Balcones Baby Blue Corn

I loved the aroma and the taste matched the smell. It is different. It is suppose to be different. It doesn't have a strong alcohol smell. It doesn't have a peat or charcoal taste. If you are a bourbon drinker that wants your bourbon to taste the same no matter what bottle it comes out of, then this is not for you. It is a blue corn mash whisky. It needs to sit and breath a little while. Take in the aroma and then enjoy it neat. Don't add water! Don't add it to a mixed drink! Just enjoy it!

14th August 2019

Tried this for the first time tonight, out of the bottle. This is really good! A little spice but a little sweet also, and not harsh either. Those that are comparing this to tequila are dead wrong, and I've drank whiskey forever.

2nd August 2019

I actually drove 2 hours to get a bottle in Manhattan.
For some reason not many liquor dealers selling it..
Read reviews..couldn’t wait to open it and tasted it..
Make a long story short..it’s worth a ride to city.. I loved it smell and tasted great..
Is a blue baby..yeah!!!

25th June 2019

This is a great whisky. I don't get why people are comparing to tequila, it tastes nothing like it. It smooth, beautiful aroma and taste. I think people may have a problem with Texas, and are blaming this whisky. I will buy it again, and again, etc.

19th May 2019

Interesting negative comments. I’m a peat-smoke scotch guy but allow a bit more latitude in my American whiskey sampling. This is a corn whiskey. As such, it fits in a very unique bandwidth of flavors. For those of us who enjoy corn whiskey’s, this is quite good. In this catagory one doesn’t go diving for the most obscure phenols but rather enjoy the simple sweetness of candies and a well rounded flavor. I find it a wonderful balance to Scotch smoke and Bourbon wood.

28th March 2019

Smells better than it tastes. Hint of tequila, sour cider after taste. Astringent.

8th March 2019

I enjoy a variety of whiskeys, bourbons, and ryes and really wanted to like this as Texas is getting some really good distillers, but I was not impressed by the the Baby Blue. Tried it both neat, with ice, and in a cocktail. While it was better as it breathed I did not enjoy it, and it tasted artificial/manufactured with the hint of tequila others have mentioned. Quality control might be an issue as I am not sure how this won awards.

28th February 2019

It is unique, I have to give it that. Not quite sure what to think about it, but I can say that second time I went to the bottle to try it out, it very closely resembled tequila. Totally thrown off by this. The following night I used it to make a Cadillac margarita. Not bad! Found the bottle at Total Wine for $40. Looking forward to trying the brimstone version. I heard it’s really aggressive.

22nd October 2018

Aroma hints of Tequila and very smooth whiskey. I will purchase again.

2nd September 2018

Wow this is very drinkable. If you like TX whiskey this goes down sweet yet packs the punch you need as an hombre. Well done! Also try single malt from Balcones it’s comparable to this bit more punch

1st July 2018

I like this a lot, but it is definitely very distinct. The MoM tasting notes pretty much nailed it, and I agree with another commenter that you almost get a tequila vibe from it.

23rd March 2018

Needs time to open as the corn is extremely prominent on the nose initially. Then develops well into banana bread and cinnamon with just a touch of pepper. The palate is a little spicy but then follows with brown sugar and caramel. A little burn on the finish but I just opened the bottle new and tried. Very different from other bourbons.

19th March 2018

These one star ratings have to be trolls. Baby Blue is oily and sophisticated. One of the smoothest 92 proof whiskies on the planet. This whisky cannot be compared to scotch, bourbon, or rye. Won a double gold medal at a recent San Francisco World Spirits competition.

22nd January 2018

I can't believe some of the bad reviews here. Is there some batch inconsistencies or QC issues as for me this is one of the best spirits I've ever had, not just Whiskys. Smooth, really really smooth, complex, long finish, carmel, pop corn. Just fabulous and worth every penny

14th January 2018

At the start it smells like burnt rubber. And it tastes like it. If you let it air for a couple of minutes it both smells and tastes so much better. The sweetness, as expected, from the corn is very pronounced. It has vanilla and fruity tones too, and it grows on me. However the burnt rubber feel is never going away completely. Quite different in a positive way.

6th January 2018

Gross. Tastes like tequila and wet socks!

20th December 2017

Don't know what everyone's crying about on here. This is one of the better corn whiskey's that I've tasted. Sure, it's light and doesn't have the "instant hair on your chest" flavor profile of some of the other styles out there, but it is a corn whiskey after all. As others have mentioned the flavors, although light, are complex and hard to describe. The nose has a hint of the sea (in a good way) and the whiskey has a sweet finish. I think it makes a great sipping whiskey, and I enjoyed being surprised by the unique flavor.

12th December 2017

Bought in the tasting club, super smooth and full bodied

30th June 2017

Had A tasting session last with relatives and friends with my selection of Master of malts tasting sets came across this little gem in one of the sets boy o boy is this different I am a ISLAY man by choice but always willing to try new spirits cannot be precise on tasting notes need further sample to evaluate

18th June 2017

I don't know what everyone is complaining about over here. Stop being cry babies! If you want a speyside or islay Scotch, then drink Scotch...you can't compare this with Scotch! This is made from completely different ingredients, so of course it's gonna taste very different from other whiskies. Overall...I think this was very different and superb. I personally would drink this after dinner maybe, much like dessert whiskey. Reminds me of a delicious buttery pecan pie, or even really good candy corn. Good job Balcones, and keep up the good work!

