Balcones Rumble Wine Cask

This was my first Balcones.. not bottle.. taste. I’ve never tried them. Always wanted to but never pulled the trigger. I’ve been on a rye whiskey cask finish kick lately. I guess this stood out because of the wine cask finish. The fact that it also mentioned wildflower honey and turbinado didn’t hurt. It just sounded too interesting to pass up. It pours very dark amber. You can see the wine influence. The nose is strong with even more red wine influence. At this point I’m wondering if they actually mixed wine into the bottle. Then the taste. And I’m going to explain it is plainly and accessible to the common whiskey fan as I can.. Imagine Woodford Double Oaked, with its thick, malty, almost acidic deep chocolate flavor. The hint of stone fruit. Imagine that. But imagine it at cask strength and a little younger. So more bite and a little more influence of the lack of aging. Now imagine it with a red wine cask finish. It’s truly a unique experience. Worth the price and worth a place on the shelf. It’s different enough that I know I can offer it to fans of both bourbon and scotch and all will find at least a layer of satisfaction in it. And I can’t imagine it in a cocktail. Would be wonderful.