Balcones Brimstone

Balcones is a Texan distillery that became a rising star overnight, it would seem. Their Brimstone is a smoked corn whiskey, created in a process in which the whiskey itself is smoked and not the corn at the beginning of the process. I am not sure how that works, to be honest, but the name brimstone is somewhat self-explanatory, I suppose. This Balcones already accumulated quite some prizes.

The nose is rife with sulphur at the start, but not that much that it becomes bad. I am thinking about inflatable armbands. Next I get some aromas that I can only associate with a typical Texan barbecue. Marinated ribs in A1 Steak Sauce, an American top notch BBQ sauce. Hints of broth, celery salt and a ham. This umami nose is couterfooted by some sweet notes of raisins and some candied sugar. But let us be clear: the smoky, herbal, almost salty notes dominate.

It is quite oily and herbal on the palate. The feeling of broth continues. But this is immediately followed by some very sweet elements, like BBQ sauce and a hint of chocolate. The smokiness is much more prominent. It is also nicely spiced with thyme and pepper.

The finish takes me right back to a veritable barbecue. Not just a peppery piece of steak, but also the dying coals.

Yes, this is interesting and certainly worth trying, but 94 point by Jim Murray? That guy has lost his marbles.

Find where to buy Balcones Distilling whisky