Texas American Single Malt Whisky | 53% ABV

American Single Malt Bliss.

American Single Malt became an officially recognized category by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)in January of 2025.

It was a seminal step for American single malt producers who believed this would be the start of a blooming – perhaps a renaissance – for single malt distilled in the United States. The hope being that American single malts would flourish and be appreciated worldwide.

Yet, with all apologies and love to the wonderful master distillers creating the likes of The QuintEssential from Cedar Ridge, Santa Fe Spirits’ single malt (formerly known as Colkegan), Mountain Angel 10 year single malt from Stranahan’s, and the Moscatel Cask Finish single malt from Old Line Distillery, somewhere along the way the big shift to American single malt has been ... well ... not as seismic as I, and America’s single malt producers, might have hoped.

Among factors such as a global shift away from consumption of liquor, tariff squabbles, and perhaps inflated expectations, the American single malt scene has not launched into the heavens.

This, again, is not to say that American distilleries are failing to produce amazing whiskies. The four noted above are just the first few that came to mind. I do hope that the American single malt designation was not something that came too late. I imagine that if such a designation came in say 2018, when the interest in single malt was really growing exponentially on a world-wide scale, that many of the distilleries may have really benefitted earlier.

On the other hand, perhaps the timing was a blessing. If that 2018 timeline had occurred some distilleries might have pushed all of their proverbial chips into the center of the table on what looked to be a sure bet only to then cut back - or fold - when the post-pandemic market began to retract with global market conditions and consumer interest moving from brown liquors to cannabis, light beers, or alcohol abstinence altogether.

All that being said, there has been, for me, a constant “north star” for American single malt that goes back to my early days of whiskey exploration and still holds fast today. When I first began going down the whisk(e)y rabbit hole, a significant factor in my education and adoration of the water of life was through a wee YouTube channel called The Whiskey Tribe . . . maybe you’ve heard of it?

Oh, I was all in on The Whiskey Tribe. Slapstick humor, whisky education, The Vault, Crowded Barrel, Rex and Daniel, the Whisky Noob, the Bastard’s Ball, and all of us Magnificent Bastards who contributed to the production. It was the perfect amalgamation of humor and imparting of whisky knowledge. It caught the growing whisky boom at the right time and, I believe, helped whisk(e)y understanding and appreciation (on this side of the Atlantic, at least) grow immensely. I was hooked. And I loved it. And, yes, I still proudly wear the t-shirt.

Amidst the humor we, the Magnificent Bastards, were treated to learning all facets of whisky production, learned about single malts, blended malts, Irish whiskies, Asian whiskies, pot and column stills, and unabashedly more than a little slant towards American single malts from Texas. Honestly, if I had a dime for each time I would be at work and drift off into a daydream about flying to Dallas, renting a car, and covering the various legs of the Texas Whiskey Trail . . . yeah, I’d have been able to retire years ago.

While there were a number of distilleries that became regularly discussed, there was one that eclipsed the others: Balcones Distillery.

Oh, how I wanted to get my hands on a bottle of Balcones’ distillate. Back in my Whiskey Tribe days – well before they were bought out by Diageo – Balcones was a relatively new entity. They started distilling in 2009, and by the time of my immersion into the Whiskey Tribe in the 2017-18 timeframe, Balcones had started to fully find its groove. There wasn’t widespread distribution at the time, but I kept looking forward to finding a bottle.

As we know – and I soon discovered – whisky finds you.

A bit of kismet was the thing that first brought me face-to-face with some Balcones distillate. I was attending my old college roommate’s son’s wedding in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2021. The evening before, my buddy and I went out for dinner and drinks and, when we approached the bar, I examined the bottles.

After three or so years of embracing whisky, I had become pretty good at identifying bottles and expressions. And, at the top of the bar’s shelves, I spotted a bottle that I had only ever seen on YouTube but that which made my eyes open wide. I immediately pointed to the bottle and asked the bartender to retrieve the bottle. I asked her if I could inspect the bottle, and as she passed it to me, a growing smile appeared on my face. I had the Balcones holy grail in my hands. It was a bottle of their Texas 1 single malt.

My buddy knew of my whisky appreciation and immersion into it and simply let me take the lead on what we were going to drink. I asked for two pours, and handed one to my old college roommate.

The liquid did not disappoint.

