The nose is bold and rich starting with sautéed strawberries on buttermilk flapjacks with grade A dark maple syrup then dark chocolate mocha and light florals followed by caramelized peaches, cherries jubilee and mandarin orange zest that transitions to dusty cowboy boots, hay and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a rich syrupy mouthfeel starting with whipped honey butter on top of freshly baked cornbread, sautéed strawberries and hay bales then dark chocolate mocha, candied pecans and light florals followed by caramelized peaches, cherries jubilee and mandarin orange zest that transitions to dusty cowboy boots and polished mahogany with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with dark chocolate mocha, cherries jubilee, sautéed strawberries, cornbread topped with honey butter, pipe tobacco, worn leather and polished mahogany. This is a big, rich and bad ass bourbon that is a decadent treat and the finishing was done just right which added red berries to the already fantastic blue corn bourbon without pushing it into an overly tannic bitterness that sometimes occurs with red wine finishing. It does have a slight youthful sourness that detracts from the overall experience but it is still an incredible bourbon that can easily go toe to toe with many of the overhyped and overpriced bourbons of today and beat or hold its own against them. At a price of around $70, I think this is a fantastic price for a premium high proof bourbon that should be a must buy for any Balcones fans. Thanks @skillerified for the generous sample and I’ll have to go order myself a bottle now.