Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon

Smells and tastes like a cross between bourbon and scotch. Candied walnut, oak, oily

I will start this out by stating that this is not a typical bourbon. The use of blue corn (probably over 70% of the mashbill, with little rye), short 2-3 year aging, and pot still distillation method all make this taste different than any bourbon I've had before. The nose is supremely inviting - gentle and smoky, with sweet corn and creamy fruit character - tart apricots, almost citrus like. Corn almost completely dominates the palate - sweet, and dusty with a wonderfully viscous and oily mouthfeel from the proof and use of a old school pot still. Leather and graham cracker come in a little at the end. The finish redeems the monotone taste some, with dark chocolate and smokey barrel char lasting a good while, and the oily, not dried mouth feel hanging around too. Just as Dickel has a distinctive mineral aftertaste, Balcones has a one as well, resulting from the blue corn and pot still. It is a rich, almost overwhelming corn that is just plain different from anything you have tasted before. If you come in with expectations of a Wild Turkey or Heaven Hill brand bourbon, you will most certainly be turned off. But this is not Kentucky bourbon, this is Texas bourbon, and well done at that. Not the biggest fan of the price point, if it was $7 less, it would earn that last quarter star to be a recommended 'buy'.

Classic bourbon notes, but not as strong as Four Roses. With ice, the corn notes comes to the front.