A TASTE OF TEXAS

WHISKY AND BBQ PAIRING WITH BALCONES

Join us for a night of Texas whisky and slow smoked meats as we welcome Balcones Distillery to Texas Joe's Slow Smoked Meats.

We will taste the full core range of Balcones whiskey and each will be paired with a special BBQ dish. We will be joined by head distiller Jared Himstedt and brand ambassador Winston Edwards.

Texas Single Malt

A timeless style of malt whisky, Balcones "1" Texas Single Malt breathes new life into centuries of distilling tradition with classic techniques and ingredients adapted for New World tastes. Opening aromas bear hints of toffee and overripe fruits. On the palate, layers of toasted malt and honey give way to mellow notes of baked pears and apples. A long finish is accompanied by cinnamon and cloves. Texas made, Texas proud, we hope you enjoy the whisky we owe our success to as much as we enjoy making it.

Baby Blue

The first Texas whisky on the market since Prohibition, Baby Blue is crafted from roasted heirloom blue corn. This rich and oily maize adds new sophistication to the corn whisky tradition, while keeping the freshness and verve of classic American distilling. Intentionally youthful, Baby Blue captures the essence of this prized corn with a round nuttiness, roasted overtones and refined complexity. The mouth feel is viscous with a soft finish. A true Texas original that we are delighted to share with the world.

True Blue 100

Since the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, ‘100 proof‘ has long stood for quality and authenticity. True Blue 100 carries on that tradition. 100% of the whisky in this bottle was born, raised, and bottled at Balcones – from mash to glass. True Blue 100 retains the depth and complexity of over-proof spirits with the softer edges, supple textures and fuller fruitiness that slight dilution can bring. Rich notes of honeyed citrus, stone fruit and cinnamon and a rich, roasted corn palate. Perfect "as is" or with as much water as you prefer.

Brimstone

This one-of-a-kind whisky is smoked with sun-baked Texas scrub oak using our own secret process. The result is a whisky full of fresh, youthful corn and light fruit notes married with a bold smokiness. Whether you like smokey whiskies, or just have a penchant for big, new flavors, Brimstone is sure to be memorable pour. Aromas of masa, Texas campfire and powdered sugar backed by stone fruit, peppery spice and mint. Bold yet balanced, Brimstone is yet another Texas original from Balcones.

Rumble

Defying categorization both in its composition and its reception, Rumble is a curious twist on spirit styles from around the world. Crafted from fermented Texas wildflower honey, Mission figs and turbinado sugar, it is twice distilled in traditional copper pots then artfully matured in premium oak casks. The result is an elegant and distinctive spirit we have come to love dearly over the years. Rumble epitomizes the independent spirit of Balcones and continues to inspire us. Join us in embracing this one-of-a-kind Texas creation.

plus a very special release.

Jared Himstedt

Head Distiller & Distillery Manager

At Balcones Distilling, Jared Himstedt found the one job he didn’t hate. Making whisky. He has been with the distillery since its early days as the first employee and one of the curious enthusiasts who experimented until quality products were created. The artist’s passion for making spirits was born from a home-brewing beer kit he received as a wedding present and a home-brewing group who met monthly to discuss their craft beers. However, he started to notice that beer was too readily available and at The Dancing Bear, a pub owned by one of his friends in Waco, Jared became obsessed with whisky.

Having a degree in ceramics and social work from Baylor University made Jared’s background handy for cutting copper, plumbing and roofing, back when the production manager had no product to manage. Today, with access to key ingredients and top-notch equipment, Jared chooses to start the whisky making process with ingredients he likes and would drink for fun, rather than listening to the market trends. He believes that Balcones whisky thrives because the product is made for an easy target market – whisky lovers, people just like Jared.

Winston Edwards

Every core member of the Balcones Distilling team is a self-identified whisky nerd. Nowhere is this truer than with Balcones Distilling’s Brand Ambassador Winston Edwards. As a Certified Specialist of Spirits, Winston is Balcones’ go-to guru for whisky history and spirits knowledge.

According to Winston, he is not “the guy behind the whisky,” he is “the guy who thinks it’s awesome and loves to sell it.” The California food and beverage industry first transported Winston from upscale restaurants into the world of spirits. What started out as a hobby, learning about the art of making whisky and a passion for chasing rare bottles, quickly turned into a lifestyle.

After moving back to North Texas, Winston became well known among North Texas food and beverage professionals for his whisky palette and credentials as a brand ambassador. At a brief encounter with Balcones Distilling representatives at a Dallas tasting, Winston became a true enthusiast of the brand. He loved Balcones’ DIY spirit, the hand made quality of the whisky and most importantly; he loved the taste of Balcones’ whisky. After a year spent visiting the distillery in his free time and occasionally representing the brand, Winston chased his dream job and moved to Waco to become the first on-site brand ambassador for Balcones One thing everyone that works with Winston knows is that he is far from the industry’s typical “bland’ ambassadors.