Texas whiskey just hits different. No surprises here. This is right in my wheelhouse. I was very close to giving this a rare 4.5, but it’s just slightly hotter and brighter than it probably should be. A bit more time in the barrel would likely have elevated this. But honestly, I kinda like that it’s so hot. It slaps you around, and sometimes that’s what you need after a long day. And what’s better? This is $55 a bottle! And what’s even better than that? It seems that the new batch just dropped. I snagged one online at a Total Wine near me. If you like bold Texas whiskey, buy one. I doubt you’ll be disappointed at that price. A huge thank you to a fellow enthusiast for introducing me to this one. It’s a gem.

Toasted caramel, vanilla, cornbread baked over a mesquite fire, fresh ground coffee beans, dark chocolate. It has a salty and savory element that gives another layer of complexity. The finish goes on and on and has a lot of similarity to other Balcones whiskies. I even get a hint of the peach note that I taste especially in the Lineage, although more grilled peach than peach gummy ring. I've been running it up against some of the other barrel proof bourbons in the cabinet, and I believe this can competently keep company with other heavyweights like Stagg Jr., JDSiBBP, Elijah Craig BP, and even Garrison Brothers Cowboy. You could say this a poor man's Cowboy. I will note that right out of the bottle this was pretty hot even on the nose, but a splash of water and 15 minutes to rest did this one wonders. I am curious about the age statement on this one, as it appears to show aged at least 77 months, which seems exceptionally long for Balcones. I noticed someone else said 27 months, so I wonder if there was a misprint on my bottle. Regardless, this stuff is fabulous and I would like to find a backup for this one. Update: I did find a backup bottle which had the same batch number and date, and it was marked as aged 37 months, so I believe the first bottle was just mismarked.

I felt compelled to show appreciation for this dram because it stands out as one of the most distinct and well-balanced bourbons I've encountered. Furthermore, I believe it has been unfairly judged. My bottle was acquired during the initial week of October 2018. Appearance: A dark, deep amber hue, reminiscent of maple syrup. It's among the darkest I've observed. Aroma: Notes of Caribbean rum cake, sweet prunes, overripe fruit, and allspice. For me, this is one of the most unique bourbon aromas experienced to date. Taste: Flavors of ripe dark fruit, oak, chai spice, oily notes, prune, tobacco, and vanilla. It possesses exceptional balance. The proof doesn't overwhelm the palate. Finish: Extended and intricate, with lingering notes of licorice, tobacco, and oak spice. However, it remains sweet with an underlying molasses character. Conclusion... this is a top-tier spirit for me. If you appreciate cask strength expressions, acquire it. If you enjoy unique flavors and are open to something a bit unconventional, get it. It's one of the most harmoniously balanced bourbons I've had. I plan to purchase a second bottle to savor this dram at my own pace. Much appreciation to Balcones for crafting a distinctive and high-quality offering in the bourbon market. I hope it gains greater recognition and accolades, as it is certainly deserving. Until then, I'll be stocking up;)