Balcones True Blue Cask Strength

Rating: 21/23 Full blue; full strength. I was blown away by a Lost Lantern release of 100% blue corn whiskey from Balcones, so I'm really excited to be trying this. I also had a great tequila finished version of this. I'm hopeful that this will prove a worthy substitute for that Lost Lantern single barrel once I run out of it. N: Rich and pretty full. Sweet and decadent. Maple syrup, vanilla, musty blue corn. But that isn't it. There's something else rounding out this decadence. It isn't chocolate, but it's richer than the other scents. Some moderate woody barrel brings in tannins, but there is a bit of baking spice as well. Hints of orange peel and caramel. Maybe what I was getting before was a caramel richness? Perhaps a small amount of chocolate. P: This burns a lot more than I'd expected. It's very spicy. But there's some nice musty corn sweetness going on. A lot of it. There's a little bitterness to it, but it isn't overwhelming. A little grade A maple syrup, but also a tartness and bitterness of orange peel, but that bitterness really carries on, kind of like a bland medium roast coffee perhaps. I'm getting touches of bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and allspice. The cocoa powder is unfortunately the biggest player here though. There are a lot of things to like here, but the flavors are all condensed and there's too much bitterness. Water brings out more complexity from the spices. It mellows out the bitter chocolate as well, but it also suppresses the sweet flavors. I'm getting hints of Sierra Norte Red Corn vibes, but it isn't nearly as funky. F: Bitter with char and some chocolate. Lingering musty corn. Vanilla. Notes of woody spices. Not all that interesting, but solid. It's too bitter, but not overwhelmingly so. It does still burn, but that seems reasonable at this proof. It's actually a little sweeter than the palate. This isn't amazing me, but it is improving my opinion of this dram. - Conclusion - This is a clear improvement over Balcones Blue Corn Bourbon. Old Forester 1920 (18/23) seems to be in about the same ballpark as this. It's less full and has more minerality, but that blue corn funk with maple and chocolate and the like really works well. I'm inclined to give this the win. 1792 Full Proof (19/23) competes well with this on fullness while maintaining adequate complexity. The two seem fairly well matched. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (18-19/23) is very close in quality to this. I think it burns a bit more, but it's also possibly mellower and more balanced. Well, it's at least more traditional. Honestly, they're close, but I think I'd take this. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23) shows its alcohol more than this does, but it has some really nice weight to it that this doesn't. I'm surprised by how close the two are. There's no way I'm going below a 19 for this now. That Lost Lantern Balcones blue corn (22/23) is lighter than this, but with fewer flaws and more nuance. It seems like the better dram to me, but I can see arguments to the contrary. So this is a 19 to 22. That's quite impressive! Elijah Craig A121 (a very solid 22/23) strikes me as better than this, but the gap isn't tremendous. I'm thinking that this will be a 20 or 21. Eh, it's close. This actually could be a 22. Going back to the Jack Daniel's, this seems competitive! I'm thinking of a 21 for this. I'm very impressed by this one. Thank you, @soonershrink , for allowing me to try it:

I think my first corn. Great flavor. 60% is a little much for this. Splash of water is clutch. Could tone down the medicinal taste. Some maple.

Fresh crack in a glen cairn. A: medium to dark red; very good legs N: sweet, syrup, some heat, caramel, vanilla P: heat, oak, leather, baking spice, red hot candy, fresh linen F: extended warm toffee, cinnamon and baking spice. Very unique for 100% corn, heat is there on P and F, but it’s complex with a lot of interplay between several notes.

Single barrel Spirit Hub pick, 4 years old. 64.5% ABV. Nose: blueberry muffins, honey, cornbread, peanut, vanilla, maple Taste: buttered corn, peanut, vanilla, honey, blueberry muffin, raisin A completely unique whiskey. It has characteristics of bourbon but the blue corn really shines through in a great way. A must try

Like the aroma. Caramel and toffee. Harsh with the high ABV though.

Huge shout out to my generous northern neighbor from OKC for providing this and many other samples for my tasting/reviewing pleasure. The proof is well evident on the nose but a couple drops takes care of that. On first intake Im getting maple glazed donut, liquid coffee mate and the crumbs at the bottom of the tortilla chip bag(corn dust with salt). There's a bit of a varnish note with some raw vanilla dropped in to sweeten the scent. Oak is light and restrained. Palate is rich and vibrant with the cask strength flexing its muscle. Oily vanilla creme leads the way alongside rock candy and cow tales. Its a sweet and loud affair as the ethanol while integrated is very present. Tannins and oak again are at a minimum with just a toasty bump. Finishes with the fading confections and at last some barrel moderating to dry green oak. Im finding this quite enjoyable and pretty sure working a whole bottle wouldnt change my opinion too much. That said it is kind of a one note whiskey and many will struggle with the proof......86/100.....I still think the single malt line is Balcones wheelhouse but will be trying some more of their bourbons soon. Thanks again Sooner!

barrel pick back liquors. damn nice