I managed to find and purchase my own bottle the following year. That particular bottle was from a batch put into glass in the year 2020. I savored that bottle. Oh, silly me, as I thought Balcones Texas 1 single malt would become easier to find. Not so much. Over the next year, I did manage to find – and thoroughly enjoy – the peated version of the Texas 1. Thereafter I managed to find and rinse other expressions from Balcones. These included bottles of their Rumble, Brimstone, and their pot still bourbon expressions. Sadly, however, there was no more Texas 1 single malt that I could find. And, the nail in the coffin of unavailability was sealed when I moved South in 2023.

A few months ago, however, while going through the lots on an online auction, my eyes widened, just as they had back in 2021 at that bar with my old college roommate. The bottle shape immediately caught my eye. And then, I confirmed the lot up for bidding was, indeed, a Texas 1 single malt.

While everyone else seemingly had their attention diverted to shiny new expressions, independent bottlings, and the costly stalwarts of uisge beatha, this Balcones bottle did not garner much in the way of interest. I was rather happy about all eyes being on other lots, leaving this Texas 1 single malt ignored and unloved. I, of course, gave the bottle true appreciation and sniped the bottle for a very reasonable price.

I went back to the Dramface Colonials’ water cooler and expressed my elation at snagging a seminal bottle from my whisky journey. As it turns out, there are other fans of this expression. Two of these fans – Eallair and Murdo – both have a bottle in their collections, and both agreed to join my review.

My present bottle, snagged at auction, is from 2013. While I would have expected a wide swath of bottling dates among us three Colonials, I understand Murdo’s bottle is also, surprisingly, from 2013. As I type this, Eallair was going to find the bottling date of his bit of Balcones, but I do not know it as of yet. All that said, I am utterly intrigued to firstly see if my bottle brings the same happiness as did my former bottle, but also to learn what batches and bottling dates are on their bottles as well as see if Eallair and Murdo have similar reactions to the Texas 1 I have in my glass - despite different bottling dates and three different sets of taste buds.

I am donning my Whiskey Tribe t-shirt as I do my nosing and tasting. If I’m completely honest, I’m a bit giddy. I feel as if it’s 2018 all over again!

Review 1/3 - Ogilvie

Balcones Texas 1, American Single Malt Whisky, 53% ABV
USD$40 (£30) price paid at auction

I won this bottle several months ago, and had immediately opened it after receiving it from the auction house. I have had a few pours and have been glad to let air in the bottle for a good measure of time.

Per my habit, I will take a few drams over the course of the week and compile my notes. Unlike the last few bottles I have reviewed that caused what should have been enjoyment to turn into a chore, I already know this will be different as I am getting wonderful wafts from my glass which bring back wonderful memories. Did I mention I am looking forward to this?

Score: 8/10

**Something special.**
***TL;DR***
*Mick knew… “Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good?”*

Nose

Immediately, fruit and honey register on the nose. Cherries, specifically black cherries. Stewed plums. Honey drizzled pears. Butter creme on freshly baked bread. Oddly, these flavors remind me of the Blair Athol bottle I reviewed last year.

That said, this Balcones has notes that are a few shades darker, if you will. Rich. Stone fruits, leaning more toward the cherries and plums though I can parse out apricot and nectarine notes. A Sencha tea note pokes its head in the background. Agave and real maple syrup (not that chemical-laden Ms. Butterworth’s business…). Rich and luscious sweetness.

Palate

This is tremendous. Cinnamon and allspice dusted stewed stone fruit compote. Oak mixes with ripe strawberries and black cherries. Malt. Brown sugar. Browned butter. Darker bread a la pumpernickel is here with freshly churned butter smeared on top.

Mid-palate a tingling comes to my cheeks and gums that builds ever so slightly. It lingers and then slowly ebbs. This is a compote, honey, and malt masterpiece. It is everything that I remembered from my first bottle of this expression, and I am so glad to have this experience back in my cabinet. Rich. Complex. Hefty.

The Dregs

Admittedly, after my Jack Daniels Single Barrel, Barrel Proof experience, I was worried that this bottle was going to take a similar trajectory. The JD strayed significantly from the wonderful memories I had of my first bottle of that expression. I am tremendously glad that my memories of my Balcones Texas 1 are not similarly dashed on the rocks.

This was my first American single malt, and – despite the many wonderful aforementioned other American single malts from the likes of Cedar Ridge, Old Line, Stranahan’s, Colkegan, Westland, and others – this remains my favorite. My first bottle was batch SM20-1 and bottled on March 6, 2020. This bottle (snagged at auction) is batch SM 13-10, and bottled on November 6, 2013. My first bottle has a notation on the back label that its contents were “aged at least 24 months in oak”. However, this bottle from 2013 has no such age statement. I have no idea how long this aged in the Texas climate.

