Balcones Texas Single Malt Rum Cask Finished

This dram was a struggle to get through, a rare occurrence for me. While I appreciate cask strength spirits, the definition differs greatly in Texas compared to Europe. European cask strength bottlings typically hover around 53-56% ABV, whereas here in Texas, that's the range distilleries use for dilution! I'm a fan of the Balcones single malt, but the rum finish didn't quite succeed. The spirit arrived overly potent, overpowering any subtle rum notes. After adding a few drops of water, it became more palatable, but by then, my palate was fatigued, preventing me from discerning any finer points. It's an interesting experiment to try at the distillery, but not something I'd purchase for my collection.

For a rum, this price is unbelievable, about 2.5 times what it should cost, coming in at around $70. I had the chance to try it at a bar during happy hour for $7. To begin, this rum is solid with oak, sweetness, and spice, but it's not overly sweet. It's superior to most of their whiskey offerings, but it's far from a perfect score. I've experienced superior French island rums from the Caribbean, and this one has faint notes of port, which I intensely disliked in a rum. Once more, it's not to my taste, but it might suit yours.

From an online drammers club pour A blend of American, French, and Hungarian oak, with a rum cask finish Nose: Vanilla, Caramel, Molasses, Citrus, Milk Chocolate, Green Apple, Mango, Pineapple, Passion Fruit Palate: Citrus, Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit, Guava, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Caramel, Banana Finish: Vanilla, Mango, Citrus, Passion Fruit, Pineapple

The nose has light honey, plus light pecan and a hint of crescent roll. Revisiting, I detect some rich, sweet grape jam. Right away on the palate, I get some of that sugarcane, along with evident barley and some warmth. The finish fades rather quickly, but this spirit is impressive. It has well-balanced sweetness, which I did not anticipate from a rum finish.

Typically, I find rum cask finishes too sweet, yet this one strikes a balance, offering a toasted caramel flavor without excessive sweetness. Bottled around 50% ABV, it's a pleasant after-dinner whiskey and a solid substitute for a sherry cask.

I sampled this at the distillery. It has a strong caramelized sweetness. You should definitely add some water to this. It's molasses, figs, and caramel. 'Thick' is the best description. Take your time and keep adding water to allow more of the barley's fruitiness to emerge.