Balcones: Next stop, world domination?

[camduncan]

I am utterly offended by the outrageous prices that Balcones sees fit as reasonable, and I think their True Blue is despicable, but I enjoyed their single malt a month or so ago at a barbecue restaurant in Adams Morgan. It deserved better than the disinterested hipsters who served it. Specifically, I liked the sharp pot still notes mingled with the dirty barley distillate. A good combination, though a bit sour in the finish, likely from the unconscionably young age at which it was released.

Edited May 26, 2013 by camduncan

[Balcones Winston]

I am utterly offended by the outrageous prices that Balcones sees fit as reasonable, and I think their True Blue is despicable, but I enjoyed their single malt a month or so ago at a barbecue restaurant in Adams Morgan. It deserved better than the disinterested hipsters who served it. Specifically, I liked the sharp pot still notes mingled with the dirty barley distillate. A good combination, though a bit sour in the finish, likely from the unconscionably young age at which it was released.

Sorry to hear your experience wasn't pleasant with the True Blue. It's a drastically different profile compared to bourbon and other traditional corn whiskies so I could understand that you didn't get what you expected.

We strive to continually improve the quality of our whiskies, perhaps one day they will be more to your liking. If you're game, I'd be happy to personally taste you on our newest batches the next time I make it to DC.

If you have any questions feel free to post them here or message me directly.

[Balcones Winston]

Coincidentally, just as I finished writing that post Chip came into the office and handed me a sample of the new True Blue batch (13-1, 57.6%). Here's my take on it:

Nose: Explosive buttered corn, raw honey, Canadian maple syrup, cinnamon, subtle undertone of prickly pear with gentle oak and sandalwood.

Palate: Sweet roasted corn, oily texture, caramel, spice

Finish: Smooth with a combination of spice and light tannin, finishes clean with a lingering tingle on the tongue.

[smknjoe]

Sounds good. How much?

[Balcones Winston]

Sounds good. How much?

I think it's in the $60-65 range at Spec's

[AGarrison]

Chip came into the office and handed me a sample ....

I'm so jealous. To have a distiller of Chip's reputation just come in my office and hand me whiskey... Sigh.

[Balcones Winston]

I'm so jealous. To have a distiller of Chip's reputation just come in my office and hand me whiskey... Sigh.

Standard procedure when I show up to the distillery is one of us saying to the other "Hey, you gotta try this!"

[weller_tex]

I'm not sure if you're trying to be intentially offensive or brutally honest here. Either way I'm sure Winston is happy to receive constructive criticism, but any posts deemed derogatory will be removed.

I realize as a moderator you can put me in the penalty box, but I am calling BS here.

So, he never said anything bad about any person at Balcones..only the whiskey and the price. So does that mean we can't sarcastically criticize the product of a distiller that comes here to post? With the reputation of this board I am sure any distiller that dares to enter knows they have to have a thick skin. I am glad Winston is here, but if one wants to tell him that is whiskey is crap, one should be able to. When did this constructive criticism nonsense become a rule? You wanna go back and make all the Beam haters change their criticism of Beam so it is constructive?

BTW, this is what another moderator on this forum said of Garrison's Brothers bourbon:

"Butterscotch are you kidding I was looking around for a cat to lick it's ass to get the taste out of my mouth."

Now that was as funny as hell, but it sure wasn't constructive criticism. I have no problem with it at all and I am sure Dan Garrison maybe did not like to read it, but I am sure he got over it quickly.

[SWC]

Agreed. No double standards. Nothing personal was directed at the gentlemen.

Yes the prices are to high, which is why I looked at the bottles yesterday and strolled on by without regret. But the comment about the spirit's age being "unconscionable" was full on horse assery. Can we please stop criticizing distilleries for having the cahones to bring a product to market before aging it for 19 years? Good lord...

[squire]

Agreed, I believe there is a place for young Bourbon, the standard for straight is two years, being mindful that some of the finest Bourbon ever made was bottled as a fully mature product at 6 years of age.

[Balcones Winston]

Sounds like bad_scientist is the only one who is offended

Anyway, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I think the point to take away from Cam is that there are different ways of expressing it, some of those ways might be received better than others.

PS: What is "dirty barley distillate" I have never encountered this in my life

[Balcones Winston]

Agreed, I believe there is a place for young Bourbon, the standard for straight is two years, being mindful that some of the finest Bourbon ever made was bottled as a fully mature product at 6 years of age.

[timd]

We don't make bourbon

[Balcones Winston]

You DO make Bourbon - just not regularly :cool:

[timd]

We made one barrel, I think that hardly qualifies

Technically, you DID make Bourbon. And we Vulcans are all about technicalities.:slappin:

[squire]

Winston my post was about the ages of whsky on the market, not a reference to your group. While we're on the subject though let me add I don't think a whisky has to be labeled Bourbon or Straight to be a solid product.

[camduncan]

I realize as a moderator you can put me in the penalty box, but I am calling BS here.

