Balcones Texas Single Malt

Flaviar blind tasting from Dec 2022 (done 3/21/23) B - [ ] Darkest of the three - beautiful, dark amber - [ ] Smells of vanilla, but taste is just as young as the first. Terrible flavor - Awful!

On a quick weekend trip to Florida, a backpack of clothes and necessities to carry on and off the plane. I wound up meeting up with a friend nearby for a lunch and a quick catchup on life. Well, in the same plaza of the restaurant is a Total Wine. After a fun catchup, like a moth to a light, I was drawn in. Alas, I cannot bring anything thing back with me on the plane; I only have a backpack. Peruse the sample and for $7 grabbed the Texas Single Malt and at 53% abv, this feels like a sensible purchase. Sitting down for the evening, I crack this open. The color of natural maple syrup brownish-amber. Dark Karo Syrup strikes the nose, molasses-like. Wafts of chocolate malt (I.e. Ovaltine), golden currants, cinnamon-sugar, nutmeg and pecans. There is a fragrant sweet note of butterscotch cream and brine that surrounds and encapsulates all earthy notes. Quite unique. The body coats the palate delivering spice and sweetness. Caramel, root beer, cinnamon, baking spices, ginger, fig/Fig Newtons, maple syrup, oak, dark chocolate and oak tannins. This is a hodgepodge of unique and differentiating flavors all packed in a burst of boldness. The flavors seem to never fade and palate stays coated in an oily thickness. Maple syrup and oak wood just linger and await the next sip. Red hot cinnamon tingle the tongue. Unique is not a description I have used often, if at all, when tasting. From nose to finish. Dirty, bold, brawny. I can picture tumbleweed rolling past me as I sip on this. You may need to be wearing a Stetson, boots, spurs and chaps while sipping. A fun one for sure and will and to snag a full bottle for the collection. [88/100][Tasted: 2/26/23]

Delicious

Real complexity to it that hits you hard. Caught some honey on the nose. Get big bold flavor of cinnamon and bite along with an undertone of sweetness with it. Overall an interesting change of pace from some of the others. Would call it a nice to have but not a must have.