Review #619 - Balcones 100 Proof Texas Rye
Balcones, based in Waco, Texas, has shifted their focus to American single malt production in recent years; however, since their founding, they've produced a number of other styles of whisky. These included bourbon, rye, corn whisky, and more - some of those are still produced, but the variety of those offerings has dwindled.
While the distillery does still offer a rye whisky, this bottle we're reviewing is actually an older rye release. It was bottled at a strength of 50% ABV (100 proof) after just over a year of aging - the number of months varied by batch, but we've generally seen 15 to 18 months of maturation listed on the back label. The mashbill is 100% rye grain - uncommon in the past, though more distilleries are experimenting with that these days.
Balcones 100 Proof Texas Rye
USA - Rye
Price: USD 42 (2025)
Age Statement: 1 Year
Strength: 50% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Earthy and a little funky - lots of barrel char, some youthful grain, and then a strong dark chocolate note. Subtle caramel and candy cane notes add a sweetness, but we also get herbal rye, toasted oak, and a slightly dank scent that's hard to place.
Palate: Spicy oak, mint chocolate chip ice cream; for us, the focus really becomes the chocolate notes. It's accented by brown sugar and some grainy flavor, and we get cooking spices as well: chili powder, tarragon. Later, there are hints of malt, chalk, and barbecued wood; this has a medium mouthfeel.
Finish: Wood spice and anise, barrel char, quite oaky, but not showing a lot of age; brown sugar and chocolate again add sweetness, and the grainy funk from the nose returns. In the aftertaste we get subtle vanilla; it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: What an interesting rye - this one was quite hard for us to rate. We ended up going somewhere in the middle; this is quite unique and layered, which we liked, but the profile is so far into one niche, it's not always a rye we actually like to drink. It's a mood whisky for us, then - fun to dig into sometimes, but it might not be a bottle we're always reaching for.
This is full of that Texas funk that we seem to find in a lot of Balcones whiskies, and the chocolate notes were a dominant them across the tasting, even stronger than the actual rye notes of spice and mint.
As for value - decent, above average for us. This isn't too expensive, with a cost around $40 despite the fact that it's a discontinued product. It might not be our first purchase due to the very unique profile, but for an expanding rye collection, this could be a fun bottle to have around.
Our Average Rating: 6.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.13
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
