Balcones True Blue Cask Strength

Rating: 21/23 Full blue; full strength. I was blown away by a Lost Lantern release of 100% blue corn whiskey from Balcones, so I'm really excited to be trying this. I also had a great tequila finished version of this. I'm hopeful that this will prove a worthy substitute for that Lost Lantern single barrel once I run out of it. Nose: Rich and quite full. Sweet and decadent. Maple syrup, vanilla, musty blue corn. But that isn't it. There's something else rounding out this decadence. It isn't chocolate, but it's richer than the other scents. Some moderate woody barrel brings in tannins, but there is a bit of baking spice as well. Hints of orange peel and caramel. Maybe what I was getting before was a caramel richness? Perhaps a small amount of chocolate. Palate: This burns a lot more than I'd expected. It's very spicy. But there's some nice musty corn sweetness going on. A lot of it. There's a little bitterness to it, but it isn't overwhelming. A little grade A maple syrup, but also a tartness and bitterness of orange peel, but that bitterness really carries on, kind of like a bland medium roast coffee perhaps. I'm getting touches of bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and allspice. The cocoa powder is unfortunately the biggest player here though. There are a lot of things to like here, but the flavors are all condensed and there's too much bitterness. Water brings out more complexity from the spices. It mellows out the bitter chocolate as well, but it also suppresses the sweet flavors. I'm getting hints of Sierra Norte Red Corn vibes, but it isn't nearly as funky. Finish: Bitter with char and some chocolate. Lingering musty corn. Vanilla. Notes of woody spices. Not all that interesting, but solid. It's too bitter, but not overwhelmingly so. It does still burn, but that seems reasonable at this proof. It's actually a little sweeter than the palate. This isn't amazing me, but it is improving my opinion of this dram. - Conclusion - This is a clear improvement over Balcones Blue Corn Bourbon. Old Forester 1920 (18/23) seems to be in about the same ballpark as this. It's less full and has more minerality, but that blue corn funk with maple and chocolate and the like really works well. I'm inclined to give this the win. 1792 Full Proof (19/23) competes well with this on fullness while maintaining adequate complexity. The two seem fairly well matched. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (18-19/23) is very close in quality to this. I think it burns a bit more, but it's also possibly mellower and more balanced. Well, it's at least more traditional. Honestly, they're close, but I think I'd take this. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23) shows its alcohol more than this does, but it has some really nice weight to it that this doesn't. I'm surprised by how close the two are. There's no way I'm going below a 19 for this now. That Lost Lantern Balcones blue corn (22/23) is lighter than this, but with fewer flaws and more nuance. It seems like the better dram to me, but I can see arguments to the contrary. So this is a 19 to 22. That's quite impressive! Elijah Craig A121 (a very solid 22/23) strikes me as better than this, but the gap isn't tremendous. I'm thinking that this will be a 20 or 21. Eh, it's close. This actually could be a 22. Going back to the Jack Daniel's, this seems competitive! I'm thinking of a 21 for this. I'm very impressed by this one. Thank you, a friend, for allowing me to try it:

Overall Score: 19/23. Having previously enjoyed a sample of a different Balcones True Blue Cask Strength pick, I was eager to try this local offering, despite the high taxes. Hopefully, it lives up to expectations. Nose: It has a strong presence, with a blend of tartness, dry wood, maple syrup, and chocolate. I suspect there are other subtle notes I can't quite identify, possibly enhanced by a hint of dusty earthiness. There's alcohol heat but no discernible flavor. While I generally appreciate the nose, the tartness gives it a slightly unusual character and limits its full potential. Palate: It's quite rich but surprisingly lacks fullness. Chocolate, maple, wood, spices, and alcohol heat are present, but there's no youthful alcohol flavor. A pronounced tart dryness detracts from the overall fullness. Unfortunately, it also has an off-putting funkiness and a slight bitterness suggesting it might be a touch over-oaked, though not excessively so. The most prominent flavors are tannins, sharp spices, maple, and a jalapeño-like earthiness, with chocolate also notable. It's rich and full, with faint vegetal hints and baking spices mixed with strong oak tannins. It does seem slightly over-oaked, but not significantly. This is a decent palate, but not remarkable or inspiring. Finish: It's rich and full, leaning towards bitter. The tannins persist, along with maple and faint vegetal/floral notes. Baking spices are barely perceptible. There might be the faintest hint of semi-sweet chocolate, though it's difficult to discern; however, I am confident I do detect chocolate. Conclusion: This unfortunately falls short of the other Balcones True Blue Cask Strength pick (22/23) I sampled. Lost Lantern's 2-year-old single barrel (22/23) is frustratingly superior, especially considering this bottle's age. This one has a peculiar funk and is slightly over-oaked, whereas the Lost Lantern is nuanced and delightful. On the other hand, it surpasses my Garrison Brothers Balmorhea 2021 (17/23), which is lighter, more mineral-driven, and somewhat oddly funky. The richness here is substantial and decadent. While perhaps less complex, I prefer it, even with notes of jalapeño and ash. I'd place it in the 18 to 21 range. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (18-19/23) offers considerably more nuance and sweet fruit but is less full-bodied and higher in alcohol. I slightly favor this bottle, though not by much. It still possesses considerable complexity and depth as the palate develops. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23) is more decadently rich, with notes of green banana, oiliness, and toffee. This cannot match that richness but is more nuanced and still decadent. 1792 Full Proof (19/23) is sweeter, with more minerality and banana toffee sweetness. I'm inclined to rank this slightly above the 1792, but I'm uncertain. This falls within the 19 to 20 range. It's delightful, but regrettably a step down from the other pick I tried. I anticipate it may improve with air.

