Balcones Distilling Wins Gold

The Whiskies of the World Expo held a competition in Austin on Sept. 2 that was judged by a panel of Texas-based bartenders, beverage directors, and spirits buyers. The results were released this week and Waco's Balcones Distilling garnered awards in two categories.

The competition was open to all international spirit brands and included contestants from India, Taiwan, Canada, Scotland, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kentucky. Representatives of major players such as Brown-Forman (maker of Canadian Mist, Jack Daniel's, and Woodford Reserve among other whiskies) and small independents such as Balcones Distilling entered their wares.

Judges considered everything from price range to innovation to three distinct styles of bourbon in awarding producers. Balcones' Brimstone Smoked Corn Whiskey was named Best In Class and awarded a Gold Medal in the Innovative category created to showcase products outside the norm of consumer expectations. The Balcones Texas Single Malt was named Best in Class in the USA Single Malts division and their as-yet-unreleased FR. Oak Single Malt, primarily aged in French oak barrels, took a Silver medal in that category as well.

By the way, the FR. Oak also brought home a Gold Medal from the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition last week. Winston Edwards of Balcones Distilling advises us they should start bottling the new offering within the next few weeks, so look for it to debut on the local market later this fall. Congratulations for such a fine showing!