Balcones Distilling

Today marks the official designation of American Single Malt Whisky. A true Balcones cheers to our Head Distiller Jared Himstedt, who spent the past decade working alongside his fellow American Single Malt Whiskey Commission founding members to make today a reality.   With official recognition comes the opportunity for distillers across the country to bring creativity to the category while remaining consistent with American Single Malt Whisky standards. These standards include being: ·  Made from 100% Malted Barley ·  Distilled Entirely at One Distillery ·  Mashed, Distilled and Matured in the United States of America ·  Matured in Oak Casks of a Capacity not Exceeding 700 Liters ·  Distilled to No More than 160 (U.S.) Proof ·  Bottled at 80 (U.S.) Proof or More Join us in celebrating the future of American Single Malt, today and every year to come. #americansinglemalt #texaswhiskey #asmw #americansinglemaltwhisky

Our Head Distiller, Jared Himstedt, recently had the chance to chat with CanvasRebel about our unique approach to distilling. He shares the skills and mindset needed to create award-winning whisky and the importance of blending practical experience with a communal process. Check out the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/e-jugeK5.

As of January 19th, American Single Malt Whisky will be recognized as an official whisky category. The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission was established in 2016 alongside a select group of distillers, including our very own Head Distiller, Jared Himstedt. The commission was formed to address the growing need for American-based producers to define the category in order to protect, educate, promote and ultimately grow it both within the United States and abroad. We’re incredibly proud that through almost a decade of dedication and collaboration we finally received the official designation. When Balcones first began, the American Single Malt category was a blank slate, which sparked our creative spirit and inspired us to see where this journey would lead. We saw an opportunity to honor the medium of single malt whisky, formed long ago, while unlocking the potential provided to us by this multifaceted region. Although we set out to receive this designation, we’ve remained focused on our main goal of progressing the category through the work we do every day at our distillery. Along the way, we’ve been able to create fruit-forward, inventive American Single Malt Whiskies while helping lead and define the American Single Malt movement. We’re eager to continue tapping into the unlimited possibilities of this category alongside our fellow makers, rising the tide for all in the years to come. #americansinglemalt #americanwhiskey #texaswhiskey #singlemalt

We just made history! American Single Malt Whisky is now recognized as an official whisky category. Almost a decade of dedication and collaboration has led us to a true moment of celebration. So grab a bottle of one of the most-awarded American Single Malts in the country and toast with us on the first Ratification Day. What does this official recognition mean? Most importantly, it means there will now be a consistent set of standards that must be upheld to call a spirit American Single Malt Whisky. Of course, each distillery will bring its own creativity and house-style to the spirit, opening the door for more inventive whiskies to come. But we’re just excited to push the category further as a whole. We’re incredibly proud of this official designation and are excited at the opportunity to get more people drinking American Single Malts. Learn more about Ratification: https://lnkd.in/gg3djnmq. American Single Malt Whiskey Commission #americansinglemalt #texaswhiskey #americanwhiskey

In 2016 our Head Distiller Jared Himstedt worked alongside colleagues to create the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission with the ultimate goal of growing the category both within the United States and abroad. In order to be considered an American Single Malt, the ASMWC requires whisky to be distilled entirely at one distillery. We proudly host every step of our distillation process at our Waco-based distillery inside the historic Texas Fireproof Storage Company. From the beginning, we've been dedicated to establishing a production environment that allows the unique flavor of our climate to flourish in our whiskies. Curious to learn more? Visit us at the distillery for a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes into crafting our Texas-inspired spirits. #americansinglemalt #whiskey #texaswhiskey #waco

Our head distiller, Jared Himstedt, recently joined the "VinePair Podcast" for a conversation with host, sommelier and wine educator, Zachary Geballe. Listen to the pair discuss Jared's unique path to distilling, the challenges of making whisky in Texas and why shaping the American Single Malt category is an energizing pursuit: https://lnkd.in/e3bCp25K. #vinepair #americansinglemalt #podcast

Our unique Texas environment has played a vital role in shaping our whisky and in sparking our curiosity for the impact of climate throughout the distilling journey. Together with Independent Stave Company (ISC) we designed an experiment to answer the question: can different climates, given enough time, produce similar flavor profiles, or is each climate's impact on whisky as unique as a fingerprint? Check out the latest print edition of American Whiskey to learn what we've uncovered in our study so far. #americanwhiskeymagazine #climate #distilling #americanwhiskey #americansinglemalt Gabriel RiCharde

All American whisky, including American Single Malt Whisky, is required to be bottled at 80 proof or more. This standard ensures that the spirit maintains its distinct flavor while striking a balance that keeps the liquid palatable. Because of the dynamic nature of the Texas climate, the intuitive art of pot distillation and the variety of our casks, we do not have a fixed entry proof for our whisky, instead selecting one based on the character of the spirit that day. As a guide, we aim to get our grain entry proof between 105-120, and our malt entry proof between 110-118, which ensures that we are always meeting the mandatory 80 proof entry point for American Single Malts. Still curious? Tap here to learn more about all of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission guidelines that define the American Single Malt Whisky category: https://lnkd.in/gg3djnmq #americansinglemalt #singlemalt #whiskey #texaswhiskey

The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission calls for all whisky in the category to be mashed, distilled and matured in the United States. Our Head Distiller, Jared Himstedt, is one of the ASMWC founders. It’s with his help that we’ve been able to embrace these parameters whole-heartedly. Every one of the operations that go into making our whisky takes place inside our Waco distillery. Because when we say we can only make our whisky in Texas, we mean it. From collaborating with an uncompromising climate to discovering how to let local flavors flourish, we’ve dedicated ourselves to embracing our surroundings instead of fighting against them. The outcome of which is an award-winning line of American Single Malt Whisky crafted with the rhythms of Texas. You can tour the facility to learn more about how we see Whisky from a New Perspective on our website: https://lnkd.in/dn9fszUD. #whisky #texaswhiskey #americansinglemalt #distilling

To create Mirador Eclipse—our award-winning, limited-edition American Single Malt—we substituted our standard ale yeast for two strains of yeast: a red wine and a rosé yeast alongside our house malt whisky yeast. When brought together, these yeasts result in notes of blush red berry and fruits-of-the-forest. Matured in a variety of used Kentucky bourbon casks from 4 to 5 years before reaching the blending table, this American Single Malt balances fruit, grain and density of palate. Learn more about Mirador Eclipse in The Alcohol Professor here: https://lnkd.in/eUjuwMH9. #whisky #texaswhiskey #americansinglemalt