Balmorhea - 2020 Release Appearance: The deepest hue of mahogany/brown I have ever seen in a whiskey. Dark brown. Darker than most maple syrups I have enjoyed and nearly as thick. Texas has treated this spirit well. This is an oily one. This stuff is aesthetically succulent. Nose: The succulence continues. Werther’s Caramel candies, rising dough, cinnamon, and Luxardo cherries slowly roll around in the glass. Faint ethanol from the hefty proof. Taste: What!?? The notes from the nosing are just as present in the taste but with the added characteristic of a fruit cocktail. I have never tasted pineapple in a whiskey, but on the finish (and with the retro-nasal action) there is a pineapple/fruit punch sweetness. Deep sweets like caramel and maple syrup are the most dominant, followed by cherries and wood tannins and spices, and then a surprising fruit cocktail quality that works beautifully with it all. Oily, rich, deep, and sweet. So incredibly delicious. Finish: Not necessarily a one-dimensional profile, because there is a lot going on in the glass, but the dominant flavors are present from start to finish. Caramel candies, maple syrup, Luxardo cherries, spices, robust woodiness with a little mustiness, and that awesome accent of a fruit cocktail. All in all this is a phenomenal whiskey. I would even venture to throw it out against the BTACs. I know it is pricey, but I would be tempted to shell out the money for this if I saw it... almost. If you had it in your budget and came across a Balmorhea, I would recommend picking one up. I wouldn’t spend more than $200, though. Phenomenal stuff. This only further amplifies my pride in being a Texan. I am grateful to have tried a sample from a good friend. Thanks, LM.