Balcones True Blue 100 Proof

Nose has “ice cream sundae” with equal parts caramel, hot fudge, and butterscotch topping, along with raisin, smoke, and a wood that smells nothing like oak. Aroma is definitely good and strong. Palate opens with the sundae notes promised in the nose, and then transitioning to a big sweet creamed corn note in the mid-palate. Not as much fruit as the nose would indicate. Flavors are bold and punchy, but not a ton of complexity; lots of varying notes of sweet. Finish is medium length with leather, tobacco, bitter dark chocolate and wood, but it tastes like this was aged in mesquite instead of oak, an effect which gives the whole thing a smokey undercurrent. Mouthfeel is sharp and grainy; it’s got an ethanol bite alright, but it’s more from how the alcohol sits on the tongue than from the flavor of the whiskey if that makes sense. A solid and interesting whiskey. After sampling a few offerings, I generally like what Balcones has going on. At $50, this is “decent” value but not much more. It suffers from a bit of a simplistic flavor profile and an overly sharp finish, so hard to give it more than a 3.75, but I wanted to. Maybe would buy again in the future, but would have to be in the mood.

To be truthful, the accolades this spirit received didn't persuade me to buy it; its use of 100% blue corn as an American spirit truly captured my interest. I was looking forward to unique flavors and scents from a blue corn spirit, but it was remarkably similar to a fine bourbon. It has a deep copper hue and is bottled at 50% ABV. The aroma is very sophisticated and distinctly "bourbon-like." It presents abundant notes of bananas, stewed bananas, rum, and raisin ice cream, alongside vanilla, banana bread, brown sugar, and creamy vanilla ice cream. The palate echoes these flavors, yet it's quite smooth and gentle for a 50% ABV pour. I detected banana bread, pepper, and a metallic quality I've only encountered in a Pappy Van Winkle, reminiscent of tasting a copper coin. Vanilla and prunes were also present, along with a touch of tartness. It's robust yet smooth, and quite elegant. The aftertaste is quite pleasant, with mild smoke, pepper, and spice. It feels sophisticated and satisfying. Overall, while the tasting notes didn't offer surprises and it's somewhat lacking in complexity, it's still a solid drink. It surpasses most bourbons available, and I would definitely purchase it again. My rating is 85 out of 100.

Nose: Vanilla frosting, peppermint tea, ethanol. A somewhat astringent corn note - I'm not sure how to describe it. It's corn, but with a bitter quality where you might expect sweetness. Noticeable charred wood. I must say, this is not enjoyable. Palate: Bitter peppermint tea with honey - a really strange combination. A touch of vanilla. It feels like there's that same unusual note that the rye from this distillery is known for, though it's hard to pinpoint its source. Green herbs with barrel spice. The finish has baking spice, more of the fresh herbs, a little more vanilla, mint, and some heat. This is a bit rough, to be honest. It's my least favorite from this distillery so far. It's probably actually the first of their line that I outright dislike. The flavor combinations here are just too peculiar for my taste. _______ Please come join a bunch of regular reviewers are chatting spirits in real time on Discord: https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. (If the link is expired, post a comment and I will post a new one.)

As a resident of Texas, I dislike having to say this, but I'm not a fan and must rate accordingly. In my opinion, there's an excessive amount of maple syrup and chocolate liquor taste to make it enjoyable. It's a smooth whiskey, but those flavors are too strong for me to appreciate. I use the rating scale below. Some use a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I'm sure you're not too inebriated to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Nose: Grilled pineapple, sweet caramel, cinnamon, roasted cayenne peppers, semi-sweet chocolate, touch of menthol. Palate: Burnt marshmallow, leather, milk chocolate, roasted coffee beans, chili powder. Rich and oily. Finish: Warm and long with chocolate covered coffee beans. Summary: A corn whiskey unlike any other. Not terribly surprising given the producer. Far off the beaten path. Will challenge your palate. I've had this bottle for over a year and it continues to evolve as time passes. Definitely worth the cost of entry.

Distinctive. After warming up with Evan Williams BiB, this takes a 90 degree turn. Pleasant aroma of toasted sweet corn, and deep vanilla cake frosting. The mouthfeel is full and consistently balanced. It hits with sweet corn and chocolate, transitioning to a mild grainy heat, then quickly fading to a lengthy, warm finish of subtle ginger spice and smoke. It drinks slightly young, but altogether a pleasing and distinctive pour.