Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Balcones Pot Still Bourbon

We review Balcones Pot Still Bourbon. It's distilled in Waco, Texas, from a mash bill of blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye, and malted barley,

OVERALL RATING

8
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Balcones Pot Still Bourbon (image via Ian Arnold)

Tasting Notes

About:

This is batch TPSB21-3 from 8-16-2021. Aged for a minimum of 24 months. Mash bill of blue corn, Texas Rye, Texas wheat, and malted barley. Between $30 and $45 for a bottle depending on your location.
Appearance:
Rich amber color with a hint of red. Legs are small and slow to form on the glass.
Nose:
This has a bit of a brighter nose than I expect from the smell of corn. Caramel, paint thinner, and a little hint of green apple compliment the corn.
Palate:
A very thick liquid that you can practically chew on. It reminded me of a caramel apple up front with that bright crispness complemented by the sweet caramel toffee flavors. That gives way to more traditional bourbon flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak, then finishes with just a little tannin and black pepper. Water smooths out the tannin on the finish and brings forward the rich caramel complemented with the flavor of roasted corn.
Finish:
Comments:
This is a rich bourbon with a bit of complexity that makes for a great sipper. While this certainly won’t replace my 5 star favorites, it is a bottle I would be happy to give or get as a gift. I can’t think of another bourbon I would prefer at the price point either, which makes it an approachable choice to pick up any time.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Ian Arnold

Ian Arnold brings eight years of bartending expertise to the table, having honed his skills in renowned establishments across California, Australia, and Portland. His most recent position behind the bar was at the esteemed Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library. A dedicated member of the Oregon Bartenders' Guild's leadership team, Ian also served as a judge for numerous cocktail competitions. Currently working in the IT field, he continues to delight guests with his bartending prowess. In his leisure time, Ian enjoys playing board games and savoring the complexities of Japanese whisky.

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