Review #634 - Balcones ZZ Top Tres Hombres
A Texas whisky made in collaboration with the band ZZ Top - this is Tres Hombres from Balcones. This whisky is made from a combination of corn, rye, and malted barley, but it isn't labeled as a bourbon or rye; instead, this falls into the category of American whisky, and the grain ratios aren't disclosed.
Balcones does actually give us a little more detail: this corn used in this whisky is roasted blue corn, which could add a nice grain character to the tasting experience, especially considering the use of pot stills in the distillation process. This whisky is bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof), and it was first released in 2021.
Balcones ZZ Top Tres Hombres
USA - American Whisky
Price: USD 71 (2025)
Age Statement: 4 Years
Strength: 50% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Dusty grains and spirit, orange soda, chocolate and oats - a lot going on. We get a bit of sweet corn balanced by strong toasted oak and wood smoke; caramel brings sweetness, and there's the subtlest mineral note.
Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel; quite fruity to start, with white peach, candied orange, some nectarine - a bit tart and a bit sweet. Cinnamon, chocolatey malt, and oak build - the complexion is dark, and we get some wood smoke. Baking spices arrive in the form of pepper and clove.
Finish: Stone fruits linger, but baking notes take over: brown sugar, cinnamon, chocolate syrup. There's some subtle wood spice and oak, but the finish leans sweet overall; it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: This whisky changed every time we tried it - lots of varying flavors, a lot of complexity. The mix of fruit, chocolate, and oak was quite interesting, and we enjoyed the cinnamon spice that accented that oak; this was fun to dig into, and the price is generally reasonable at $70 to $75, so we don't have any issue recommending this bottle.
Our Average Rating: 7.0 / 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: 6.87
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.