So, he never said anything bad about any person at Balcones..only the whiskey and the price. So does that mean we can't sarcastically criticize the product of a distiller that comes here to post? With the reputation of this board I am sure any distiller that dares to enter knows they have to have a thick skin. I am glad Winston is here, but if one wants to tell him that is whiskey is crap, one should be able to. When did this constructive criticism nonsense become a rule? You wanna go back and make all the Beam haters change their criticism of Beam so it is constructive?

BTW, this is what another moderator on this forum said of Garrison's Brothers bourbon:

"Butterscotch are you kidding I was looking around for a cat to lick it's ass to get the taste out of my mouth."

Now that was as funny as hell, but it sure wasn't constructive criticism. I have no problem with it at all and I am sure Dan Garrison maybe did not like to read it, but I am sure he got over it quickly.

Then maybe see my post as a timely reminder to play nice in your interactions with our industry members. We've lost far too many of them from this site because members thought it appropriate to point out every fault they (personally) perceived with a given business model, product, price or individual and I'd sure hate for us to lose another one.

I will also point out that regardless of intentions, questioning of a moderators intent in an open forum is not the best thing in the world to do. Whilst I have no personal problem with it this time, it has gotten members banned in the past. If there's ever any questions, ask in PM.

Edited May 29, 2013 by camduncan

[Balcones Winston]

Winston my post was about the ages of whsky on the market, not a reference to your group. While we're on the subject though let me add I don't think a whisky has to be labeled Bourbon or Straight to be a solid product.

Gotcha.

And you're definitely right. Straight or not, bourbon or not, good whisky is good whisky.

[weller_tex]

Then maybe see my post as a timely reminder to play nice in your interactions with our industry members. We've lost far too many of them from this site because members thought it appropriate to point out every fault they (personally) perceived with a given business model, product, price or individual and I'd sure hate for us to lose another one.

I will also point out that regardless of intentions, questioning of a moderators intent in an open forum is not the best thing in the world to do. Whilst I have no personal problem with it this time, it has gotten members banned in the past. If there's ever any questions, ask in PM.

[Balcones Winston]

For the record, we have pretty thick skin at Balcones Besides, for every 1 person that makes a negative comment there are 20 more in line dying to buy a bottle

[timd]

Well, Winston was kind enough to share the forthcoming Balcones Bourbon with me.

Daaaaaammmmmnnnn. That stuff is good. I almost hate to bring it up, it's so limited. I know Chip Tate isn't about making "bourbon" - but when he puts his mind to something, it's hard to argue with the final product.

Maple syrup, brown sugar and huge vanilla notes. Just as you think it's going to be too sweet, some nice heavy spice and tannic notes blast your palate and the whole thing integrates into this rich, warm (almost smokey) swirl that just fills your whole mouth. There is some cinnamon here - but it's more oaky/vanilla than the typical True Blue is. I don't recall the age - at least 2 years, since I know it's "straight," but the flavor and integration belies the youth.

The finish holds those vanilla and brown sugar notes, while at the same time the spice from the alcohol (it's like 62%) really holds the flavors and experience throughout the finish. Just a nice warming.

I'm not going to say it tastes like "bourbon" per se - it's still essentially a corn whiskey... But it's as bourbony as you'd like, while not being what you'd expect from a bourbon (really, that's not intentionally doing double-speak there:grin:).

The blue corn is still the backbone here - and the sandalwood, slightly smokey and rich, almost woody "house profile" is all over this one, but it's a solid 5-star pour, even at the asking price (I think it's gonna be close to $100).

For people who only enjoy a "token" bourbon profile (Beam, Turkey, Woodford) and nothing too "out there" this may be a challenge - it's corny, there's not any rye or wheat to add those extra flavors to ponder. But if you enjoy some of the most well crafted distillate available, aged in some of the nicest barrels around, this will make you very, very happy.

[Balcones Winston]

this will make you very, very happy.

I pondered what this might go for on BX, then I realized I wouldn't sell it at any price haha

[theglobalguy]

Picked up the Single Malt today, and man it's got a kick. A good kick.

I'm not wise enough to give proper tasting notes, but will say it hits me like a mix of High West Campfire and Four Roses. To echo some of timd's earlier notes, not a scotch for sure, but reminds me of some of the other regional whisky products i've had like Mackmyra from Sweden.

I've now tried the Baby Blue and the Single Malt, and both seem perfect for tasting while grilling out. keep up the good work guys!

[Trey Manthey]

I've had my interest piqued in Balcones for a while, and my local store has True Blue Cask Strength, Baby Blue, Brimstone, and Rumble, and all are priced at $60 (Baby Blue is $50). I'm most interested in the Single Malt, but I can't find it in NOLA.

I'm usually a try before I buy whiskey shopper, but if I threw caution to the wind and had to choose between these 4 options, would anyone care to recommend one?

[squire]

Does Dave Martin's still give out samples?