Product Launch - UK: Balcones Distilling's Baby Blue, True Blue 100, Brimstone & No. 1 Texas Single Malt

Trailblazing US craft distillery, Balcones from Waco, Texas, is set to take the UK whisky industry by storm this autumn as it launches this side of the Atlantic for the very first time, following its win as World Wizard of Whiskey Distiller of the Year and US Craft Distillery of the Year, announced on Friday. 

The brainchild of its President and Head Distiller, Chip Tate, Balcones has long been synonymous with innovation and extraordinary world-class spirits since it was founded by Chip in 2008. As of this autumn, Chip’s award-winning artisanal spirits will be available at The Whisky Exchange, at Vinopolis in London.

Known best for both their blue corn whiskies as well as their Texas single malt, Balcones provides something totally new, whilst still retaining appeal for those who enjoy the conventional refinement of a discerning dram. 

Chip and two of his distillers built the distillery from scratch. From metal sheeting and copper, to old stainless steel vessels bought on eBay, the team of three built the distillery from the bottom up.  Today, Balcones is the only distillery in the US that has been entirely hand built by the distillers themselves and one of the US’s finest examples of extraordinary craftsmanship in this sector. 

Chip said: “We are very excited about launching in such a wonderful whisky market, especially following our recent success with high profile awards such as the Wizards of Whisky and Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky. UK consumers know their spirits and have an appreciation for fine whiskies. Our spirits will hopefully showcase what craft distilling is truly all about - refined, unique spirits born of tradition, that add something new, something bold.”

Since is inauguration in 2008 and first spirit release a year later, Balcones has launched a number of award-winning, spirits. Of the seven Balcones products in the portfolio, four of these will be available in the UK as follows:

Baby Blue: A unique corn whisky made from atole, a roasted blue corn meal. Balcones uses this rich and nutty corn to produce a whisky that will bring something new to the corn whisky tradition. Baby Blue was the first Texas whisky on the market since prohibition. RRP: £56.95

True Blue 100: A brand new, 100 proof roasted blue corn whisky sibling of Baby Blue, but with deeper wood notes, stone fruit, and butterscotch. It’s full of rich notes of brown sugar, roasted nuts, and toast with lingering honeysuckle and citrus accents. RRP £67.95

Brimstone: Purification through fire—a Texas oak fire that is. Rather than using Scottish peat smoke, this one of a kind whisky is smoked with sun-baked Texas scrub oak using Balcones own secret process. The result is a whisky full of fresh youthful corn and light fruit notes married with a bold smokiness. RRP £64.95

‘1’ Texas Single Malt: A unique style of malt whisky, Texas made, Texas proud. This product is born of hundreds of years of distilling tradition transformed by a deep sense of place. Mellow notes of sautéed pears and ripe fruit mixed with a lingering toasty malt character. RRP £74.95

In addition to being awarded Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky - Craft Distillery of the Year award for 2012 and the World Wizard of Whiskey Distiller of the Year this week, Balcones’ spirits have together won over two dozen national and international awards, putting Balcones firmly at the forefront of the craft distilling movement.

All four products will be available from The Whisky Exchange from the first week of November. Please contact tel:  020 8838 9388 for further trade details. 

In addition to the UK launch, Balcones will also be available in the Norwegian and Swedish markets this autumn.

Original source: http://www.balconesdistilling.com/