Waco texas whiskey12/10/2023 Even today he will lecture at length about the many variations of crusty French bread and the grand traditions of Parisian boulangers. After college, when he wasn't debating The Big Questions as a Union Presbyterian Seminary student in Richmond, he brewed beer or baked. As a child in rural Virginia, he made explosives: bottle rockets and tennis-ball cannons. He has long been fascinated by mixing different ingredients. Today there are 623 across the country, one in every state.īut it is also a result of the 39-year-old Tate’s personal story as a pioneer. Just 68 craft distillers existed a decade ago. So how did Balcones rise to the top of the whiskey world in just six years? In part, the distillery’s success is due to America’s love affair with all things artisanal. Moreover, the win showed that the finest new whiskey in the world doesn’t come from Scotland or Japan or Bourbon County, but from under a bridge in Waco. The underdog victory was reminiscent of the so-called “Judgment of Paris,” a 1976 blind taste test in which California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay for the first time defeated a slew of French wineries. Balcones was the first American distiller to capture the highest honor, defeating such venerable brands as Johnnie Walker, Macallan and Balvenie. Balcones ZZ Top Tres Hombres signifies the very nature of the distillery – a pride in Texas and a passion for their award-winning spirits that comes out in a truly delicious whisky.Balcones’ arrival was first heralded by its distiller-of-the-year awards in 2012 (from Whisky Magazine and the Craft Distillers’ Association) and then by the single malt’s first-place finish in the 2012 Best in Glass competition, a British contest that names the best whisky released each year. But the longer I took with the whisky, the more it opened up for me, providing my palate a complexity that I enjoyed exploring. This tasting provided a kind of challenge, as the profile wasn’t immediately decipherable. They have grown their operation from the ground up, including building their own condensers, wash stills, and other equipment that ensures a uniquely personal, hands-on process. The distillery prides itself on a hand-crafted, DIY spirit. Balcones ensures that the blue corn provides “a solid bass layer and an oily body,” contributing to a more full-bodied spirit. The interesting aspect of the Balcones recipe is the Blue Corn, which has been said to have a “sweeter and nuttier” flavor when compared to yellow or white corn. Their process includes malted barley matured in virgin oak, which can give the whisky the sense of being older than it is. The sum of its parts tells a compelling story, just like the iconic tunes of the little ol’ band from Texas…”īalcones Distillery began brewing in 2009 in Waco, Texas, and has since striven to celebrate Texas, including using the first Texas-grown malted barley. Three distinct whiskies, and three distinct band members – married together to create a one-of-a-kind spirit with Texas-sized flavor. ZZ Top has said of the expression, “Together, we set out to create a whisky with the foundational grains of Balcones – Roasted Blue Corn, Malted Barley, and Rye. The whisky was created mid-pandemic, with Balcones Distillery coordinating Zoom meetings with the band to share in virtual tastings, ensuring a truly creative melding of the minds.
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