Balcones Distilling takes what works and builds upon their creativity. Using the Hopi blue corn found in their other products like the Baby Blue, True Blue, Blue Corn Bourbon, the Balcones Brimstone uses native Texas scrub oak to smoke the whiskey itself fresh after being distilled. This is markedly different from what virtually every other distiller who wants a smoky flavor does, which is smoke the grains themselves before distillation. And if that wasn’t enough smoke, the distillate is then aged in charred American oak barrels.
Distillery: Balcones
Region: Foreign
Age: NAS
Strength: 53%
Price: $49.99
Location: Waco, TX
Nose: Smoke, wintergreen, sap, tar
Palate: Smoke, blackberry,
Finish: Tar, smoke, orange
Comments: Try taking a drink of water, swallow, then a sip of whiskey.
Adam – I don’t mind admitting it took a while for the Balcones Brimstone to grow on me. It is bold, unapologetic and upfront with its profile, yet if you hold with it and really focus, you can peel back a layer or two to find some unexpected fruit on the periphery. But I don’t pour a glass of this for the fruit factor. I fully enjoy the strong smoke element, which is so different than other smoky whiskies I love, like scotches from Islay. There is a char element I normally don’t enjoy yet don’t seem to mind when it is present here. The experience would be less without that char, as if it somehow grounds the smoke, giving it more substance. This is wholly unique in and of itself, not to be replicated. I don’t want to drink it all the time or on every occasion, but when I want it, there is no substitution.
Meghan – I really do love the smoke of this. I think having sips of water in between sips of the whiskey helps cut the tar. It does come close to being too smoky. It’s not, but it flirts with almost. It’s just really good.
Like a Star Trek transporter, you take a sip and you’re instantly somewhere else.
Michael – I really like this whiskey. Balcones in general speaks to the place it’s from with all the elements it has. I like so many of their whiskies because of that. I feel like I’m at a campfire surrounded by scrub oaks. The Balcones Brimstone has a lot of layers, with a flavor and mouthfeel I really enjoy.
Ben – This smells like a boy scout campfire. You can smell the land. For me, growing up in TX and going to boy scout camp, this is what it smells like. It’s a dry day and you’ve got a campfire going. It’s been hot and dry, and then night comes. The fire is there for the community, not the heat. The charry, tarry finish is like a memory of a wonderful experience from the day before.
Kate – I like the Balcones Brimstone a lot. I like it just the way it is. I guess I’m not getting as much tar. Maybe a little waxy? It’s sweet and sassy.
Henry – This has about the perfect nose, except for one element. Occasionally I get some tar, some wet charred wood, but it’s just here and then it’s gone. It’s out of character with everything else. Wintergreen, sweet barbecue, and campfire smoke on the nose. Sweetness on the palate competes with a cherry note which is the only less-than-perfect note of the entire experience. The sense of terroir in this whiskey is magical. It’s like Texas in a glass. Like a Star Trek transporter, you take a sip and you’re instantly somewhere else.
