Balcones – Texas Rye Whiskey

Balcones 
Texas Rye Whiskey 
Balcones Distilling LLC

Proof: 100
ABV: 50%
Style: Rye
State: TX
Price: $$$

Peggy Noe Stevens – 6.8

Nose: Blast of brown sugar and caramel. Soft rye and pepper. Big barrel notes. Nutty and earthy blend that grows and develops. Hint of liquorice and anise.

Palate: Tannins speak first with a smouldering char taste. Pepper develops after the grains pull through and get past the smoulder.

Finish: Dominated by smokey essence, leaving raw cigar flavor.

Comment: If you are an earthy/smoke flavor kind of person, this one may be a slightly unusual option.

Susan Reigler – 7.0

Nose: Rye grass with caraway seeds, dried fruit, black pepper and burnt marshmallows.

Palate: Very herbal, like a field of tall grasses and wildflowers on a warm autumn afternoon. Note of vanilla and hints of dates and figs.

Finish: The herbal continues. The ending sweetens with some vanilla and dried fruit, but then is ruined with something ashy. 

Comment: Water sweetens it, giving it more cinnamon spice and fruit. That ashy note is worrying, though.