I’ve somehow found myself in a Balcones kick right now, they seem to be one of the few distilleries that make really solid whiskey and sell them at very reasonable prices. Whereas other distilleries are pushing out too young or sourced NDP spirits for hundreds or thousands, Balcones just keeps pushing out incredible products for under $100. Granted not all of them work for me, but there are plenty of different palates out there than mine and there seems to be something for every enthusiast or everyday drinker to enjoy from them. Continuing on my Balcones tour, I have a sample this blue corn bourbon at 128 proof thanks to @jonwilkinson7309 to try. The nose starts with freshly made buttermilk blueberry flapjacks coated in grade a very dark maple syrup followed by wild flowers, then comes old leather saddles, hay and sun soaked old barn with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thick oily mouthfeel starting with freshly baked cornbread drenched in honey before fruits of orange peel, cherries jubilee, and apple pie filling with candied pecans that slowly transitions to spices of cayenne pepper, pipe tobacco, leather and old musty oak with high ethanol burn that finishes long with espresso, dark chocolate, dehydrated figs, dates, candied pecans, cornbread covered in whipped honey butter, worn down cowboy boots and pipe tobacco that lingers for minutes. This is a fantastic whiskey that has those big, bold flavors that Balcones tends to bring, but still manages a balanced flow without any flavor overpowering the others. In a side by side comparison with Garrison Brothers Cowboy bourbon, it was surprisingly close but the Cowboy had more balance whereas this is a bit more tannic and bigger ethanol burn even though this is a lower proof. So even though the Cowboy managed to edge it out, if you factor in price, this is under $100 for a bourbon that comes really close to a $200+ whiskey. If a big, bold, cask strength whiskey works for you and you happen to be lucky enough to find this in a store, grab one and get ready for a big Texas bourbon treat.