Balcones Texas Rye 100 Proof

As @PBMichiganWolverine noted, this was the top discovery of the otherwise disappointing Whisky Live show in New Jersey. Thanks to the generosity of the brand rep, I was able to spend some time with a sample at home to see if it tasted as good as it did at the show. And it did, for the most part. The nose is unlike any other rye I’ve tried. It’s orange oil and cloves, though if you persist there’s a hint of grassiness that speaks to its roots. In the mouth, the dominant flavor is a most unexpected creamy chocolate that persists into a finish of chocolate milk. A drop of water brings out more of the grassy aromas on the nose, while the palate turns more milky. My only reservation is that the strength of the alcohol numbed my lips slightly, which I found a little distracting. That’s not something I’ve experienced before with higher strength whiskies, so I don’t if it was something peculiar about the spirit or just a random weird reaction on my part. That aside, this is a unique and exciting whisky at a very affordable price. As much as I love rye, my experience has been that one distiller’s product tastes broadly similar to another’s, with the notable exception of the funky Lock Stock and Barrel 15. Balcones hints at a more diverse future for this category.

I’m bumping this up to 5 stars. The Balcones rep at WhiskyLive gave me a small little “take away” of about 2 ounces in a vial. Having this alone without other tastings, and a substantial amount rather than just a sip, I feel as if I’m able taste it more fairly. Nose is mocha-ish, think a mixture of dark chocolate and coffee. But, wow...the palette...tasted blind I’d have confused this for spiked dark coffee. It’s probably the thickest whiskey I’ve ever had...as if someone mixed in Texas oil with the water. Personally, I love it...but it’s not for everyone. If you go in expecting to have your classic rye, which tastes grassy and minty, this ain’t it.