189: Balcones Distilling Setting The Standard For Texas Whisky

We're talking Texas Whiskey with Balcones Distilling.  Balcones is located in Waco Texas and is known as the producer of "The Original Texas Whisky".  We're excited to discuss what makes Texas unique; it's definitely more than its hot weather too.  We're joined by Gabe RiCharde, the Director of Spirits at Balcones Distilling, where he has worked for nearly six years. Gabe has had a hand in many of the unique whiskies coming out of Waco, including one of the wildest whiskies we've tried in a long time; Big Baby, a Bottled in Bond, 5 year Corn Whisky, aged entirely in tequila casks.  We also discuss Balcones' Pot Still Bourbon, a great kickoff to Bourbon Heritage Month.   Stream this episode on your favorite podcast app and be sure to drop us a review while you're there.   We are thankful for everyone who has supported us. A huge shoutout goes to our growing Patreon Community as well! We'd appreciate it if you can take the time to give us feedback on our podcast. If you enjoy our content, consider giving us a 5 star rating on your favorite podcast app, leave us a review, and tell a fellow bourbon lover about our show. Follow  us @BourbonLens on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.  And please check out our Patreon to learn how you can support our endeavors, earn Bourbon Lens swag, be part of future barrel picks, and more. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website BourbonLens.com to check out our blog posts, or even purchase your own Bourbon Lens tasting glass or t-shirt. Cheers,Scott and JakeBourbon Lens     About Balcones: Born and bred in Waco, Texas, Balcones Distilling is an award-winning distillery that marries centuries of distilling tradition with the bold, original flavors of Texas. Synonymous with quality and innovation in the whisky industry, Balcones is known for emphasizing high-quality ingredients and drawing authentic influences from all over Texas. To date, the distillery has earned over 550 national and international tasting awards and accolades for their whiskies and spirits. In 2008, Balcones was nothing more than an idea driven by a passion to create something original and authentic, right here in the Heart of Texas. It all started in an old welding shop under a bridge in Waco. For the next year, we replaced the roofing, knocked out walls, laid brick, cut pipes, installed copper pot stills from Portugal, and shoehorned a whisky distillery inside that quaint building. Proud of what we had accomplished on our own, we began distilling in 2009.   Links:   Balcones Distilling  Bourbon Lens Review of Balcones "Big Baby" Tequila Cask Corn Whisky  Balcones Distilling: The Barrel Nerds - American Whiskey Magazine 142: What is Driving the Texas Whiskey Boom? - Bourbon Lens Industry reacts to American single malt whiskey designation proposal Bourbon Lens Instagram - Balcones Big Baby Review Balcones Distilling and ZZ Top's Tres Hombres Whisky Returns to Shelves - BevNET.com Waco's Balcones Distilling Is Rightly Proud Of Its Lineage. | Central Track All 8 Balcones Whiskies, Blind Tasted And Ranked Why American Single Malt Is The Whiskey Industry's New Frontier