Soba45
Balcones Texas Single Malt
American Single Malt — Texas, USA
Reviewed
July 2, 2017 (edited August 21, 2017)
I'm off to Texas in a couple of weeks for a road trip of Southern USA so got hold of a few Balcones samples to see if I should stock up on a few bottles whilst I'm there. Short answer...no...definate no. I'm with cask strength joe on this one. It looks seriously odd. Its quite a weird hazy orange in the glass sample bottle. I had it's sibling the Single Malt Rum Finish earlier in the week (come on Distiller please add the dozen or so whiskies I sent you to your site..it's been ages!) which came across quite artificial and the kitchen sink took a portion of my dram. Given that experience I started off with a smaller measure this time round. Its young, alcoholic and not much else to be honest. Bit of the standard drying wood, anise... Few drops of water didn't help. I'd give it a 2.5 and as its not quite at the 'nothing special but I'm happy to have a few drams' i.e a 3 level then it must be a 2 especially when the round $100 USD a bottle price is factored in.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Jason is absolutely right about grading on the curve. On the other hand, many (of us) have been priced out of the market but the older traditional spirits. So I am very happy to give the mavericks their day.
Yeah I've heard the same....once again I arrive to late for the party it seems :-). Yeah it's a bit like it for the newish scottish distilleries as well. People go nuts and rave about these 'progress statements' i.e. young whisky. IMHO I have yet to taste one that holds a candle to any of the well aged established stuff. And they usually aren't cheap. It hasn't helped that I've sampled some great whiskies recently so I've become a lot harsher on my scoring for everything that doesn't measure up.
I second the thought on Colkegan, which supposedly has a unique smoking/drying of their barley that produces a uniquely American style of smoky whiskey. But I'm apprehensive of trying all these new American whiskers, I suspect they often get graded on a curve by American reviewers because of their novelty and "craft" or "microdistillery" character. When these guys start turning out well aged whiskies after 15-20 years of experimenting and figuring out what the ideal aging point for their climate is, that's when I really want to start trying them.
Thanks for the heads- up. Balcones was on my list as whiskeys to try. I'm intrigued by another SW whiskey made in New Mexico called Colkegan. Look for that one.
This actually went downhill after it was sold a few years back. It was really good when it first came out. Batches after it was sold, or more specifically, after its owner got ousted, turned out pretty bad