Review: Balcones Mirador Eclipse

Hey, remember that eclipse we had just a few weeks ago? Iconic Texas distillery Balcones dropped a limited edition whisky to commemorate the moment — which offered full totality in its hometown of Waco.

So they say: “Mirador Eclipse is a reflection on the sacred trance driven out of a solar eclipse – recognizing that an eclipse is the loss of the sun, yet it signifies new beginnings. Eclipses can be anticipated but not changed. They are out of our control – exquisite and specific to each moment and each place. This is exactly what Balcones worked to reflect in this newest release.”

This single malt is an experimental single malt release that is built around the use of unusual strains of yeast. Two new strains — one red wine yeast and one rosé wine yeast — are included alongside the house malt whisky yeast to create a new flavor profile. The finished whiskey is aged for 56 to 71 months in first, second, and third-fill Kentucky bourbon barrels (47%) and ex-Balcones whisky barrels (53%). The resulting whiskey is officially a 4 year old.

How much of a whiskey — or a wine — is in the yeast? Let’s find out and taste Mirador Eclipse.

To start, the nose of the single malt is immersive without being overwhelming in the way that many Texas whiskeys can be. Classic aromas of barrel char are tamed by a healthy collection of spices, both baking and more savory, with time in glass meandering toward notes of incense and dried flowers. There’s a creamy nut butter quality that becomes more evident with some water added — which is a boon for the palate, too — moving from almond to hazelnut with a little air time.

On the palate, the whiskey segues between cereal-driven flavors and more of those nutty elements, with hazelnut, sesame oil, and brown butter all in the mix. Again, water’s a great help, giving the whiskey some gravity that works well with its creamier elements. The spice component initially takes on a greener element here, but as the whiskey evolves on the tongue it becomes sweeter and sweeter, those mixed nuts becoming sugared and layered with elements of vanilla and coconut — touches of chocolatey dairy cream emerging on the pleasant, lasting finish.

Another solid effort from Balcones and highly worth drinking, even when the sun is in full force.

110 proof.

A- / $100 / balconesdistilling.com

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