Tastes

A complete different level from the 12... sweeter and deeper with taste and aroma. I had this side by side with the Hakushu 12 and I neglected the 12 LOL. Made it seem like child’s play. Nose: as soon as you open and pour, you can smell the sweet beautiful honey dew melon, caramel green apple aroma - fills the room! Taste: Candied citrus hits your tongue. The melon and green apple continues with less burn than the 12 - not alcohol burn but barrel burn. Finish: honey coating sticks around in your mouth. Had me smacking my tongue and mouth for a minute. Has a sweet aftertaste of tobacco - kind of like after you smoke a real good cigar but not ash, a honeyed refreshing smoke.

Nose: tequila, buttered corn, butterfinger Taste: oak^10, young, burn, buttery I wanted to like this but, like all of Balcones, this is way too barrelly. They need to fix this. Small barrels + Texas heat is not a good combination - take one or the other

I have the privilege of owning the 1962 version Eleanor. Nose is sweet saw and corn dust with a smooth spice. Palette continues on the corn route with a caramel nuttiness. Higher proof than most but definitely smoother than expected.

(Update) I’ve learned to love this whisky. It’s hard to find a dram that is as smooth and sweet as this one. Think Irish whisky. Nose: sweet cream, kettle corn, and honeysuckle Palate: maple syrup, sweet cream and vanilla Finish: maple syrup and cinnamon butter (spiciness) (Prior review)Flat whisky with little to no depth. It’s sweet at the nose with caramel, vanilla and creamy on the palate but no complexity. Even added water to see if it changed anything - nothing. I wanted to love this but it failed me...