Balcones Rye Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

Trailblazing Texas distillery Balcones chose to mark their 10th anniversary last year by releasing their first-ever batches of rye whiskey, with a 100-proof bottling standing as a brand extension and as their flagship rye. Their mash bill is entirely rye grain, but drawing on four different types of rye. First their was the locally sourced Elbon rye, grown in the northern part of the state. To this, Balcones added three separate malted ryes (crystal, chocolate and roasted) of the type more often found in a brewery.

The Whiskey
A pour of this Texas rye has a mid-amber coloring in the glass, while the swish and coat left behind a sheet of thick legs. The scent carried caramel and a current of tropical fruits, pineapple in the main, plus a light dusting of peppers and dry oak shavings.

A sip showed me a liquid that was light, but with an oily texture. Once again, it was tropical, fruity and sweet, accented strongly with vanilla. The peppery spices came along to make their presence felt only on the back end of the palate. This spiciness ran into a substantially more complex finish, which continued the tropical fruit salad, seasoned it with an ample helping of ginger, and rounded it out with a touch of barrel char.

The Price
Expect to pay about $40 a bottle for this whiskey.