Balcones Brimstone Texas Original Whiskey Bourbon

[@trishlovesme]

Brimstone is my next bottle...

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Good call

[@barrydunham896]

Sounds interesting

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Much so

[@trishlovesme]

Just opened the Balcones Rye and I'm loving it. I get a lot of leather on the after taste. I don't mind.😎

[@ScotchTestDummies]

I’m with you

[@trishlovesme]

Sippin on Balcones Rye while I watch this review. This is my next Balcones purchase. Great review guys🥃

[@ScotchTestDummies]

We love us some Balcones

[@JOSE-ds3md]

When he said it smells like Texas, I was like “he better say it smells like burning mesquite” and he did and it makes me happy... good job

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Boom! We like making Jose happy. Thanks for commenting Jose.

[@mikaelfodor]

Brimstone was my introduction to whisky just 3 weeks ago. went straight out bought one, and burning through it. absolutely love it.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

very nice Mikael! A lot of people like it!

[@kissinuk]

Smokey you say? I hated the idea of peated scotch... until I tried it, now I love the stuff. Now I just have to try this out of curiosity. Bad news for fellow Brits is that it costs around £80 ($120), however you can get a 30ml dram from Masters Of Malt for a fiver. Worth a shot?

[@ScotchTestDummies]

...i wouldn't drop the $120 on it, but a sampler first is good then if you like it buy the bottle. Scott

[@Kiltedmoose1]

I bought a bottle of this a few years ago. Took me a while to get into it. Taste reminded me of barbecue sauce and honey covered charcoal bricks. Drink it with ribs! Cheers, boys.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Spot on Scott

[@TheOriginalRaster]

Interesting review. From your description of the taste I think I'll skip this one. Inspired by one of your recent reviews I just went out and purchased Bulleit Rye. I'm taste testing this now. It's not bad. I had mentioned that I was not liking Rye, but you guys seemed to like this taste so much I decided to just go for it. You could say I was in the mood to TEST IT !!! Ha. Not bad. After I've gone three days staying away from the tasting or consuming of any spirits, a dram of the Bulleit Rye, and it seems totally drinkable. Thanks.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Sweet sounds to our ears Raster...we love when whisk(e)y drinkers break out and try something new. Test it!!!!

[@vicreaves3077]

I liked it but I could understand if some one else didn't. At about $120 in the UK i won't be buying a bottle any time soon.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

That is a high price

[@rogersaenz6503]

Living in Texas, we definitely can produce some mesquite smoke. I have the Texas Single Malt from Balcones. I'm with you guys tho, I just can't decide whether I like it or not. It's good and at 53% ABV it packs a punch. The one thing I don't like is I get a wax taste which I can't stand. Cheers.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thanks Roger and keep posting your thoughts and tasting notes. We love seeing the variety.

[@aaronvannatta9329]

That waxiness is the pot still

[@Raymaster7482]

Interesting Whisky... Btw either your autofocus is off or I'm experiencing early signs of a stroke `:-D

[@ScotchTestDummies]

That is our older camera. Sorry.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

and it has a real touchy autofocus, if you wave your arm or adjust your seating position, the camera tries to track the movement.

[@Raymaster7482]

+Scotch Test Dummies No problem ^^

[@welshtoro3256]

Hey guys, you came a little late to this one. Chip Tate built this brand with his own hands. Balcones are pure Texas and there's nothing else like them. Most of their expressions are corn whisky and this is the case for Brimstone. They have a method of smoking the distillate. It's like ham cooked on bonfire smoke splashed with Tabasco. Cheers.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

I still have quite a bit of this bottle left Welsh!

[@welshtoro3256]

Boys, I can't believe my luck. I just got my hands on the incredibly hard to find Balcones. True Blue Cask Strength, Texas Single Malt (Rum Cask Finish) and Blue Corn Bourbon. All bottled at just under 65%. Natural colour and it's like dark chocolate. I also got a sample dram of the Cask 'Rumble' (64%) which is mind meltingly good. I'm liking my Balcones. This is a great American whisky story.

