Balcones Baby Blue

Herbal nose plus toffee. Sweet finish. Fruit. Smoother than the single malt and way better than the pot stilled bourbon

Butterscotch on the nose. Vanilla taste rich.

Butterscotch and sweet cotton candy!

Since I've found that I prefer my whisky straight, without water or "resting," I've abandoned my three regimes tasting method, and simply try it straight out of the bottle. This bottle - a fifth, or as close as makes no never mind - I got at Total Wine in Albuquerque for $39.99. The mash bill is 100% roasted blue corn, and according to the labels it's AGED AT LEAST 12 MONTHS IN OAK. I understand that the short aging period is the reason it's "baby" blue. It's 92 proof, and like Balcones Pot STill Bourbon, it doesn't drink like it has such a relatively high proof - I routinely got more alcohol burn from 80 proof whiskies, before I learned to prefer a higher proof. The COLOR is golden amber. The LEGS form quickly, are widely spaced, and run down long. The NOSE on this whisky initially gives notes of caramel and a very faint oak. Given the short aging period I wouldn't expect a lot of oak in the juice. Upon putting my nose fully into the glass, I discerned a smokiness, and then roasted corn. When I TASTED the whisky I got smokiness, caramel, and a slight bitterness as of hops. It was a pleasant bitterness, as the bitterness in beer is pleasant, but I've never gotten that from a whisky before and it surprised me. On the very tip of my tongue I tasted brown sugar. The FINISH of this Baby Blue whisky is medium in length, beginning with a smoky oak taste. This is where the alcohol comes in most strongly, and the hops bitterness is more pronounced here. This is a simple whisky, but it's one of the best I've ever tasted. Balcones has a reputation for producing bold, strong-flavored whiskies, which I found to be true of the Pot Still Bourbon. This whisky, which one would normally expect to be somewhat mild, given the short aging period, is also bold and definite. For a simple whisky it's surprisingly good - but I'm coming to expect nothing but the best stuff from the Balcones distillery. I give this whisky five stars without the least hesitation or doubt.

salty and briny