The Whiskyphiles

Balcones

Balcones-Distillery

balcones-texas-single-malt-whisky
Image courtesy of Master of Malt

History Nine years ago, Balcones was little more than an idea fueled by a ruthless drive to create something new, something genuine, something worthwhile – a Texas whisky tradition. It all started with an old welding shop under a bridge. We hammered and welded our own stills, and sawed and nailed on that little shack to build the distillery that we use to this day. Since then, we have released ten unique whiskies and spirits, of which we are very proud, and won over 140 national and international awards from the world’s top judges and critics. We don’t just make whisky in Texas. We make Texas whisky.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Balcones_Fifth_Anniversary_1176035 Balcones 5th Anniversary Bourbon Cask 2 – Review: Balcones 5th Anniversary Bourbon Cask 2 (65.7%, OB, 2014) Category: Texan bourbon whiskey Origin: Balcones Distillery Bottling: Offical ABV: 65.7% Cost: £125 for 750ml Score: 91/100 What they say: The second of four single barrel bourbons from Balcones, released as part of their fifth anniversary spectacular. The previous release sold like hot cakes on […]
  • balcones-v-brimstone-resurrection-whiskey Balcones 5th Anniversary Brimstone Resurrection – Review: Balcones 5th Anniversary Brimstone Resurrection (60.5%, OB, 2014) Category: Texan corn whiskey Origin: Balcones Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 60.5% Cost: ? Score: 90/100 What they say: One fateful day, an accident happened at the Balcones distillery in Waco, Texas. A batch of corn got burnt to the bottom of one of their stills (which […]
  • Balcones 5th Anniversary Straight Malt Resurrection Cask Finish – Review: Balcones 5th Anniversary Straight Malt Resurrection Cask Finish (58.3%, OB, 2014) Category: Texan malt whiskey Origin: Balcones Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 58.3% Cost: £115 for 750ml Score: 86/100 What they say: A limited edition bottling of Balcones Texas straight malt, finished in the Brimstone Resurrection cask. Brimstone Resurrection was made after accidentally burning corn […]
  • Balcones 5th Anniversary Straight Malt Rumble Cask Reserve Finish – Review: Balcones 5th Anniversary Straight Malt Rumble Cask Reserve Finish (57.5%, OB, 2014) Category: Texan malt whiskey Origin: Balcones Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 57.5% Cost: £115 for 750ml Score: 92/100 What they say: Released as part of the Balcones fifth anniversary, this Texas straight malt whisky was finished in a cask that previously held their […]
  • Balcones Rumble Cask Reserve Special Release – Balcones Rumble Cask Reserve Special Release (58.5%, OB, 2014) Category: Texan wildflower honey, turbinado sugar and wild fig spirit Origin: Balcones Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 58.5% Cost: $82.99 for 750ml (US) Score: 88/100 What they say: While making the rounds of tasting our barrels, I discovered a cache of older Rumble casks that had been […]
  • balcones-texas-single-malt-whisky Balcones Texas single malt “1” Classic Edition – A delicious and flavour-full single malt expression from Balcones that combines the complexity of single malt whisky with the power of bourbon-style maturation. Rated by many as one of the best ‘standard’ expressions from Balcones distillery, I find it hard to disagree. 88/100
Independent Bottling
That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
  • balcones-3-year-old-that-boutiquey-whisky-company-whisky Balcones 3 Years Old Batch 2 – Balcones 3 Years Old Batch #2 Whisky Review: Hugely sweet, I was really surprised this was a single malt and not a bourbon from Balcones. A fantastic quality as always from Balcones, I fear tasting this reasonably blind that the Tequila cask influence was completely lost on me? 88/100