Sometimes you have this one brand that you keep encountering, but never try.
Balcones is such a brand for me. A distillery from Waco Texas, founded in 2008, that started distilling in 2009. Within a fairly short time, they started to make a name and create different kinds of "American Whisky"; Single malt, Rye,  Blue Corn etc.

You might have noticed that they write it without the "e". So, whisky, not whiskey.
I guess it is to make a statement, but I noticed that almost immediately when I first saw a bottle at The Malt Vault in The Hague. Most American Rye  Whiskey, is with that "e".
Balcones Brimstone it was called, made from roasted blue corn. I had a dram after a tasting and have to be honest: I only remember being amazed by it, but cannot remember much more. (It was a fun night, the morning after less so.)

I spotted bottles of Balcones at several Whisky events, but never had it after that one Brimstone. I do not know why, I just did not try it.
But then I had a whisky tasting at my place with friends and fellow whisky enthousiasts.
And when David walked in, he immediately said: " I brought something you have to try!" Now David, a true spirits enthousiasts to a level where I expect him to own his own distillery one day, had a rye whiskey at my place before and liked it. He tried the Storyhouse Straight Rye Whiskey  and the Stauning Rye Whisky

I guessed rye whiskey must have intrigued him, because he brought a bottle of Balcones Texas Rye 100 proof. Pot Distilled. And again I had a dram that I enjoyed so much!