Ranger Creek Rimfire Mesquite Smoked Texas Single Malt

I must confess, this one left me underwhelmed. During a recent trip to Ranger Creek in San Antonio (their beer was superior, especially the coffee ale and prickly pear sour), I sampled this alongside a distillery-exclusive "heavily smoked" variant, reportedly featuring much more mesquite smoked barley. I found both versions lacking on the aroma. The mesquite is barely noticeable on the nose in the original and begins to stand out in the heavily smoked version, yet both fall short compared to Coklegan Single Malt or Whisky Del Bac Dorado. The taste was agreeable, with some chocolate and soft malt notes, but the finish was weak and left me desiring more. This is still an emerging distillery, and I hold out hope for them, particularly with the Texas Whisky Trail gaining momentum, so perhaps future batches will involve more recipe adjustments to better incorporate the mesquite smoke. For now, however, my assessment stands, and I anticipate trying something more captivating later. If you seek a mesquite smoked American single malt, consider the other two mentioned if you can locate them.

Nose: Watermelon that's been left out for months, accompanied by a burning garbage smell. The salted tears of a grieving spouse. Faint caramel banana. Vanilla ice cream. Taste: Damp cardboard used to dry a dog. The chocolate center of a Tootsie Pop. Dense, moldy rye bread. Adding water inexplicably transforms the nose into holiday spices and candy canes, with the scent of artificial Christmas flowers. The taste remains the same, except with more oak and an intensified cardboard flavor. Why does this exist? Just get Brimstone instead, please.

Smells like a Texas BBQ over mesquite smoke. Not a lot of sugar, but the smoke itself tastes quite sweet. A bit smoother and more rounded than the Andalusia Stryker.

Has a very distinct profile I cannot quite identify. Extremely smoky with abundant flavors. A great spirit but finishes moderately difficult with a lengthy aftertaste.

Honestly, I'm not sure the purpose of this whiskey. Smoky, yes, but the flavor beyond that is weak, and the little flavor there is is quite unappealing.

Strong chocolate taste, with notes of toasted marshmallow and tropical fruit. A subtle finish with a more intense taste across the tongue.