Nov 16, 201212:01 PMThe Telegraph
The Premier Blog of the West
Tasting Panel: Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company TX Blended Whiskey
Photo courtesy of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company
I never thought I’d be so happy to get a vanilla punch to the nose until I took a deep whiff of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company’s inaugural offering, TX Blended Whiskey. The Fort Worth, Texas, distillery founded in 2010 by proprietors and distillers Leonard Firestone and Troy R. Robertson in a Prohibition-era warehouse and came straight out of the gate with this blend that Firestone describes as the culmination of an artistic process, one packed with nuance.
“Identifying the right types of whiskies to marry to achieve the specific, and unique, taste profile we wanted was exceptionally difficult and time consuming," Firestone said. "Unlike the science associated with distilling and barrel-aging whiskey, creating and replicating a premium blended whiskey depends almost exclusively on the senses: color, nose, mouth-feel, taste, and finish.”
Literally capping this creativity is a one-of-a-kind bottle top. Each container of TX is adorned with a handmade leather bottle top. Among the hides used thus far are giraffe, buffalo, alligator, python, and ostrich. The latter was used in the prototype fashioned from a pair of Robertson’s old Justin boots.
And like a good pair of boots, the realized blend is a comforting potion, amber in color and 82 proof with the aforementioned aromatic vanilla wallop followed by hints of cherry, nutmeg, and a touch of smoke. A long, sweet finish is punctuated by chocolate, while a woody scent ties it all together. Steven Phelps, Cowboys & Indians’ information superhighwayman, tech guru, and resident whiskey connoisseur, agrees. “There is a strong vanilla aroma, but I also get peach and cinnamon,” he noted after the first sip. “I like it.” So do I, Steven. So do I.
As for the editorial team's opinions:
Hunter Hauk (website editor): Is it wrong to have this on the rocks? It would cut a little of the burn.
José R. Ralat (associate editor): No. You drink it however you like.
Kathy Wise (executive editor): It’s a holiday whiskey. Don’t judge me. I don’t drink things straight. Can I cut it with water? Would it be a good mixed?
Steven Phelps (website content manager): I think it would. It’s already a blend, and it has the classic attributes of a blended whiskey while being distinct.
Lauren Crispin (art director): I like TX’s warmth.
Holly Henderson (fashion editor): I enjoy that it’s a little sweeter than other whiskies. But it would still put hair on your chest. A good whiskey should put hair on your chest.
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