Y’all, it is time to CELEBRATE!!

Today, the U.S. Tax & Trade Bureau’s definition and regulations for American Single Malt Whiskey officially go into effect. As of January 19, 2025, American Single Malt Whiskey has risen to official, legal, and regulatory status. This innovative, creative, barley-focused category has now taken its rightful place in the lexicon of American Whiskey alongside bourbon and rye whiskey.

One week ago, I launched this series, Seven Days of American Single Malt Whiskey, to count down to today’s historic event. While personal circumstances have delayed the completion of the series, I’m back and ready to complete the set today and tomorrow with two incredible whiskeys.

For Day Six, we’re headed back to Central Texas and, more specifically, to the city of Waco, where you can find Balcones Distilling, one of the American Single Malt Whisky Commission‘s founding members.

Fun fact: long before I ever moved to Texas, my first-ever trip to the state was a visit to Waco. My choice of destination was questioned by locals at both end of my trip, but a friend from college was in her first year of graduate school at Baylor University. I spent my spring break lounging around the university’s pools where she worked.

It was “cold” by Texas standards (probably 70 degrees Fahrenheit), but downright balmy compared to Michigan. They’d had to de-ice the plane on the runway before I left, and I spent the rest of the week wearing flip-flops and chasing catfish in a kayak.

I absolutely loved it.

Somehow, despite living in Texas for several years (and a good portion of that time less than two hours away), I haven’t been to Waco since. But this incredible distillery, established in 2008 and known for both its single malt whisky and blue corn bourbon, proves that Waco’s talents extend far beyond higher education, cults, and shiplap-centered interior design.

I’ve had this single barrel bottle of Texas Single Malt Whisky in my cabinet for a few months now. I picked it up on a shockingly expensive trip to Total Wine & More here in Lexington, where I walked in just for fun and immediately filled my cart with several Scotch and bourbon and American single malt whiskeys alike.

Despite the length of my receipt, not a single regret could be found.

This Texas Single Malt Whisky is a single barrel selection bottled exclusively for the store. At 62.9% ABV, it’s not a whisky for the feint-hearted. Dark mahogany in color, the cask-level strength is matched only by the richness of both the nose and palate.

Even flavor is sometimes bigger in Texas, and this whisky has it in spades.

Though I’ve known about Balcones—and their excellent reputation—I’ve had Balcones’ single malt whisky just once before. I was in Dallas for a conference, and made my way to the hotel bar almost immediately after checking in. I remember enjoying the dram, though I sipped it through a travel-induced haze. It was good, but didn’t have nearly the impact of this unique barrel selection.

But that’s the fun of a barrel selection—while you might have a sense of the whisky’s baseline flavor, you never fully know what you’re going to get until you sip it.

For this pick, the nose is like a rich fruit pie. Maybe cherry? I don’t particularly like cherries, so it’s difficult to translate that common flavor experience into my own experience of this whiskey. The thickly married notes of stone fruit and pastry are both there, though. On the palate, it’s more of the same, though it quickly dissipates into a malty grassiness in the finish.

In all truth, I can’t fully decide if I like the finish on this whisky; it’s almost like following a delicious piece of pie by sucking on a blade of grass. That may sound terrible, but it’s not as bad as it seems, I promise. I may not be sure if I particularly like it, but I also don’t hate it. It’s definitely different than anything I’ve tried before, and I just keep picturing a cowboy, leaning against a fence after lunch.

After a wild couple of days, these tasting notes might be going off the deep end. Cowboys? Blades of grass?

Can I blame the cask strength, y’all?

Some of us aren’t built for our own whisky enthusiasm, and it doesn’t take long to feel the 125.8 proof of this whisky. Here’s what I can say: I’m very much intrigued, and I can’t wait to explore more of what this bottle has to offer.

Good thing I’ve got plenty of time to enjoy it.

Sláinte, y’all!

In My Glass

Texas Single Malt Whisky (Single Barrel)

Balcones Distilling – Waco, Texas

62.9% ABV; Aged at Least 24 Months

On My Desk

1962 Smith Corona Skyriter Manual Typewriter

Made in England