18th June 2017

If you try the moonshine which is predominantly a corn based whiskey then try this stuff they are just miles apart. I don't know about blue corn but I do about yellow corn but they both share the softness that come from distilling corn mash. This is not the best corn whisky in my opinion Tim smiths climax Moonshine is the best corn whisky and is shares some similarities like the baked banana and fried corn bread taste. I've got close friends that live in the states in Carolina and we always drink real Moonshine. I just hop on plane and go see them and party dancing to green grass music. I willing to bet that if this was not cask aged it would be close to the stuff I drink when over in Carolina. It's way, way over priced but still.......tell me a place in the U.K. where you can buy cask aged corn whisky. Apart from here.

16th May 2017

I first tried Balcones a couple of years ago and tried all the standard range. Since then I have enjoyed the Cask strength offerings as well. The Baby Blue was my least favourite but I've modified my opinion. Its lower strength (46%) allows the corn element to shine and this is a great corn whisky. Compare it to other corn whiskies and it shines. The higher strength True Blue takes on more of the Balcones signature character and then it's a matter of whether you like Balcones or not. Balcones do things differently and any potential purchaser should consider that. Baby Blue, tortilla chips and guacamole is a marriage.

23rd April 2017

This is moderately priced in New York. Great and unique whiskey for $39.99

30th March 2017

Absolutely howling, tastes like how black bin bags smell.

12th March 2017

Felt very disappointed with this, can't believe the price must be marketed for the Asian market.

5th March 2017

Not good.. trying to enjoy this but its pretty harsh. Not sure how to describe it except bad... wish it were better as I am from Texas like this but no.

14th January 2017

Without a doubt the worst whiskey I've ever had the misfortune to smell and taste. Couldn't finish my ounce. Absolutely nothing about it was worth the price I paid. Sorry to be so harsh, but I'm just being honest. Smelled of rotten wet corn, chemicals, fake vanilla, and spent brewing grain. Honestly, I want my money back. Beyond disappointed.

2nd August 2016

I didn't realise this was so award winning when I tried it at a whisky festival today. I was after some True Blue but they'd run out and I settled for this instead. Was quite glad to get it over with and move on. Sorry Balcones.

18th June 2016

Tried this last night after wanted to buy a bottle for a while. Well I wish I hadn't bothered.
I understand the need for variety in this world but if I wanted added vanilla essence in my whiskey I would add my own. I don't believe for a second that the product is heavily manipulated when all I really wanted was a posh Mellow Corn.

Basically, over sweetened, over priced, trendy, over hyped, vanilla flavoured p**** for the Asian market.

9th June 2016

Super surprise offering at the Langham in Pasadena. Superb sipping whisky!

23rd April 2016

This isn't one for drinkin' straight - but try it in a Boulevardier. This has become my go-to spirit for that cocktail - as the richness and oiliness from the corn contributes so much more than the sum of the part.

24th February 2016

It smells awful and the first taste doesn't impress. I was very disappointed. I read some of the MoM reviews and one of them said to add a dash of water and allow it to breathe. What difference it made! I can now appreciate the flavours: sweet popcorn, smooth buttery finish. Baby Blue is expensive and I'm not sure it's worth the price but I am converted.

19th February 2016

American corn whiskey, if aged at all, is aged in used barrels (like scotch), unlike bourbon which by law has to be aged in new, charred barrels. It is possible that artificial colouring has been added, but no one can say for sure. Artificial colouring is forbidden in American whiskey if it is bourbon or is labelled as "straight."

25th January 2016

Wanted to try something new from a smaller distiller. Tried the Single Malt and was impressed. The bottle of Baby Blue i picked up was absolutely horrid. The nose was hot and putrid like a poorly distilled product. The flavor was also dominated by that same hot sensation. The overall feeling was that of drinking bad moonshine. Are they adding food coloring for the color?!? ... cause it doesn't taste barrel aged at all. Would not dream of buying this product again.

20th January 2016

I ordered a couple of Drams (had some friends to share it with) but each was a different colour and each was very different. the lighter coloured dram was smoother with a more Tortilla nose and Palate. the darker one has a golden syrup and pop corn nose with a much sweeter palate.
BOTH left a horrid aftertaste which lasted ages and left you mouth feeling very dry.

11th January 2015

This is lovely...sweetly different...yes the popcorn is there (weird taste for a whiskey, or a bourbon, whatever this is), and it's sweet,,but there is a slightly spicy finish and a lovely afterburn...gets better after the 5th glass...try it...you won't taste anything else like it

23rd October 2014

Like drinking salted caramel popcorn, this is smooth, sweet and delicious. Maybe a little light for some but I love it.

Don't try blending vodka and sweet popcorn for the cheap option though, not worth it.

17th October 2014

A different, but enjoyable dram. Strong caramel, vanilla and slightly salty. Very easy and enjoyable wee dram.

17th September 2013

Agree that it needs a little time to air and water and is pleasant either way. But doesnt blow me away. Too light and not much going on bar the slight rum like sweetness described. Much preferred the cheaper Mellow Yellow corn whiskey.

16th April 2012

Really enjoyed the Dram, nose of sweet vanilla, caramel, and melted mozzarella

Tastes of sweet candy and vanilla, smooth with a slight burn at the end. Benefits from an ever so
slight bit of water and 15 mins to breathe in the glass.
Jack Daniels has a rival in Texas!

7th April 2012

All Devon fudge and roasted nuts - definitely different but very tasty.

22nd November 2011