Balcones True Blue Cask Strength

Buttercream frosting, cotton candy, candy corn. A little Texas funk. The finish goes a little bitter. I think the Blue Corn bourbon is better, although the up-front sweetness of this one might make this more of a crowd-pleaser. The Blue Corn bourbon is more complex and interesting for my tastes. I'll enjoy this bottle, but I'll prefer to buy more Blue Corn when I can find it. Update: this does seem to be preferred by friends who are more novice whiskey drinkers. This is more approachable, the Blue Corn is more complex and interesting.

Old Oaks (Albert’s) Barrel Pick - very good and makes me think much different about MGP/corn whiskey…

Strong with a slight sweet vanilla notes

The nose starts with rich Werther's original caramels melted down and drizzled over cinnamon baked apples, candy corn then leather and freshly lacquered Texas barn size oak blast with a medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thick viscous mouthfeel starting sweet with bit-o-honey candy, maple syrup, candied apples, and then turns spicy and bitter with black pepper, leather, and freshly lacquered oak with high ethanol burn finishing medium length with black pepper, fresh open can of lacquer, sawdust, and candy corn. This is an interesting one with a nose that starts with an octane boost of alcohol coming from the 110 proof but after a while opens up to reveal candy sweetness with a Texas oak barn blast that acts as a harbinger for what’s to come. The taste leads with initially creamy sweets that veer mid palate toward bitter notes with high ethanol burn that overpower the dram and finishes with a Texas oak barn falling Wizard of Oz style on your tongue. Big thanks to @jonwilkinson7309 for the generous sample.