Tastes

Specs single barrel pick, barrel #28368. 31 months in barrel, new American oak and finished in 1st use California Pinot noir cask, then transferred to used Kentucky bourbon barrel. Ethanol is noticeable on the nose, but pick up the sweet chocolate notes. Chocolate rye bread on the taste with a lingering rye spice finish. Definite Balcones and unique rye whiskey. Rich and thick. Not picking up much of the Pinot influence. Makes for a good dessert sip.

Solid value at price paid. Sherry, nutty nose with honey and some fruity notes. On palate, lots of sherry, very sweet and oak is present. Some burn on the finish, but also a lingering sherry note.

Smooth American single malt. Oak is noticeable. Has some malty bread flavors. Nothing jumps out. Flavors all in good balance.

Lots of sweet oak and dried fruit, with malty scotch base. Good.

Spec’s pick. Banana, vanilla, sweet rye bread. Oily on finish with minerality and mouth drying tannin as well. Solid pour.

Honey, sweet candy, corn, vanilla. Smooth with a slight bite on the finish. Some oiliness. This is definitely very sweet, but the sweetness is balanced by the texture and mouthfeel.

Nutty sherry on the nose, with some ethanol. Lots of sherry and oily, candied sweetness on the palate. Some alcohol burn, but nice sweet and lingering finish. Very sweet. Higher proof seems to be in very good balance.

Peanut on nose, palate and finish. High proof is in balance, so while noticeable it does not overwhelm the other flavor notes. Some spice and lingering red hot on finish. Good bourbon.

Rye spice, sweet caramel. Oily and delicious. I like the balance of the spice and sweetness in this rye, and the proof really works here. Great pour.

Orange, spice, fruit, rye and port on the nose. Sweet, slightly jammy, rye flavor. Finish lingers with port note. Very enjoyable.