American craft distiller Balcones created this smoky corn whisky, fittingly named the Brimstone, by smoking the whisky itself rather than the grain. It is innovative techniques such as this which are creating a buzz around American whisk(e)y at the moment.
Barbecue, steaks, brown sugar, raisins, honey roast pork. It's all there, a Texan aroma for a Texan whisky.
Peppery and sweet in equal quantities with some herbal undertones and BBQ sauce overtones.
The finish is like a pepper-rubbed steak with a little charcoal too!
What's not to like about this big smoky whisky? Brimstone is an incredibly apt name for this barbecue of a dram. There is no pretension here.
Balcones Brimstone - Hits your nose with leather, charcoal and bacon salt. The taste is loaded with smoke and toasted wood. Bit of a sharp finish, bit perhaps the name is warning of that! Literally leaves smoldering embers in your mouth; the finish lasts practically all night which isn't strictly a good thing.
A whiskey to recreate tending a Texas barbecue pit. Scrub oak has a wonderful 'sweetness' that differentiates itself from other woods. Seemingly tame for 106 proof. A great alternative to some of the peatier Islays.
Can't really say I loved or hated this. The novelty factor is amazing and worth getting together with some friends to get a bottle, personally I couldn't handle more than a glass of this freakshow. Smells like BBQs and more accurately BBQ sauce lathered pork, tastes like smokey bacon,....for ever...all the way to the next day and beyond. Imagine Frazzles burps but with booze added and turned up to 11.
Love this whiskey- if you like big bold flavours and smoke. And for all that, superbly drinkable. Try it with barbecued food.
I am in the camp that LOVES this whiskey. I enjoy reading the reviews, I don't recall a whiskey that people are so divided on. People either love or hate it, no one "kinda" likes Brimstone. Definitely try before you buy. Me, I have 5 bottles ;-) wouldn't want to run out.