[@welshtoro3256]

One final thing and then I'll shut up. This is not bourbon or whisky as we know it. Balcones are Texas in a glass. We are where we are but things like this only happen because of certain people and I think Chip Tate is special. Brimstone must be taken on its own merits. Is it worth it as a $50 experience? You bet!

[@keithpetersen560]

Welsh, I've had the Balcones classic edition single malt several times recently and that is very tasty at a 53% abv.

[@salrenzulli8473]

We're on vacation and a friend just showed up with Balcones, Baby Blue. I'll let you know how it goes..

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thats the blue corn edition isn't it. I think the Balcones line should be good overall, but the Brimstone was just a little different. I wouldn't shy away from trying others at all. Let us know Sal!

[@salrenzulli8473]

Not all that impressed... Strong Vanilla notes, but did not deliver on the palate. Heck... I didn't purchase it, so I'm certainly not complaining, but would not personally pick it up.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

good to know.

[@welshtoro3256]

Keep an open mind on this one. I didn't initially care for the Baby Blue but I think that's because we aren't used to 100% corn whisky. I thought the True Blue was much better but I really like the Baby Blue now. Balcones do things differently and that's refreshing. Ralfy scored this 88/100.

[@keithpetersen560]

I'm not ready to branch out of the Scotland Whisky, until I'm satisfied with tasting all the bottles I have interest in.. I'm not saying I will never buy another Canadian whiskey or whatever, but if I saw this Texas bottle on the shelf, I would pass over it. Good video though.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

...probably a good call Keith. A lot of other good whiskies to buy.

[@nolenlifts4661]

It tastes like pure powdered sugar

[@ScotchTestDummies]

with butter and vanilla added

[@jessievoisin5462]

I loved the Balcones Texas Single Malt, so much so that I ordered another bottle and three of their other whiskies. This one is really weird for me. It has a complex nose but I just can't do the taste profile. It has a weird chemically taste. Some say it is burnt plastic. One person said it reminded him of melted match box cars (wonder how he knows that). This is the ONE bottle I bought this year that I thought about pouring down the drain. I resisted and have been using this whiskey in my penicillin recipe instead.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

i still have my bottle and keep wondering how i'm going to finish it. scott

[@brandonrodriguez2636]

their texas single malt is amazing. my absolute favorite from balcones. i live here in waco where balcones is made so we get pretty good access to their entire lineup

[@ScotchTestDummies]

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Balcones to try. I really feel the underlying whiskey in this is good, just a strange twist. Have you tried this one Brandon?

[@brandonrodriguez2636]

+Scotch Test Dummies i have tried this. when i drink it i feel brisket in front of a campfire. i do like its uniqueness. they have a true blue 100 thats wonderful....if you can ever get a bottle.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

will keep that in mind.

[@welshtoro3256]

Hi Brandon, I I agree that the Texas Single Malt is great. I just got some Texas Single Malt Rum Finish at 64.2%. It's Recognisably Balcones, which is to say delicious. I love the whole range really. Just tried the Cask Reserve Rumble (62.6%) which is fruit compote in whisky form. Balcones are different which is why I like them.

[@richardbostan4286]

Actually, they don't smoke the grain (which is done in Scotland with peat smoke). They literally smoke the whiskey itself, after distillation. And for the bit about "Original Texas Whisky" on the label -- either an outright lie or at best very misleading. The oldest legal Texas whiskey distillery is Garrison Brothers. Chip Tate actually toured their distillery before he established Balcones. My own theory about what was meant by "Original Texas Whisky" (note the spelling of "whisky" without an e) is that Balcones started out making different whiskey than bourbon (they are now making bourbon too, but weren't when Tate started out) and Garrison Brothers only makes bourbon, so to Chip Tate "Texas Whisky" meant something different than bourbon.

