Latest news with #Balcones
Forbes
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best American Whiskeys—According To The New Orleans Spirits Comp
Glass of whisky with ice, sitting on the American Flag. getty American whiskey is experiencing a thrilling renaissance—an era defined by innovation, experimentation, and a revival of classic styles. Distillers across the country are embracing bolder grain bills, alternative cask finishes, and regional identities to craft whiskeys that rival the complexity and character of the world's finest spirits. This year's top-scoring whiskeys showcased the category's remarkable diversity—from fruit-laced corn whiskeys and cask-strength Tennessee whiskey to American single malts. Nowhere is this creative momentum more evident than at the 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition (NOSC). Held in conjunction with the renowned Tales of the Cocktail festival, the NOSC brought together a distinguished panel of judges and a global slate of entries, reaffirming its status as a premier stage for the best in contemporary distilling. Crafted in Waco, Texas, Balcones Lineage is a bridge between traditional Scotch-style single malt production techniques and the bold influence of Texas terroir. The whiskey is made from a blend of Scottish Golden Promise and Texas-grown barley and is aged in a combination of virgin and refill oak barrels under the intense Texas climate. This whiskey was picked as Best in Class Whiskey at the 2025 NOSC. The whiskey features aromas of sweet, cooked malt/cereal, apple, toasted oak, apricot, and a faint mineral note. It's rich and malty on the palate, showcasing flavors of dried dark fruit, nutmeg, roasted pecan, malted milk, and baking spices with a balance between sweetness and oak dryness. The finish is long and drying with gentle tannins, cocoa, cooked grain, and stewed orchard fruit. Starlight Distillery, located on the Huber family farm in southern Indiana, blends six generations of agricultural heritage with small-batch whiskey production. Their blackberry-flavored whiskey is part of a broader range of fruit-infused spirits, crafted using fresh local produce and aged bourbon or corn whiskey as a base. The whiskey features aromas of fresh blackberry jam, accompanied by notes of vanilla, honey, and hints of baking spices. It's rich and flavorful on the palate, with flavors of ripe blackberry compote, sweet corn whiskey, and subtle notes of clove and cinnamon. The natural fruit character is vibrant without being overly sweet. The finish is medium length, with a lingering blackberry tartness, seasoned oak, and a whisper of caramel. Uncle Nearest is a tribute to Nathan 'Nearest' Green, the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey-making. The brand has quickly become one of the most awarded in American whiskey, particularly renowned for its single-barrel releases, each offering a unique character. Batch 3633 is drawn from a hand-selected cask, bottled at cask strength. The whiskey is bold and complex, featuring aromas of brown sugar, ripe banana, saddle leather, and toasted marshmallow. It's full-bodied and spicy on the palate, showcasing flavors of caramel, molasses, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and toasted oak. A touch of stone fruit emerges mid-palate. The finish is long, sweet, and powerful with lingering notes of wood spices, dried tobacco leaf, char, smoke, and a peppery close. Glass of American whiskey on the rocks sitting on an old wooden barrel. getty Heaven Hill Distillery, Mellow Corn Bottled-in-Bond Corn Whiskey, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $21 Mellow Corn is a cult classic among whiskey aficionados. Produced under the Bottled-in-Bond Act, this 100-proof, straight corn whiskey must be at least 80% corn and aged in used oak barrels. It's an old-school American whiskey, inexpensive yet flavorful and robust. The whiskey features aromas of sweet corn, vanilla custard, apple, and a hint of sourdough. It's creamy yet robust on the palate, showcasing flavors of buttered popcorn, toffee, fresh oak, banana, and lemon zest with an underlying, cooked, grain-forward richness. The finish is medium and slightly spicy with lingering notes of cornmeal, caramel, and charred wood. Stranahan's Diamond Peak, Barrel-Finished American Single Malt, 45% ABV, 750 ml. $80 Stranahan's, based in Denver, Colorado, was one of the first distilleries to pioneer the American single malt movement. This Diamond Peak expression is a limited-release bottling, crafted from 100% malted barley and finished in Caribbean rum casks. The exact finish varies from year to year by batch, adding an extra layer of intrigue. The whiskey boasts aromas of toasted malt, dried fig, cocoa, and vanilla, complemented by subtle notes of molasses and tropical fruit. It's bold and silky on the palate, showcasing flavors of dark chocolate, cherry cordial, espresso, tropical fruits, spice box, a hint of smoke, and toasted oak. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of pepper, seasoned oak, tropical fruits, and cocoa. The 2025 NOSC highlighted the extraordinary breadth and quality of American whiskey today. Heritage brands continue to honor tradition while pushing the envelope, and craft distillers are fearlessly reimagining what whiskey can be—one barrel at a time. Whether through the lush depth of a rum cask finish, the raw power of single barrel Tennessee whiskey, or the layered elegance of an American single malt, these winning expressions reflect a category that is evolving with confidence and creativity. The future of American whiskey is not only bright—it's bold, boundary-breaking, and brimming with flavor. More From Forbes
