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Balcones Brimstone
Distillery: Balcones Distillery, Waco, TX
Mash Bill: 100% Hopi Blue Corn
Age: Under two years
Style: Corn Whiskey
ABV: 53% (106 Proof)
Price: $50
Overall: Balcones Brimstone is imbued with deep, rich BBQ smoke from derived from the infusion of Texas Scrub Oak smoke post-distillation, and may taste unlike any other whiskey you've had before. Pure Texas BBQ pit. This is not an easy drinking, uncomplicated whiskey: there is a good chance you will either love it or hate it. But, Balcones' experiment with smoke is highly commendable, a creative play at doing something unique while leaving its mark on the history of smoke. This whiskey is Texas in a glass and a fun whiskey to drink. However, be warned, the smoke does tend to overwhelm the senses the will linger on the palate well after the drink is done.
Background: One of the big players in Texas whiskey, Balcones has been producing spirits since 2008. Acquired in 2022 by Diageo, Balcones is a leading producer of American Single Malt whiskey, but also offers a wide variety of other products, to include its Baby Blue Corn Whiskey, Texas Rye, and Texas Pot Still Whiskey. Made from heirloom Hopi Blue Corn, Balcones first introduced its Brimstone expression in 2011, and it’s known for its signature Smokey profile. Unlike its peated cousins from Islay, Texas Scrub Oak smoke is added to Brimstone after distilling, infusing the liquid with substantial BBQ smoke notes.
Nose: Strong nose with in-your-face BBQ pit, slow cooked meat, charcoal. It’s a bit of a challenge to get beneath the scrub oak smoke on the nose as it is prominent.
Palate: Strong smoke on the palate upfront, with chocolate and tobacco. 106 is a good proof point for this whiskey and plays well with the smoke.
Finish: A long finish of smoke and charcoal, with more chocolate and tobacco. The smoke really opens up on the backend. Taste stays on the palate for an unusually long period of time.
Conclusion: This is a truly unique whiskey with nothing else really like it on the market at the moment. Balcones has somehow captured the flavor and character of a smokey Texas BBQ pit and put it in a bottle. This whiskey, however, is not for the faint of heart, or drinkers not fully committed to the experience. The unique BBQ smoke flavor (created by a proprietary process) dominates the experience — according to the distillery, earlier versions were even smokier. Brimstone is an exciting departure from your average straight bourbon, but, by the end, it can be pretty intense, and the taste can linger on the palate for hours after the tasting experience. This whiskey screams Texas and captures an over-the-top, ‘everything’s bigger down here’ aspect of the state that is worth the experience. However, if drinking a flight or sampling other expressions, make sure Brimstone is the last of the lineup because it might just blow your palate out for the evening. Moreover, if you're on the fence about smoke, this would be one to try before you buy.
