My Favorite Cheap Bourbon Is Just As Good As Allocated Bottles but Much Easier to Find

The first time I tried Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon, it wasn’t in the quiet setting of a cozy bar or at the end of a long day at home. It was around a fire pit on a crisp autumn night, the stars above as big as the myths about Texas itself. A friend handed me a glass and said, “You’ve got to try this. It’s Texas in a bottle.”

That first sip was a revelation. It was bold, with flavors that felt untamed yet thoughtful, like the distillers knew they were doing something different and leaned into it.