Store Select: 63.4% ABV, 3 years old. Blue corn is poor as a tortilla chip, but I think we've found a suitable purpose for it. The aroma is my favorite aspect: Immediately, a distinct butterscotch note appears with some "nail polish remover" heat in the background. A tiny bit of water helps calm the acetone, by the way. A "funky, old t-shirt from a thrift store" aroma is in the far background, behind the sweet butterscotch, providing adequate complexity and playfulness. Moving to the taste: It's pleasantly melon-sweet at first and in the middle, but towards the finish, it shifts to a spicy bitterness, much like a walnut dusted with store-bought cayenne pepper. There's also a floral sensation gripping the roof of my mouth for about two minutes. The finish also presents the most distinctive "cappuccino sensation," elevating this to a must-purchase spirit. The interplay of all the flavors seems unrefined, though appreciated;) I'm pleased to experience Balcones, after my prior strong preferences for scotch and cask-strength bourbons initially shaped my "thoughts on malts." This perspective makes me truly value the innovation in these pours. I'm a huge fan. The price point was also a welcome bonus; value is important to the rating! I love that the United States is expanding flavor profiles beyond bourbon... Nevertheless, I simply enjoy this whiskey. 5.0 - purchase every bottle you can find. 4.0 - acquire at least one bottle during your lifetime. 3.0 - a solid spirit, worth trying at a bar or sampling from a friend. 2.0 - I didn't care for it; you might. 1.0 - your palate might be like my dog's, and he licks his own backside.

Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, powdered sugar, candied corn, apple, peanut, butter pecan, dusty corn, funnel cake, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, sweet oak, moderate to high ethanol burn. Palate: Caramel, candy corn, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, apple, black pepper, peanut, barrel spice, powdered sugar, dusty corn, brown sugar, cocoa, sweet floral notes, high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with sweet candy corn, baking spice, and prickly pepper flavors. My positive experience with Cowboy bourbon yesterday led me to dedicate the rest of the week to Texas whiskey, specifically Balcones expressions. Many thanks to a person who provided this sample, along with a few more I'll be reviewing this week. For reference, this is a single barrel bottling at 62.9%. The nose on this is like a carnival at full volume. Candy corn, funnel cake, powdered sugar, candied apple – it's all here. It's extremely sweet, but doesn't quite become cloying. The palate is similar, but with more pepper and baking spice notes. I must admit my only experience with corn whiskey is Mellow Corn. There are some similarities, but this is significantly better. However, I think the standard corn whiskey profile is too sweet for me. In musical terms, it's all treble and no bass. I think the proof really helps here, though. My guess is that the standard True Blue would rate as average for me. But this is not average at all. I'm looking forward to diving into more Balcones offerings this week.

A big thanks to a generous neighbor from the north for sharing this and many other samples for my tasting and review enjoyment. The proof is noticeable on the nose, but a few drops resolve that. On first smell, I'm getting maple glazed donut, liquid coffee creamer, and the residue at the bottom of a tortilla chip bag (salty corn dust). There's a hint of varnish with some raw vanilla to sweeten the aroma. Oak is subtle and restrained. The palate is rich and vibrant, with the cask strength showing its power. Oily vanilla cream leads, followed by rock candy and Cow Tales. It's a sweet and bold experience, as the ethanol, while integrated, is very present. Tannins and oak are again minimal, with just a toasty hint. The finish has fading sweets and finally some barrel influence, drying to green oak. I'm finding this quite enjoyable, and I'm pretty sure drinking a whole bottle wouldn't change my opinion much. That said, it is somewhat one-dimensional, and many will find the proof challenging... 86/100... I still think the single malt line is where Balcones excels, but I'll be trying more of their bourbons soon. Thanks again, friend!

Rating: 19/23 Nose: Sweet, musty, milk chocolate, somewhat tart, quite rich with corn notes. It has a definite decadent aroma. Hints of tangerine that lean towards malt, as well as faint sawdust. It's a bit unusual, but very enjoyable hedonism, showing balance and complexity. Palate: Wow, it has maple and vanilla, along with other decadent flavors. Rich, sweet corn, faint tangerine, light kettle corn, some wood tannins, notes of milk chocolate, musty notes that aren't quite sawdust. Finish: Astringent with wood and orange zest. Lingering mustiness and vanilla. Hints of kettle corn remain. - Conclusion - This is delightful. It's not mind-blowing, but it's another excellent True Blue. It has a stronger alcohol presence than the Total Wine selection I purchased (19/23), but it also lacks that odd barbecue flavor. This also seems sweeter! It's easily a 17, but could be as high as a 19. I was leaning towards an 18 until I realized this was sweeter than the Total Wine True Blue. Now I'm settling on a 19.