The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Balcones True Blue Cask Strength Straight Corn Whisky
BourbonIssue 198

Balcones True Blue Cask Strength Straight Corn Whisky

Balcones · Balcones Distilling

$48128.6 proofNASWaco, Texas, United States
Balcones True Blue Cask Strength is a firebreather that perfectly embodies degrees of flame—from the charred oak aging to the roasted heirloom blue corn at its heart. It's a whisky of extraordinary intensity and character, rewarding the adventurous drinker with layer upon layer of smoky, toasty complexity. A Texas original that earns its place among the boldest American whiskeys.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense roasted blue corn leads into layers of dark caramel, charred oak, and baking spices. Underneath, there's a subtle smokiness reminiscent of a wood-fired hearth, with hints of toasted pecan and brown butter. A wisp of dried tobacco leaf and dark chocolate rounds out the aromatic profile.

Palate

The entry is bold and visceral—waves of toasted blue corn, deep char, and molasses immediately coat the palate. Cinnamon bark, smoked vanilla, and dark toffee emerge mid-palate, with a muscular tannic grip from heavily charred barrels. Despite the cask strength power, there's a surprising creaminess with notes of roasted almond and espresso.

Finish

Exceptionally long and warming, with lingering campfire smoke, dark chocolate, charred oak, and a persistent sweetness of maple and roasted corn that echoes well after the sip.

Specifications
Mash Bill
100% Hopi blue corn
Barrel Type
New charred American oak (heavy char)
Bottled in Bond
No
Single Barrel
No
Wheated
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Smoke Signal — 2 oz Balcones True Blue Cask Strength · 0.5 oz demerara syrup · 2 dashes mole bitters · 1 dash Angostura bitters · Stir over ice, strain into a rocks glass with a large cube, garnish with a torched orange peel

Food Pairing

Central Texas-style smoked brisket, with its deep bark and rendered fat, mirrors the whisky's charred intensity, while jalapeño cornbread made from blue corn echoes the grain bill and adds a peppery counterpoint to the spirit's dark sweetness.

The Story

Born in Waco, Texas, from roasted Hopi blue corn and aged in heavily charred new oak barrels, Balcones True Blue Cask Strength channels the elemental power of flame at every stage of its creation.

Train These Aromas
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