Balcones Eclipse Texas Rye Cask Strength

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 64% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Eclipse’s distinctive production begins with fermentation: Balcones uses ale and whisky yeasts together before distilling the rye spirit in pot stills. The whisky then matures in new, charred American oak casks. Bottling at a cask strength of 64% preserves its powerful, full-bodied character. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Alongside its sweet and spicy impressions, Eclipse reveals darker aromas of dried fruit, dark chocolate and coffee. Rye bread links these notes to its grain character, while leather, tobacco, chilli and cloves complement the charred oak.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, soft creamy caramel, vanilla and maple syrup mingle with espresso and fresh rye bread. Toasted oak complements the sweet, bready aromas.
• Palate: The whisky is powerful and intense on the palate. The opening is fruity and reminiscent of toasted bread, with cinnamon, pepper and allspice adding further notes.
• Finish: The long, spicy finish combines sweet vanilla with pepper and anise.

Distillery/Bottler:

Balcones was founded in Waco, Texas, in 2008 under the leadership of Chip Tate. Its first distillery occupied a former welding workshop beneath a bridge, where distillation began in 2009. The name refers to the Balcones geological fault zone, which runs through part of Texas. Alongside rye whisky, corn whisky, bourbon and single malt also form part of the distillery’s history.

As the business grew, Balcones moved into the historic Texas Fireproof Storage Company building in central Waco in 2016. The building had already served as a cask warehouse. Copper pot stills from Scottish manufacturer Forsyths were added for the new site. Balcones thus remained committed to batch distillation in pot stills rather than switching to a continuously operating column still.

Facts: