Balcones Brimstone

On the nose, there’s a lot of density. Mostly sweetness and smoke with a little bit of spice to it as well. The palate opens up super salty at first, then there’s a burst of brown sugar sweet notes, before it finishes with a heavy smoke. It’s not a peat smoke though. Think more grilled-vegetable smoke. This is definitely an experience whiskey. I could see it being very polarizing. For enthusiasts, especially fans of craft whiskies, this will be easy to love because it’s rich, bold and has a long complex finish. But it’s not for the faint-of-heart. This would probably scare off a lot of newcomers. For uniqueness alone, I enjoyed this, but it’s not necessarily in line with my personal palate. Side note: add a little water and the smoke subdues considerably.

Bourbon and smoke but doesn’t quite mix

Pretty smokey. Had it first just by itself and it was a bit aggressive for my taste. Second time was with a cigar and it was much better.

Smokey, maple syrup sweet with a touch of salt

This is an amazing whisky that delivers in surprising and exciting ways. Powdered sugar and grilled peach are excellent notes to describe this drink. This is a different smoke than peat. Even if you dislike Islay, please give this a chance.

Sweet caramel on the nose makes it enticing, but all smoke on the finish. Tastes like I’m drinking whiskey from an ashtray. Gonna be hard to finish this one.