Balcones Mirador Eclipse Review

Mirador Eclipse
Texas Single Malt Whisky
(American Single Malt)
Balcones Distilling
Waco, TX
110 Proof
MSRP: $100
Review

Please enjoy our Balcones Mirador Eclipse Single Malt Review!

Commemorating Totality

Balcones Distilling was in the path of totality during the recent solar eclipse. To commemorate the event, the Waco Texas distillery created Mirador Eclipse Texas Single Malt. In their owns words, “…the latest limited edition American Single Malt release is a celestial celebration of innovation.” That certainly sounds intriguing, so let’s take a deeper look.

Fermented With Two New Yeast Strains

Balcones annual release of Mirador Texas Single Malt showcases Golden Promise malted barley aged in refill casks. However, this special release takes things one step further. Instead of using Balcones’ usual ale yeast for the fermentation, they used a red wine and a rosé yeast, alongside their house malt whisky yeast. After fermentation was complete, and the future Mirador Eclipse was distilled, it was then matured in a selection of first, second, and third-fill used Kentucky bourbon casks for around 4 1/2 to almost 6 years (56-71 months). 47% of the barrels were used Kentucky Bourbon Barrels and 53% were ex-Balcones barrels. Clearly, a lot went into the making of this whiskey. So, I’m sure you are wondering: What’s it like?

Tasting Notes – Balcones Mirador Eclipse Texas Malt Whisky Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Sweet apples and pears; tart orange; hint of graham cracker; Demerara sugar; dark red wine in the background; alcohol vapor fairly noticeable
👉🏻Taste: Tart orange, light oak, subtle dark red wine & Demerara sugar; developing white pepper spice
👉🏻Finish: White pepper spice; mild sweetness; tannins, light barrel char and dry oak later on; subtle red wine notes; long; moderate burn

Balcones Mirador Eclipse has very complex flavors. In the nose, there are plenty of sweet fruits, like apples and pears. Tart orange, both a mix of peel and juice, is in the background, but rapidly comes forward. In addition, there are richer flavors, with Demerara sugar and dark red wine. The alcohol vapor is fairly noticeable for the proof.

The taste starts off reasonably sweet from the Demerara sugar. However, tart orange is again noticeable, with some mild oak and red wine in the background. White pepper spice develops into the finish.

Continuing into the finish, there’s quite a bit of white pepper spice, although mild sweetness remains, as well. These contrasting flavors provide a nice balance with the tannins, dry oak and light barrel char that become more apparent later on. There are also lingering subtle red wine notes towards the end. Finally, I am left with spice and remnants of tart orange, with almost an effervescence, and a pleasant warmth in my chest.

Summary

Mirador Eclipse is another delicious single malt from Balcones Distilling. It has a wonderful balance of fruit, spice, tannins, sweetness, and dry oak, on a background of dark red wine notes. As no wine casks were used in the making of this whiskey, I am assuming those red wine notes are being brought out by the wine yeasts used in fermentation? Whatever the reason, I really like it! If these flavors strike your fancy, too, then definitely give Balcones Mirador Eclipse Texas Single Malt Whisky a try! Cheers!🥃

We hope you haved enjoyed our Balcones Mirador Eclipse Single Malt Review! Would you like to learn more about this distillery? Then you’ll want to read our Balcones Distilling Tour Review. If you would like to learn about a couple of other Balcones whiskies, then take a look at our Balcones Cataleja Single Malt Review and our Balcones Tres Hombres Whisky Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the distillery for my review.

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