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Balcones Distilling and The Other Art Fair Launch Second Year of Artistic Collaboration
Texas-based Balcones Distilling, a leader in the newly official American Single Malt category, once again partners with The Other Art Fair in Los Angeles and Brooklyn to celebrate emerging art and artists' unique perspectives WACO, Texas, Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning distillery Balcones Distilling and renowned global art fair, The Other Art Fair, two pioneering forces reshaping the worlds of art and whisky, announce the second iteration of their creative partnership set to unfold during the upcoming series of spring fairs. Balcones, the 2024 World Whiskies Awards' World's Best Craft Producer of the Year, has strived to be at the forefront of the whisky revolution in Texas, always bringing an artful approach to their whisky-making. The Other Art Fair is known for connecting independent artists with art enthusiasts in vibrant, welcoming settings worldwide. United by a passion for creativity and innovation, their collaboration celebrates artistry through a series of activations. "Crafted with artistic inspiration, our deep and bright whiskies invite drinkers to reimagine American whisky. For us, whisky-making is a canvas—an opportunity to express ourselves and help redefine what American Single Malts from Texas can and should be," said Jared Himstedt, head distiller at Balcones Distilling. "Alongside The Other Art Fair, we believe this partnership allows our independent artists the same opportunity—the space to push boundaries, challenge the status quo and share their craft with the world." Entering its second year, the Artist in Residence initiative offers artists a platform to break traditional boundaries and present their unique perspectives. In 2024, Balcones and The Other Art Fair collaborated to spotlight artists whose creativity embodied the spirit of Balcones. Looking ahead to Spring 2025—following the landmark recognition of American Single Malt as an official whisky category by the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau —Balcones continues to champion innovation and fresh perspectives. Local artists are invited to create installations inspired by the Balcones ethos, uncovering new perspectives on Texas whisky—both through their artistic lens and the craftsmanship of Balcones. "Balcones was founded with a bold, whimsical spirit and an unrelenting drive to explore uncharted territory in the world of whisky," said Frank Dudley, director of Emerging Brands at DIAGEO. "That same passion for discovery drew us to The Other Art Fair and its unconventional approach to artistry. Last year's incredible collaboration reaffirmed our belief that creativity is not just about what you look at, but what you truly see, allowing artists to interpret this vision in their own way." With each artist chosen for their unique perspective and artistic style, muralist Moncho 1929 (Dan Monteavaro) of Los Angeles will be kicking off the Artist in Residence program with his showcase at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles February 20-23 at The Stage at Casitas in Los Angeles, Calif., followed by another local artist at The Other Art Fair Brooklyn May 8-11 at Zerospace in Brooklyn, New York. "We're thrilled to welcome Balcones as our headline drinks partner for the second year and to join us in our mission in challenging the traditional structures of the art world by creating an experience for art lovers, artists and whisky aficionados alike that feels uniquely unstuffy and accessible. Like Balcones, we believe that creativity shouldn't be confined to convention or rule, and how you enjoy it shouldn't be either," said Nicole Garton, global fair director at The Other Art Fair. Beyond the Artist in Residence program, attendees 21+ at The Other Art Fair can enjoy expertly crafted Balcones cocktails, meet with Balcones distillery team members to sample a selection of award-winning American Single Malt whiskies and experience firsthand what makes the newly defined whisky category so unique. Additional details on The Other Art Fair can be found here. For more information on Balcones Distilling, and where to purchase the award-winning whiskies, visit About Balcones DistillingBalcones Distilling pioneered a new landscape for whisky by combining centuries of single malt distilling tradition with the unique flavors of Texas. Synonymous with quality and innovation, Balcones Distilling is an award-winning distillery that is changing the state of whisky through its high-quality ingredients and unique processes to create layers of flavor in every expression. Creator of the original Texas whisky, Balcones Distilling distills all of its beloved spirits inside the historic Texas Fireproof Storage Company building in downtown Waco. Guests can visit the distillery for tours, tastings and events to discover the new state of whisky with Balcones. Visit for more information. About Diageo North AmericaDiageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA. About The Other Art FairThe Other Art Fair is a global art fair that connects independent artists with thousands of art buyers in a welcoming and creative environment. Set against the backdrop of the world's biggest cities, each Fair delivers the unexpected, combining access to boundary-pushing yet always-affordable artworks with immersive installations, performances, and unique features. The result is an inspiring, evocative, inclusive, and fun event that creates lasting connections between artists and art lovers. Since its launch in 2011, The Other Art Fair has worked with over 3,000 artists from more than 20 countries and now hosts 10 fairs annually across the UK, the US, and Australia. 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