Balcones Texas Single Malt Single Barrel Whisky Finished in Wine Casks #28365

Ive got #27876 which is finished in Madeira casks at 56.6%. Pungent and powerful fumes lighting up the glass. Rich dark fruit with trademark Balcones notes on the nose. Palate delivers chocolate nougat melted into a fruit roll up. There is explosion of cinnamon and nuclear nutmeg, sweet pipe tobacco, heavy malt and tanned leather. Ethanol is present but just adds fuel to the flavor fire. I swear its like they distill pure sunshine into their products with a hot vibrant funk. Finishes with plenty of non bitter tannins, coffee grounds, pencil lead and lingering dark fruit. Need to be able to handle proof as this drinks with heat. Bombastic, it slaps you around a bit but grabs you before you fall. Another strong performer from Balcones....89/100.... Hop on the wild Texas stallion and go for a ride. Im dinging a bit for value as I think its overpriced but as with all their single malt offerings(most hard to find) the tip is: if you see it buy it

Total Wine, Waco, TX pick Barrel No. 30869 Aged 50 months total, first in a used Oloroso sherry cask then transferred to a used KY bourbon barrel 64% abv: 128 proof Open 3 weeks Got a sample from my friend who always visits his in-laws in Houston over the holidays Nose - Stewed stone fruits and berries, molasses, fresh steakhouse bread, cocoa, funky malt, allspice, medium oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Berry and fig jam, chocolate covered caramel, toffee, sickly sweet malt, cinnamon, allspice, and sweet oak. Finish is long with rich dark fruit jam, molasses, allspice, cardamon, oily oak, and medium ethanol. This is fantastic. Typically I really like Balcones products on first crack, and over time they get less enjoyable as the oak dominates the flavor profile. The extra long aging in a used Oloroso sherry cask balances out the oak perfectly. You may think aging malt in Texas heat this long would bring out the boldest and worst of the sherry and bourbon barrels, but they marry so well together. It's still a big, heavy pour, 2 glasses max in one sitting. But unlike the cask strength rye and malt single barrels I've had, I don't feel like this was aged too long in the Texas climate. The closest comparison I've had is the Rua Sherry Cask from NC, but this is bolder and heavier.