This is bourbon built from an unusual set of grains, and it tastes like it. The mashbill runs four ways: roasted blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye and malted barley, with corn making up the legally required majority. Roasting the corn before mashing is the step that sets it apart, since almost no bourbon does this, and it pushes the whisky toward cocoa, cornbread and toasted grain rather than the sweet caramel and vanilla most people expect. Distillation happens in a Forsyth copper pot still, which Balcones describes as among the tallest in the world and which is fitted with a helical lyne arm, and that pot still character shows in the texture. Maturation runs at least twenty four months in new charred American oak in Waco, where the Texas heat drives wood interaction far harder than a Kentucky rickhouse would, which is how a two year old whisky arrives with this much colour and grip. Be clear on what this is, because it divides people. It is drier and more austere than a conventional Kentucky bourbon, with a chalky, woody backbone and comparatively little of the plush sweetness the category is known for. Expect honeycrisp apple, kettle corn and graham cracker on the nose, then honey, sweet cream, candied pecans, leather and sandalwood on the palate, finishing soft and sweet with a tannic fade and lingering spice. If you want a classic sweet Kentucky pour this is not it. If you want to see what happens when a malt focused Texan distillery approaches bourbon from an unfamiliar angle, it is genuinely interesting and priced accessibly.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Waco, Texas |
| Category |
Straight Bourbon Whisky |
| Expression |
Texas Pot Still Bourbon |
| Mashbill |
Roasted blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye and malted barley |
| Distillation |
Forsyth copper pot still with helical lyne arm |
| Age |
Minimum 24 months |
| Maturation |
New charred American oak barrels |
| Distillery |
Balcones Distilling, Waco, Texas |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep red mahogany with amber highlights.
Nose: Honeycrisp apple and toasted oak lead, with kettle corn, graham cracker, cocoa and a note of oiled leather.
Palate: Dry rather than plush, with honey, sweet cream and candied pecans over cocoa, cornbread, leather and sandalwood, carried on a chalky woody frame.
Finish: Soft and sweet at first, fading tannic with lingering spice, char and dry wood.
FAQ
What proof is Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon? It is bottled at 92 proof, or 46 percent alcohol by volume. Note that the ABV of individual bottles may vary slightly.
What is the mashbill? Four grains: roasted blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye and malted barley, with corn making up at least the 51 percent required for bourbon.
Does the rye in the mashbill make it a rye whiskey? No. Bourbon requires a minimum of 51 percent corn, which this meets, and the label designates it Straight Bourbon Whisky. The rye is a supporting grain.
How is it different from a Kentucky bourbon? It is drier and more austere, with roasted blue corn giving cocoa and toasted grain character rather than the plush caramel sweetness most Kentucky bourbon delivers. Pot still distillation and Texas heat maturation also set it apart.
How long is it aged? A minimum of twenty four months in new charred oak. Texas temperature swings accelerate maturation considerably compared with a cooler climate.
Where can I buy Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
