Balcones Texas Rye 100 Proof

Mmmmmm chocolate!

Nose is dusty toffee with cocoa. Thin mouthfeel, somewhat hot. Tastes of fresh baked bread, peat, earthy. Finishes with heat again, lingering earthy gain, like standing in an oat field in fall as the grain is being cut. Overall, not bad. I put this closer to the scotch-like end of whiskey.

I tried this at a Balcones tasting and remember it being very spicy and liking it, however on purchase it tastes like a completely different whiskey. The first two pours from the bottle were decent, but as it's opened up the chocolate and coffee notes have become overwhelming. It's a chore to drink neat, and tastes almost like a flavored whiskey in cocktails.

Pour 9/14 of 1/4 oz pours at a whisky club I'm in. Interesting with notes of apple, dill, caramel, cherry, and pepper.