Tastes

Total Wine pick, barrel 17291 new American oak. Aged 45+ months, 129.6 proof. Thick, syrupy, rich, and unique. The nose is syrup, molasses, and dark fruits. The palate is warming with more syrup, dark fruits, molasses, and oak. The molasses and rich dark fruit linger on my palate. Sometimes this reminded me more of a rum than a whiskey but regardless it was enjoyable. Balcones seems to be divisive among whiskey drinkers. This was my first bottle by them and it was unique but very enjoyable. I'll be looking to try more of their offerings in the future.

A really nice 12 year whiskey that's readily available. Oak and vanilla on the nose. The perfect mix of oak, vanilla, nuts, caramel, and some spicy pepper on the palate. The sweet oak remains long afterward. I'm torn between whether the 12-year standard or the 9-year SiB is my favorite. Regardless both are great for the money.

Very grainy wheat, reminds me of all the notes of a farm (minus the manure).

Delicate and light on the nose and the palate. Light sweet fruit on the nose. The palate reminds me of a rye version of a buffalo trace with hints of oak, spice, orange, vanilla, and another note that comes and goes that I can only describe as bubble gum. Light and soft on the mouth feel, not like the spicy rye bombs I'm used to enjoying. It finishes with the spicy sweet notes lingering lightly on my togue. A very simple and approachable entry into the rye world.

Light stereotypical bourbon notes of sweet vanilla and oak on the nose. The palate is again typical bourbon notes mainly sweet and creamy vanilla and oak. My bottle has been open for a little bit and I get a bit of yeast funk on the end that I don't remember from when it was fresh. The finish also has just the right amount of spice invoking tongue tingle followed by more vanilla. Enjoyable pour that I find myself going back for more. If the rumors are true it reminds me of a richer, higher proof version of it's entry level cousin.

Batch #40 Young grain and hint of buttered popcorn on the nose. The palate leads off with that hint of butter then transitions to the sweet juicy fruit barrel finished notes before finishing with some rye spiciness. In a way this could be the cheaper, entry level cousin of some of the Barrell blended finished whiskeys. Got it in sale for for $20, given the price it's a nice light, sweet sipper.

Batch 6: Noticed more heat and rye spice followed by fruit, primarily apricot, on the palate when the bottle was freshly opened. Now that I've been drinking it for some time the sweet barrel finishing notes come through more. The rye takes more of a back seat with a smooth sugar sweet fruit sip that screams APRICOT! I enjoy the apricot whiskey notes that linger on in my mouth after the sip has finished. Given the proof, it's a refreshing and enjoyable pour, especially in the summer time.

Sample bottle size. Smells like new oak, hay, and grain. Taste is more new oak followed by an herbal tea or iced tea type flavor. The whiskey feels thin, but the herbal tea flavor still remains in my mouth well after the fact. It's drinkable, but glad I don't have a full bottle. It's not my...cup of tea, pardon the pun.

A nice light yellow corn whiskey. Nose of corn and light oak. Palate of sweet corn and light oak. Slight heat and a quick finish. Simple, sweet, corn, and oak. It's good for what it is and nothing more. A fun novelty with a cult following. Enjoy it for what it is.

VABC Barrel Select #178 Not much heat on the nose with oak, sweet, and weak floral notes. Thick, oaky, syrupy, sweet, and stone fruit lingers long on the palate finishing with some warm rye spice and a hint of peppermint. Really enjoyed this bottle with a consistent profile from first crack to mid-bottle to final pour.