Balcones '1' Texas Single Malt

Balcones Distilling in Waco, Texas distilled this no age statement 'single' malt. The whiskey was bottled on 4 November 2011. A variety of American and European oaks were used for maturation. I thank @Maddie for the reviewed sample

Nose: like Batch SM 12-2, Batch SM 11-2 shows strong cereal-barley, nuts, lots of wood spice, vanilla, and a faint hint of flowers. Like 12-2, 11-2 is very pleasant and well-balanced, though not quite as vibrant. Score: 21.5/25 points

Taste: once again, there is a lovely vivid translation of the nose flavours to the mouth. The spice is very crisp and the cereal quality of the barley is very aggressive. Very nice. Score: 22.5/25

Finish: long finish, ending on some lower pitch wood flavours and a hint of sourness. Score: 21/25

Balance: good to very good throughout, though not as impressive as Batch SM 12-2. Score: 22/25

Water added: 1) brought out high-pitched sweetness in the nose, and 2) greatly increased thick middle and deep spicy wood flavours in the mouth. Batch SM 11-2 is very interesting and enjoyable with water added

Total Sequential Score: 87 points

*

Strength: very strong flavours throughout. Score: 23/25 points

Quality: good quality grain flavours; excellent quality wood flavours. Score: 22/25

Variety: very good variety of flavours. Score: 22/25

Harmony: same description as Balance, above. Score: 22/25

Total Non-Sequential Score: 89 points

• Comment: Balcones Single Malt has a lot going for it, though I do not find Batch SM 11-2 to be quite as impressive as Batch SM 12-2. This is a malt well worth trying, when you have the chance

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