Whisky Review: Balcones Single Barrel Staff Selection

Like the nose, the first impression on the palate is somewhat jarring; Balcones has a huge bite to it. Accompanying a stinging mouth feel are flavors of barnyard, hay, milk chocolate-covered cherries, char, leather, and very salty steak. Tough, flavor-packed, and prickly, adding water seemed like the next logical step in unlocking further flavors. After adding a few drops of water, many of Balcones’ rough edges smooth out, making an equally interesting but more drinkable dram. The nose goes from rich, toffee ethanol punch to a softer mix of butter and honey. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, banana bread again, and sea salt round out the nose. A hint of sharpness, however, remains on the nose even after dilution. The palate keeps its richness, but is transformed from carnal to woodsy. Rich and cinnamon-sugary, the mouth feel becomes creamy and buttery, accompanied by grassy green apple notes. Finish: Even after diluting, the finish is still hot and prickly, but it’s entirely possible this can be attributed to a lack of resting time I gave myself between first and second takes on tasting. But then again, this intensity is one of the pleasures of barrel-proof whisky tasting! Conclusion: Balcones Single Barrel Staff Selection (Cask 3549) was a journey to taste, and one I would gladly go on again. It isn’t often that I experience a whisky both so dynamic in flavor and so fun to research. I would recommend this bottling to anyone lucky enough to stumble upon it, or driven enough to hunt it down. Balcones proves a memorable and genuine cask-strength American single malt fit for the most adventurous of spirits. FINAL SCORE: 91/100