I do hope that Texas 1 Single Malt has continued to be a wonderful flavor bomb, but I have not had a recent expression. From what I have had, this would be a permashelf bottling without any hesitation. As I sit here and contemplate, the number of OB expressions that would be permashelf whiskies would be a number that I can count on one hand and still have at least one finger remaining.

It’s not a knock on some wonderful expressions, but rather an understanding that we are spoiled for choice and I prioritize space in my whisky cabinet to enable other new-to-me expressions. It takes quite a bit to permanently reserve a spot in an otherwise very limited space. And, of all of the permashelf OB whiskies in my thoughts, none are better than this Balcones Texas 1. Period. Mic drop.

After my raving, I wonder what my mates Eallair and Murdo have to say about their experiences… and I am also curious to know if their bottlings are more recent.

Score: 8/10 OS

Review 2/3 - Murdo

Balcones Texas 1, American Single Malt Whisky, 53% ABV
£80 - price paid at auction in HK (I think)

I’ve never connected with tropically-matured malt whiskies, traditionally this would be whiskies from India, Israel, Taiwan. Yet, for whatever reason, Texas whisky really connected with me.

There might be some bias by way of how I started my whisky journey, with a Texas-based Youtube channel; the Whiskey Tribe, although Daniel - who currently hosts The Whiskey Vault sister channel - openly admits that he prefers single malt Scotch whisky over bourbons. His wife is now a blender at Balcones, but that’s a more recent development and has nothing to do with me liking Balcones.

It was through The Whiskey Tribe, though, that I’ve come to know about Balcones; but it was never available in Hong Kong. It never was, and it never will be, and I have long come to peace with that.

However, one bottle miraculously made it over and popped up in the secondary market a few years ago, and to this day I’m convinced that this was the only bottle of Balcones to ever be available for purchase in Hong Kong. Of course I was the one who bought it.

Score: 8/10

**Something special.**
***TL;DR***
*Texas in a bottle - a tropical whisky that I connect with*

Nose

A lot of virgin oak notes on the nose, shall I say… oaky? Very oaky. A bit musty, like opening an old storage room, hints of cinnamon. I’m even getting some Jamaican rum ester vibes, hints of acetone - once I get past the oak this is quite a funky nose, but it doesn’t smell like malt whisky to me

Palate

Now we’re talking, this is malt whisky without a doubt. The arrival was thick and gloopy, the 53% of alcohol is working every percentage point to give me that mouthfeel and wonderful texture; notes of brown sugar, honey, caramel, cherries, zesty oranges, dark chocolate, coffee beans, a bit of funkiness in the shape of Dr Pepper. I don’t drink much Dr Pepper, but this definitely reminds me of that.

A dash of water opens up a new dimension, releasing a spiciness that wasn’t around before: jalapeños and black pepper.

The finish is very long, minutes have gone by and the oakiness isn’t going anywhere - in a good way

The Dregs

Balcones was actually my first foray into tropically matured whiskies. When I first had this, I thought all of them were like that, how wrong I was.

My bottle clearly says Texas Single Malt Whisky, but I’ve seen pictures of it labelled as Texas Single Malt, why no “whisky”? Probably because this hasn’t been in oak for more than three years, which is a no-go in some markets.

Did I say this was oaky? I guess that’s what Texas does to whisky, and at no point did I think this whisky was young; it’s shouty and it’s punchy, but it never occurred to me as young.

I don’t remember how much I paid for this bottle but it wasn’t cheap - somewhere in the ballpark of £80. Maybe it’s expensive compared to how much I would have to pay if I was Stateside, but do I regret paying for this bottle? Not one bit; the liquid repaid me every single penny and some more. Since then, I’ve had friends bring me more Balcones at every available opportunity. I have to say my favourite is the Mirador, which they seem to have rebranded it as Mirador Eclipse. I’m sure the recipe is slightly different, but I hope it’s just as good.

For now, to Balcones!

Score: 8/10 MMc

Review 2/3 - Eallair

Balcones Texas 1, American Single Malt Whisky, 53% ABV
USD$70 paid (£53) price paid

My first introduction to Balcones was from a wee sample of their Mirador Eclipse Single Malt Whisky from sometime last November, 2025. And what an introduction it was - I remember instantly stopping everything and suddenly paying close attention to what was in my glass. I was completely arrested - captivated by this gorgeous pinkish, pale single malt from Texas.

