TheWhiskeyNinja
Balcones Baby Blue
Corn — Texas, USA
Reviewed
October 3, 2020 (edited October 15, 2020)
Uncorking- cinnamon on the nose along with other baking spices. Warm bread and butter Taste is really strong of cinnamon sticks. This may be the strongest cinnamon I've ever tasted in a whiskey. Followed up by nutmeg and banana bread. It's like a Christmas bread in a glass. Very decent mouth feel and a medium finish. Unfortunately I don't love cinnamon but if you do this would be a home run. I was expecting a bit more bourbon flavor and that was not the case at all. This is mild with no burn or hug. More proof, especially if it balanced out the cinnamon would be a big improvement. On the other hand this in a spiced cider might make the season.
49.99
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Typoed my last comment - @TheWhiskeyNinja is who I intended, but the autocomplete got me :P If TheWhiskeyJug happens to show up though, hi! Good to see you!
@TheWhiskeyNinja. It's a good question - it's been quite a while since I've had the Baby Blue. I don't recall cinnamon, although there was some spice - milder, probably nutmeg or mild baking spices. i pulled out my open bottle of the cask strength - I don't get cinnamon there either; instead it's the dense and rich Balcones mocha-type flavor (which I find in most Balcones, but not the Baby Blue), along with a distinct blue corn note on the nose and palate. Love the idea of getting your daughter to nose it. My wife is a rum drinker, but not a whiskey fan. So her nosings and tastes give me some interesting impressions. Let me know if you'd like some samples of the Brimstone, cask strength or others - happy to send them along.
Off topic, but thanks for the @ mention at the end of your message @TheWhiskeyJug :) It's really annoying that Distiller doesn't let you link directly to conversations in the web UI if the message comes after an @ :(
Jon- Did you get that cinnamon? Thanks for the tips on the others. I have wanted to try Brimstone and True Blue for a long time but this made me wary. Fox - interesting question about batch. I let my daughter smell it and first thing she said was red hots. Maybe it is a batch thing. I'll give it another go in a restaurant or something to see if I get the same results. @jonwilkinson7309. @ContemplativeFox
@jonwilkinson7309 That sound great - thanks for the offer :) I've been working on an inventory spreadsheet as well, but I still need to get a bunch of stuff added and figure out the most digestible way to present it. I'll shoot you an email when it's ready and we can swap a few.
@ContemplativeFox. I've been meaning catch up with you - I have a few interesting Balcones samples I can send to you, and plenty of non-Balcones as well (I've been working on an spreadsheet inventory). Send me an email at my Distiller user name @gmail off you're interested.
Hmm, I don't recall that much cinnamon. I wonder if there are batch variations (or it could be my memory lol)? @jonwilkinson7309 Thanks for the insight about the how it improves from Baby -> True -> CS. I've heard that mentioned before, but after being underwhelmed by this one, I haven't felt compelled to go try the others. I have been deathly curious though! I still have great faith in Balcones :)
I found this to be OK, the True Blue 100 to be good, and the cask strength (55%) to be very good. None of the versions have a bourbon-like profile, the CS is quite rich and easy to drink neat.