Balcones Brimstone Single Barrel - Tenth Anniversary

Whiskey: Balcones Brimstone Single Barrel - Tenth Anniversary

Region: USA

ABV: 62.2%

Price: £130

And now for something a little bit different, a single cask American whiskey from Texas.

Nose

A roast beef dinner, Worcester sauce - could even pass for Thai fish sauce, warming spices of nutmeg, cloves, burnt rubber, vegetal note of dried rosemary and thyme. for 62.2% it actually doesn’t have that much of an alcohol kick - maybe because the punchy PX aromas cover it up

Palate

Punched in the face with wood, spice and dried fruits. Wow there’s a lot going on, but it’s all going on at once. Dark roasted coffee in abundance, no extra sugar. Quite dry with a medium length finish consisting of bitter chocolate mocha and a drizzle of straight up Pedro Ximinez. Taking a deep breath in after swallowing brings all of the coffee notes back to the forefront.

Nose (with water)

More of the coffee notes that were found on the palate start to appear on the nose. Some of the harsher meatier notes fall into the background - becomes a bit more easy drinking.

Palate (with water)

It really opens up and you gain notes of chilli, cinnamon, cloves, and tobacco.

Conclusion

First thing’s first, full disclosure. We really like Balcones. They’re doing something really interesting over in Texas with their mixed malt/corn mash bills and their fast maturation climate. This particular bottling is quality whisky, but it can be overwhelming. One dram and you’re good for the evening. Saying that, we’d still happily have a bottle nearby.

Score: 8/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Balcones Brimstone Single Barrel - Tenth Anniversary? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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