Review: TX Bourbon and Blended Whiskey (2025)
The state of Texas is quickly picking up steam in the whiskey world. Fort Worth has been home to Firestone and Robertson Distilling since 2012. The formal distillery name is much less familiar to consumers than its TX Whiskey branding. Several Texas distilleries have jumped into public attention of late, but Firestone and Robertson and TX Whiskey lurks in the back of public awareness.
Differentiating its whiskey from others, Firestone and Robertson ferments with yeast propagated from Texas pecans. As well, the distillery notes that the top of the bottle features a circular cutout from reclaimed cowboy boots.
As Texas has been gaining more notoriety among lovers of whiskey, should Firestone and Robertson’s TX Whiskey be included in the conversation of possible greats? Let’s pour a glass or two of its standby releases and find out.
Firestone & Robertson TX Straight Bourbon – Firestone and Robertson ferments a mashbill consisting of 74% Texas yellow dent corn, 14% Texas soft red winter wheat, and 12% 6-row distillers malt that was malted 15 minutes south of the distillery at TexMalt. All of the grain is grown in Hillsboro, roughly 45 minutes south of Forth Worth. The Texas grain mashbill is fermented for 3 to 5 days in an open-top 16,000 gallon tank. TX Straight Bourbon is distilled on a Vendome 36″ continuous column still with a 500 gallon copper doubler. Distillate comes off the doubler at 145 proof and enters the barrel at either 110, 120, or 125 proof, with 120 proof being most typical. Firestone and Robertson utilizes 53 gallon barrels from Independent Stave Company with #3 and #4 barrel chars and 2 proprietary toasts. The bourbon is aged for at least 4 years with some batches sprinkling in barrels matured for 5 and 6 years. Some batches contain around 40 barrels, while other batches contain upwards of 100 barrels.
The nose kicks off with a distinctive note of Honey Smacks breakfast cereal, offering a warm toasted sweetness. Gentle floral hints of jasmine mingle throughout. Subtle cinnamon spice hangs in the background. The overall aroma is soft and understated. The palate leads with cloves and a punch of black pepper. The spicy start quickly transitions to dried apricots and a hint of German roasted pecans that bring a slight nutty caramelized depth. Despite the overall very light profile, this whiskey drinks well above its 100 proof, delivering an experience that is a bit discombobulating. The mouthfeel is surprisingly very thick and coating, with fantastic legs. The finish starts with a touch of brown sugar sweetness, balanced by a lingering black pepper spice. Traces of pecan emerges, adding a very subtle nutty note to wrap things up. The finish remains mild and approachable, fading away gracefully without overwhelming the palate.
This bourbon is best described as “inoffensive” — a solid but unremarkable pour that stands out primarily for drinking well above its stated 100 proof. While it lacks the complexity to inspire deep contemplation, it serves its purpose as an easygoing, enjoyable option for casual sipping. It’s the kind of whiskey that fits seamlessly into a laid-back setting, like watching sports on the couch, where you want something pleasant in your glass without the need for intense analysis. 100 proof. B / $47
Firestone & Robertson TX Blended Whiskey (2025) – There isn’t much information available about this bottling. I reached out directly to Firestone and Robertson to gather some, but no information was provided. I was kindly provided with full details regarding the production of TX Straight Bourbon, but questions regarding TX Blended Whiskey went unanswered.
The blended whiskey is a proprietary blend produced in the state of Texas as noted on the backside of the bottle. No state of distillation is provided. Federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) Ruling 54-416 Section 35(e) of Regulations No. 5 provides that labels of whisky and straight whisky shall disclose the State of distillation of such whisky, if such a whisky is not distilled in the State given in the address on the label. Based on this language, it is reasonable to assume that all components in the blend could be distilled in Texas. However, the label clearly does not indicate that any of the components were distilled by Firestone & Robertson, although it’s a logical assumption that some or all components are distilled in-house. If some blending components are not distilled by Firestone & Robertson, there is no indication as to the source or how many sources. Furthermore, if this is a blend of multiple states, listing the states of distillation is not required. The label indicates that 60% of the blend consists of grain neutral spirits (GNS) distilled from corn, but no other information about the blend is available.
Drinkhacker last visited TX Blended Whiskey in late 2014 and we’re finally revisiting it more than decade later. The aroma is intensely sweet, almost leaping from the glass before the nose even gets close to it. Waves of sticky-sweet confectionery notes dominate in the form of almond extract and fingernail polish. Sugar cookie notes soon develop and join a candylike nature of butterscotch candies from your grandmother’s purse. The nosing package is an indulgent swirl of sweetness. Matching the nose, the first impression on the palate is an overwhelming sweetness, akin to the familiar taste of Werther’s Originals. Diving deeper, bold punches of vanilla extract enter the equation. The experience continues with suggestions of white cake covered with white icing and coconut flakes. While there are a few distinct flavors initially, they rapidly blend together, creating a homogenous sweetness that makes the individual notes difficult to separate, though the finish is dominated by a rich butterscotch pudding flavor. However, no 0ther distinct notes develop, leaving the final tasting impression as singular and focused on sweet. The sensation deteriorates quickly, offering little complexity or lingering depth. Comparing Drinkhacker’s 2014 impressions to 2025, the profile has remained incredibly consistent.
This blended whiskey struggles largely due to its overwhelming sweetness. It’s too cloying to be enjoyable beyond a few sips, and its excessive sugary sweetness makes it a poor choice to pair with mixers, especially those that already contain sweetness. Crafting a cocktail with such a sweet blended whiskey would be a serious challenge, making it difficult to recommend for anyone seeking a more versatile or nuanced whiskey experience. 82 proof. C+ / $38
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