Texas Bourbons and Other Drink (and Hot Avocado Sauce)

What I'd be curious to know is where Knob Creek 9 year single barrel fits into the grand scheme of bourbons, for anyone who's gotten to try it. Got to savour a healthy glass of the stuff a few years ago and it could just be because I don't drink regularly so I can almost name every single drink I've had, but this one's got a special place in my liver.

 

I always want to drink more whiskey from Texas. But I’m middle of losing a lot of weight so I’m avoiding it for now.

 

Never tried but I recall some online folk talking Aviation up (pun inadvertent). Man, that ad is actually brilliant given the context — got a hell of a chuckle out of it, gotta respect market savvy.

 

Ooh I can play this game!

Aerodrome--covered. Not covered is their rye, which is super rye, super duper dry super rye crazy rye if you like rye a lot a lot you'll like this rye. A bit rough for me in the end. But definitely a beyond the valley of rye rye.

Samuel Maverick--in San Antonio. Seems a bit of a gimmick because they are close to Riverwalk (not ON Riverwalk) and they also do beer, and they also have food. But beer and whiskey are solid. Rye is more of the Willet style. Not over the top, clearly rye, with a bit more bite than you expect from a Kentucky rye. The weird one is a triticale, which they made because they were shipped the wrong grain and said "heck with it, what can we do?" This is an oddball because it is very smooth and very non-characteristic of corn or rye. It's closest to a blended scotch, like a Blue Label or something. Very balanced, but also a bit dead. A silky dead. Their beer is decent too, worth a visit if you're in town.

Milam & Greene--saving the best for last. They're in Blanco, about 30 miles north of San Antonio. They do a range of single-cask and blended bourbons. The blended ones are super solid, well worth considering against any other good/great American bourbon, regardless of state. The single-cask ones have, well, more of a particular bite, and are rougher as you'd expect a Texas whiskey to be. Both the blended and single-cask have become my go-tos here, replacing most of my rye drinking.

Oh yeah and Justice Label? They specialize in moonshine. And teaching you how to make it. That's another story.

As with everything, IMO, YMMV.

I should do something on Texas wines...

 

This is the thread that we’ve been needing.

I’m not from Texas, but I really enjoy Balcones. They’re from Waco. One of their distinctions is the generous use of blue corn in their mash bills. The True Blue straight corn whisky is a great drink, with notes of brown sugar, candied nuts, and oak. It has a nice spicy finish. I especially love the cask strength version. It’s like 130 proof, so really strong stuff.

The Texas Rye is also very good. It’s one of the most aggressive ryes I’ve ever had, with notes of tobacco, leather, and pepper. I really like putting it in an Old Fashioned because it balances out the sweeter, fruitier flavors of the cocktail.

 

What are some recommendations on some Texas Whiskey that isn't hard to consume on the rocks or neat? Also would be better if they sell them at Total Wine.

 

I drink Balcones neat, and I know that Total Wine has some of their stuff. I understand what Marv and Jason are saying about Texas whiskey being rougher, but I still think that these are highly drinkable on their own.

 

Just because you mentioned Chartreuse....my desert island bottle is:

Chartreuse V.E.P. (Exceptionally Prolonged Aging)


Ignore that it comes in it's own coffin. Totally concentrated, less sweet than the regular Green. This is the best. IMO, YMMV. Sip this please. And smell the empty glass the next day.

 

Where's the Koreans in this thread? This is @ChaChaRealSmooth tuff right here.

 

It's a great bourbon but then I'm generally a big fan of Knob Creek stuff (excepting the maple nonsense). The 9 year is on the sweeter, more caramel-y and vanilla-y side of bourbons. Its 120 proof provides a bit of an edge - a burn in place of the roughness or spice of other bourbons.

 

Haha, even years later the impression I got of it remains strong. But again I seldom imbibe and am often cheap so I guess anything above mediocre would stand out — it's why I thought to ask people with more expansive palates, haha. Thanks for the info! Gah, tempted to track a bottle down.

 

How about Connery?

Funny you felt that way - it does have some of that (maybe a bit more Little Book, a bit more grain flavor here, a bit softer there)

 

I'd also love some recommendations. Yellow chartreuse is too sweet for me - I vaguely remember having a cocktail or two with it that were fine, but nothing to go wild for. But, I'm a big fan of green chartreuse. I usually do a 50/50 mix with gin and a splash of St. Germain's.

Looks like I can get Dolin near me, but would love to hear some other recommendations. Might have to ask my wife to pick up a bottle of the Aerodrome next time she's in Texas, too.

 

Hey I know one (well more than one...but one that I try to promote since they're down the street from me) Treaty Oak Ghost Hill - this is my go-to as a "What does Texas Whiskey do?" because it's the most distinct of the several/many I've had. Has some of the roughness ya'll are talking about, but still some Bourbon sweetness with a bit of bite (a la rye) in the finish along with some notes of cinnamon/clove (without being a flavored whiskey). Their other whiskeys are of declared provenance (Schenley rye from Canada and they've done a couple Kentucky Bourbons finished in their distillery) and the Day Drinker was not to my liking (more rough, less...anything else). I really have enjoyed the Balcones that I've had, but price has crept into "are you serious" territory even though they're quite good. That goes for most "Texas" spirits these days feels about 20-200% too high.

Treaty Oak's co-located gin distillery Waterloo makes a London dry (No. 9) and old Tom (Old Yaupon) that have distinctive herbal additions without being over-the-top and out of style IMO. I love gin now, an No. 9 was what converted me. Their barrel aged No. 9 (Antique) is really good as a non-whiskey aged liquor for folks who aren't too hot for whiskey overall.