[@keithpetersen560]

Good note! Sounds like you know your Texas whisky and more.. Something I am not willing to try, as there are other bottles that I have an interest in. Scotch Whisky that is.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

I do remember that now that you mention it Richard. The first or one of the first whiskies from Balcones was a Malted Barley whiskey.

[@welshtoro3256]

Keith, Balcones are worth a go but they are not whisky as we know it. This is the kind of stuff we would drink listening to ZZ Top and gulping down a hot chilli. Think Texas. I love it for that and I love the back story. They don't colour, don't chill-filter and bottle at 46% minimum. Young and punchy like a Texas Kilchoman.

[@jessievoisin5462]

LOL at your comment: "smells like Texas, burning." I think I'll try mixing this into some Corsair Triple Smoke just for shi$# and giggles.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

that might work. let us know.

[@jessievoisin5462]

Don't do it, didn't work! I mixed two parts Corsair Triple smoke (which I like by the way) and one part Brimstone. There is no hiding the burnt plastic smell and taste. It was slightly sweeter because of the triple smoke but still a hot mess. I tried Scott's rec to add two ice cubes and that really helped. I was able to finish my dram. I still believe the best way to drink the rest of my bottle is in the penicillin cocktail. The ginger and honey syrup make it more presentable. My .02c

[@jessievoisin5462]

Half hour later and the taste of burnt plastic is still in my mouth. Only thing to do is grab a dram of Laphroaig cask strength, That oughta take care of it :)

[@salrenzulli8473]

A whoa there! Scott's "Test It" got into some strange territory.. and I loved it LOL. I'm watching this video thinking... I know that behind the scenes, they must have had the discussion of Scott's larger than life Apple laptop vs. Bart's cell phone and the optics of each approach. I have to go with Scott's approach. He appears as if he's reading tasting notes, where Bart appears as if he's checking the Vegas line on whether the Broncos will bring back Tebow again. (insert drum roll and cymbal crash here ) I have to say that I hope you lads have a chance to try the Breckenridge bourbon out of Colorado. I am reeallly loving it, and am curious what your take is on it. I'll likely skip this offering.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Sal you know you always have to watch out for the quiet ones...Bart

[@ScotchTestDummies]

That's an excellent observation Sal! The intro should have been an outtake but I decided to keep it and use it! Totally unplanned. I think thats Bart's excellent filing system and why he's always on top of his notes. he has an iPad too, but he doesn't use it. Scott

[@salrenzulli8473]

What about a guy that works all day and in his spare time goes back to videos like this to re-live the moment? Wait... don't answer that.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

We love those guys!

[@Jnaranjo714]

Love it

[@ScotchTestDummies]

thanks Juan!

[@roostershooter76]

Meh .... I tried it once and didn't care for it. I won't go back. There are too many whiskies on the market that are better for the price point. Balcones Baby Blue is the best in their line, but again ... not worth the money.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

...may have to add the Baby Blue to the list.

[@Moonzire]

Love the Show keep it up. Was hoping you could do a Top 5 list by dollar values. I think it would help would be collectors and enthusiasts. Also for a testing could you guys do a Dalmore 15. Wanting to pick it up BUT for the cost I really need an honest review. Thank you, @drinkingcaveman (Instagram)

[@keithpetersen560]

I thought the Dalmore 12 was just ok, flat, with a short finish. Won't buy again. The 15 yr is finished in additional 3 different casks, but cost me about $100, so I think I'm passing on that. There are other videos on the Dalmore 15 for you.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Love your top 5 lists by price idea. Should we count by 10's or 20's. Bart

[@Moonzire]

Well with the way prices are going for Whiskys in the US I would say Under $40 \\ Under $60 or Under $80 and then under $100 then over $100 . those price brackets would give us viewers a great list when we go into a liquor store and are stuck on a budget. @drinkingcaveman

[@acekingce]

This one is a regret buying for me

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Interesting. They have a lot of types.