Every two years on the anniversary of Scotchology’s beginning, we have given a biennial update to review what we’ve been up to, reflect on what’s come before and muse about what might be coming. We list some social media stats and note how our reviews and other articles are coming. After a few years of consistency, the past two years have seen more change within the group – much like the rest of the world – than we had ever imagined. How does a small, informal social scotch club hold on when the ability to gather safely together is seemingly taken away?
Balcones Brujeria
Though Balcones has a very wide portfolio with many takes on traditional American spirits staples like bourbon and rye, they are also don’t neglect one of the first things that put them on the map: their single malt. Having clearly invested in an American single malt from the beginning, time and continued experimentation has allowed them to craft various expressions of this cornerstone offering. For the distillery’s tenth anniversary in 2019, they released two single malts only available at the distillery store, both with cask finishes. The Balcones Brujeria, which approximately translates to “witchcraft” or “witchery”, is finished in a mix of ex-Oloroso and PX sherry casks.
Balcones Brimstone
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.