Balcones Baby Blue

I don’t know if it’s a 92 but it’s good man I’m feeling it. It’s very sweet and it has a strong corn flavor, but not as strong as I hoped. Definitely does smell like bananas Foster, but I never would’ve said that without seeing it. There’s a definite hay grassy note too.

Bought from Total Wine in Santa Fe, NM, during our January trip in 2021. Polished off the bottle over the span of the month. I will probably have some nostalgia from this whiskey if I ever taste it again, which I should if I see it on a menu or at a store. Overall I really really enjoy this whiskey. It is very interesting and unique. It will add variety to a collection. I enjoyed it to start, but grew to like it more over time. It is certainly young, it has a lot of brightness. Nose: Oranges, sweetness, a little acidity. I am smelling corn (duh) and citrus. Palate: It reminds me initially of a young scotch (a la Glenglassaugh Evolution). The corn sweetness pushes through immediately afterwards. There is a subtle funk (not the right word, but it is unique) that comes through that I'd attribute to the *blue* corn. Similar notes can be tastes in blue corn chips or tortillas. Finish: Sweet corn fading to bitterness. Not an off-putting bitterness, but more of an earthy, "vegetative" bitterness. Definitely a buy again, if just for the variety and to have guests try something new.

Dessert in a bottle! Had it in a strawberry daq and it banged, really tasty and sweet, it's a guilty pleasure

Balcones Baby Blue, Texas bourbon, in this case, corn whiskey should be pretty sweet. Fermentation in Texas is a lot different due to hotter climate, it’s believed that whiskeys age/degrade much faster so they need less time in the cask for added character and mellowness. The nose—very sweet, sorta smells like a custard, more directly like a banana pudding. With a closer sniff, the fruity sweetness develops into a brown sugar, there’s not much else going for it outside of the very noticeable aroma of sweet custard. The taste—has a noticeable bite upfront and a smoky oak flavor, the sweet finish ties in the aroma of the nose with a banana pudding flavor behind a spice. The second sip brought out more an oat grain like flavor with a woody mid-palate the sweet finish is consistent and noticeable. The result is a slightly disappointing pour, not to say it isn’t good, but it lacks the character of the nose, it lacks the balance and harmony expected from a corn forward mash. While it has a great finish, upfront it feels unrefined and phenolic in some instances, that level of inconsistency brings chaos to an otherwise pleasant drink. A big factor is probably due to the immaturity of this whiskey, with a bit more age maybe it’ll taste less young. —the scotch guy

There’s definitely something here. While it’s not necessarily my particular bag, I see why one might find this whisk(e)y quite intriguing. It bods well in hot toddies, and if you’re looking for a unique, corn-forward experience with a sugary profile, this will do. Flaviar (free bottle [June]) Opened: 7/7/20 Finished: 1/15/21

This whiskey has a prominent aroma of citrus, caramel and wood. The taste is subtle with banana and nuts followed by a lingering bitter finish. This pour is surprisingly good and exceeded my expectation. It is a very unique whiskey; I am guessing because blue corn is used in the mash bill. I like it!