Andalusia

 The Andalusia Whiskey Company is housed in a big blue barn-like structure that is hard to miss from the road.  But we did.  And evidently weren't the first to pass it by, judging from the billboard that said something to the effect of,  "You missed it! Make a u-turn!"  

Set in the rolling hills of Blanco, TX, this was one of those stops we were going to make if we had time.  Turns out that it should have been on the list as a must see. 

Not very familiar with Andalusia products, we had lots of questions.  And all of them were answered with a friendly smile and quick wit.  According to her business card, Riki is the Hospitality Manager, which is certainly an apt title.  She went through the science behind all of their products as she was preparing the tasting flight, without missing a beat.  When I mentioned that she must have been with Andalusia awhile, she said, "No, this is my second day."  Quickly followed by a wry smile with "and yeah, I'm full of shit".  Although I'm not really sure how long she has been there, she is knowledgeable  and provides excellent customer service.

But as we all know, customer service can only get you so far in the whiskey business.  So let's get down to the products.  Andalusia focuses on single malt whiskey only, but the products they make from that one grain will likely appeal to a wide variety of tastes.  While they do get some of the grain outside of Texas, all the production from that point is done in Blanco.  The pre-determined flight consists of their four main whiskeys.  They even set out a big chunk of peat, straight from Ireland, for the visual effect. 

White:  100 proof - not barrel aged, so stays clear.  First thought is moonshine, but the taste is far from it.  It's much more mellow, while still packing flavor.  It presents with a clean aroma with hints of banana.  

Triple Distilled:  100 proof - the barrel aged (charred American oak) version of the White.  It's light on the nose, and tastes of caramel, a good earthy character, with some subtle spice.  

Revenant Oak: 100 proof - aged in once used barrels (hence the Revenant name), and made with peat from Ireland, and smoked at Andalusia.  The aroma is one of a campfire, and the peat is prominent in the taste.  After putting a cube of ice in, it mellows quickly, but still has the strong peat character.  

Stryker:  100 proof - aged in new, charred American oak and made with a barley that has been smoked with oak, mesquite, and apple woods.  The aroma is strong caramel, and burnt marshmallow, which are both also present in the taste.  The smoky flavor is much more pronounced in the taste.  

As mentioned earlier, Andalusia has a product for most whiskey drinkers, whether you prefer Scotch, Irish Whiskey, or Bourbon.  Or yes, even Moonshine.  

We finished our visit by enjoying a delicious old fashioned, made for us by the founder, Tommy (Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2001).  The cocktail was made with Stryker, a good Luxardo cherry, and an orange peel - just the way it's supposed to be made.  They do offer several other cocktail options as well.

The next time you are in the Blanco area, give Andalusia a try.  Just look for the big blue barn.  And then make a u-turn.  

Cheers, y'all!