Review #104: Balcones "Brimstone" Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whisky, 53% abv, batch BRM 11-10

now seems like a good time

I've been meaning and not meaning to write notes on this, but in light of the recent and ongoing kerfluffle at Balcones, now seems like a good time. [editorial note: I am completely ignorant of the situation, and almost 100% certain that Chip Tate is right, whatever the dispute is about. Also, the link is from spiritsjournal.)

This is good stuff, but I also think it's benefitted -- with good reviews here and here and here, for example -- from a particular phenomenon. That phenomenon is: people who taste lots and lots of whisky (or any one thing) tend to overvalue the ones that stand out just because they stand out. Of course it's possible to stand out on the basis of quality, but it's possible to stand out just by being weird, too. And of course being weird can itself be a value, but it's more of a value to someone who drinks hundreds of whiskies in 3cl increments than it is to most people.
(I think Amrut benefits from this, too, sometimes.)
(I think Brimstone also benefits from the weird mitteleuropaische fascination with Texas and barbecue, too, but that's another story.)

So I really like this whisky, too, actually, but I never find myself drinking it. (My bottle is dated 9-9-11.) It never fits with anything I'm eating or drinking or doing. Maybe if I were a cowboy.

nose: mainly soggy campfire -- it's an intense smoke that less phenolic and more old leaves and soup stock and roasted meat. lots of wood, maybe some nettles, too. there used to be something fruity, like plum liquor, but I can't find it anymore.

palate: When first opened, it had the strongest taste of fresh-roasted corn, lots of sugar and campfire smoke. Now the corn isn't so strong, letting more chewy woody-meaty notes come through, plus vanilla

finish: When first opened, like having a bitter campfire made from soggy wood and wet leaves slowing burning down in my mouth for hours. It's mellowed now: the smokiness burns a little, but there's plenty of sweet oak, and spicy, warm corn -- like the child of a red-hot and a candy corn. Still a long finish, but not overpoweringly bitter and persistent.


hard to score something that I like but not enough to drink much. It is interesting, though!

score: 83