There’s a go to market strategy which states that if you aren’t the best, you better be first. It would seem Texas-based Balcones has taken this to heart because this thing kicks you in the teeth and offers nothing of enjoyment. Combine that with a price point that’s laughable and we enter the gauntlet once again for something that thinks it’s bigger than it’s britches.
Soft finish? If that’s soft you might been using a porcupine as a pillow. While we’re not sure what maize vs. regular corn would actually do and maybe that is the culprit here for the odd tastes that only sort of work but then fall flat on their face. Maybe that different sugar amounts to something else – all we know is that you should maybe not buy whiskey from Texas.
What they Say: “The first Texas whisky on the market since Prohibition, Baby Blue is crafted from roasted heirloom blue corn. This rich and oily maize adds new sophistication to the corn whisky tradition while keeping the freshness and verve of classic American distilling. Intentionally youthful, Baby Blue captures the essence of this prized corn with a round nuttiness, roasted overtones and refined complexity. The mouthfeel is viscous with a soft finish. A true Texas original that we are delighted to share with the world. ”
Taste: 6.0 – There’s a nice bit of spice, and the unique sugar from the aroma comes out to play, sadly it’s a cold winter’s day so they can’t stay long.
Aftertaste: 2.0 – Baby blue? More like you are Walter White and just got shot because damn that kicks like a mule. It’s not even the burn or smoothness (we’ll get to that) it’s just a wham bam pow of whiskey and unpleasantness.
Burn/Smooth: 3.5 – No. It does not go down smooth. It’s not actually firegutrot, and in some ways it could be considered smooth, but after being kicked in the face you don’t exactly call it an easy drinker.
Aroma: 6.5 – Overall it smells like any other normal whiskey made from corn. There is however a unique sweetness to the smell, it’s not sugary or saccharine. It’s sort of it’s own unique thing – it’s nice
Honesty: 4.0 – “The mouthfeel is viscous with a soft finish” – If you squint real hard you could almost image that says vicious instead of viscous which is far closer to the truth. The concept of this being intentionally young endears it mildly as they know this ain’t a mellow yellow. Still not a lot of points gained, and a few lost.
Mixability: 5.0
W/ Rocks: 5.0 – That curbs some of the harshness, but it’s still not – good?
Whiskey and Coke: 5.0 – Again of the 3 (neat/rock/coke) this is the best – but it too isn’t actually what you would call good.
Value: 1.0 – Fuck off.
Google Shop Average: $41
Website: https://balconesdistilling.com
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 2.5
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Metric Score: 28/70 |+| Metric Average: 4.0 |+| Reviewer Average: 2.5
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Final Thoughts: Texas is going through some rough times right now, so you know what – how about instead of buying this piece of shit you instead donate your 41 dollars to any of these places: https://feedthepeopledallas.com/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/mutualaidhou https://www.gofundme.com/f/kick-the-cold-austin-mutal-aid – trust us – doing so will almost certainly leave a better taste in your mouth.
Thank you very much for posting an honest review of Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky. Your review will be useful for many people. We can hope for something better next time. Appreciate your efforts in presenting all the information. Keep posting such thoughts in the future also.