That batch used a combination of red wine and rose yeast for fermentation. And when combined with refill casks - designed to minimize the oak influence - the result was an absolutely stunning whisky – and showed me in CLEAR BOLD TYPE - just how much of an impact yeast can have on the final product.

My second introduction to Balcones took me to the very place Ogilvie mentions above - Daniel Whittington’s Wizard Academy in Austin, Texas - home of the Whiskey Tribe. When I got there, my game plan was to mine the Whiskey Vault (you have to see it to believe it) for Bowmore expressions: OB’s, IB’s, and whatever else I could find. This impulse originated from a recently shared sample from Archie that impressed me.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, in the upper reaches of a high shelf, I spotted a large collection of Balcones bottles. Eyes popping, I noticed the elusive Mirador Eclipse, which sat next to something called the Rumble. Then there was the Peated Texas 1, the Lineage, the Texas Boch, Luckenbach, Cateleja, Dawn, Dusk, and finally the original Texas 1.

Bowmore? Who?

Balcones’ range is, for me, evocative of a proper Scottish-style official range. There are experimental expressions, core expressions, and limited expressions. They play with barley types, yeast types, cask finishing, and more. If you’re curious to explore an American Single Malt maker’s breadth and depth according to the flavor chase, Balcones can present you something to wander about with.

Fast forward to today and here we are with this core expression of their Texas 1 Single Malt. A whisky that’s become one of my personal favorites. So without further ado…

For the geeks in the crowd, I did some research behind the brand before I went diving in. Here’s some facts I’ve learned about Balcones’ approach to whisky making so far:

Their Mash Tun is over fifty years old and was inherited from the Speyburn Distillery in Scotland. They use open-top fermentation tanks and allow the mash to ferment for a full seven days - that’s 168 hours. There are no pasteurization or sterilization steps during the processing of their mash, which means that some of the local microbiome gets into the mash during fermentation. They claim it adds a slight citric acid note to the whisky. Terrific. They use pot stills for distillation, just like Scotland. They distill ‘off grain’ - meaning that spent grain or grist solids have been left behind in the process, which is a little unique in America.

Arguably the wildest thing about Balcones is their helical Lyne arms. These are like copper coils that spiral upward from the top of the pot still. These essentially equate into making their Forsythe pot stills the “longest” in the world. Finally, they mature the whisky for four years in new, customized 240L and 500L American Oak barrels – specially made to work with the hot Texas climate.

So, how does this all work out in the glass for me?

Score: 8/10

**Something special.**
***TL;DR***
*A stunner of a dram*

Nose

Well first off, I was excited to see that some of those unique qualities of the Mirador Eclipse found their way into this Texas 1. It’s got a bright, citrusy nose – with a bit of a pleasing, yeasty type of funkyness to it. There’s a rich, caramel or malty-sweetness to it. Imagine the best orange marmalade spread across warm, buttery, fresh baked, sourdough bread.

Sometimes I get that orange marmalade note again, but cooked down and browned, as if on a cast iron skillet. Delightful.

Palate

There are waves of flavor. Those candied orange peels and marmalade on sourdough bread come through, but they’ve evolved into something more substantial. Maybe its because of the viscosity and ABV, but there’s a lot of body to this whisky. There’s a thickness to the mouthfeel that comes across as sumptuous.

There are notes of black pepper, malty-sweetness, cinnamon bark (or maybe chicory?) and some toasted oak – the kind of oaky note you might experience from a Kentucky bourbon.

The Dregs

This is a stunner of a dram and it's my favorite kind of whisky: the kind I can pour into the glass and let sit for hours next to me while I explore the full range of aroma and flavour. I think I prefer the nose over the palate by just a touch.

When I first tasted this and reflected on how the Texas 1 compared against the Mirador Eclipse: it’s like the Mirador takes all those funky, yeasty, citrusy, notes and turns them up – whereas this Texas 1 exchanges a few of those notes for some barrel influence. It's a very distinctive, very delectable, complex whisky.

If you’re looking for an interesting onramp to American Single Malt, this is a fantastic start to your journey of discovery. I love how Balcones embraces its brewing heritage and uses that lineage to guide their whisky production. I’m a fan of estery whiskies and I love how this single malt rewards in spades. Despite the barrel influence, this is a dynamic whisky that will reward the enthusiast for hours.

Score: 8/10 EMc

Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. OS

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