Tastes

NEAT NOSE - Caramel, Vanilla, and Oak PALATE - The palate follows the nose. Unfortunately, as soon as the flavors hit the palate, they dissapear almost immediately. This is this bourbon’s biggest flaw, but for it’s price its a good bourbon with quintessential notes. The finish is just non-existent. Mildly sweet. FINISH - Painfully short. BUY? - It’s a great bottle for the price, but it’s nothing special. I’d get a bottle atleast once to see if it’s a one time thing or a mainstay for you and your bar/collection. BUY AGAIN? - Probably not. The finish is too short for me on this one.

DISTILLED AND BARRELED IN 2017 BOTTLE # // 2483 of 9600 NEAT Let me lead with this. This year’s release of cowboy bourbon is the first that I’ve ever had and it is easily one of the most, if not the most complex bourbon that I’ve tried to date. Say what you want about Texas Whiskey, but Garrison Bros. knocked it out of the park with this one. The price is steep, especially for it’s age, but you would never know it was only 6 years if you had a pour. NEAT - Initially, onced poured in the glass there is a very strong ethanol note, so much that it’s near impossible to pick up anything else. After a few minutes, the classic Garrison notes of leather, hay, grass, and tobacco start to emerge. Swirl the glass intermittently and just relax for a little while (5-10 mins.). The nose then starts to open up with some of the deepest and richest notes of brown sugar, caramel, honey, maple, and molasses. As I moved my nose around the glass, different notes would emerge or shine brighter than others. Incredible! PALATE - Viscous, thick, oily mouthfeel. It feels like the bourbon clings to the roof of the mouth. Interestingly, the palate evolves in the same way as the nose. Initially, you’re hit with the leather, oak, grass and hay but towards the mid-palate you are welcomed with all the sweet, dark, and rich notes. FINISH - The finish is the sweetness fading away into a wet oak note. It isn’t particularly sweet or bitter; it’s kind of in the middle. It lasts for a long time, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the proof. Lastly, this does not drink like it’s proof at all, it drinks more around 120 than 140.9. This is both surprising and not surprising. Surprising because of the proof obviously, but not surprising because I’ve had two Garrison Single Barrels that were both above 130 proof and both drank well under their proof. BUY? - Treat yourself to this pour. If you don’t want to front the cost of the bottle, atleast try it at a bar. You may end up wanting to get a bottle for yourself as I did. I can’t wait to see how this opens up with time. BUY AGAIN?? - I’ve thought about backing this up, but I can’t justify doing so at the price. However, I do think this will be one bourbon that I will try to get every year, if able. It’s honestly a work of art. 🥃

NEAT NOSE - Sweet Corn, Caramel, and Honey PALATE - Exactly what the nose would suggest. Extremely crushable and would be a nice daily sipper at the price point and easy going flavor profile. Not complex, but good and straightforward. No oak comes through on the palate or the nose. FINISH - Short. All the notes just fade away like the end-credits of a movie. They all exit stage together at the same time. BUY? - Yes. BUY AGAIN? - At it’s price point, I wouldn’t be against it. It’s smooth and sweet and a great price point for craft but it’s honestly nothing special. Regardless, it’s an enjoyable pour.

BARREL No. // 24B0879 PROOF // 109.8 ABV // 54.9% NEAT NOSE - First, there’s a lot of mint. So much mint that it is kind of overwhelming. After a few swirls and allowing this to sit in the glass, the nose opens up with orange, brown sugar, caramel, and a deep rich maple note. Incredibly complex! PALATE - At first, there is a huge kick of mint/rye spice that quickly develops into everything that the nose suggested. The palate is velvety and very rich in flavor. At this proof, the palate is amazing; likely thanks to Michter’s low barrel entry proof. FINISH - Long; full of maple, sweet oak, and some cinnamon shines through. BUY? - Absolutely BUY AGAIN? - A no brainer at retail or slightly over. I paid 130 for this and I’d gladly pay that. Another store down the road had it for $170 and I’m not sure if I would pay that for it. It would be very hard to pass up though, given how excellent this bottle is.

MASH BILL 1 RACKHOUSE // No.1 BATCH # // 002 BATCH SIZE // 30 barrels DUMPED ON // 11/23/21 PROOF // 116 ABV // 58 NEAT NOSE - Green Apple, Green Jolly Rancher, and Honey PALATE - Pretty sweet with the a touch of spice. The green apple and honey come through nicely on the palate. It isn’t very deep or bold in flavor and the youth is apparent. Otherwise, still pretty good. FINISH - Long, surprisingly. The finish is full of green apple skins, nothing more. It’s very smooth for its proof and a nice sipper. BUY? - Yes. The price is up there considering it’s age but I love supporting craft and I’m excited to see where they take this with age. BUY AGAIN? - I’d be interested in some store picks if I come across them and especially future batches as this stuff gets older.

NEAT NOSE - Brown Sugar, Caramel, Honey, Vanilla, Oak, Herbal Tea and Citrus. The citrus leads more to a orange note as opposed to a lemon note. PALATE - Thick, viscous, and chewy. Amazing mouthtfeel. The palate is full of brown sugar, honey and caramel but the notes are dark and dense. There is nothing ‘bright’ about this pour. Its dark and rich. Incredibly complex. FINISH - Oak and vanilla are clear on the finish. The finish is long, but the vanilla fades away before the oak leaving the finish more ‘tannicy’ but not in an unpleasant way. BUY? - 100%. This is a great pour at a great price, given it’s age. BUY AGAIN? - I’d buy this again. I should probably grab anlther bottle before they’re gone. Alot of people are sleeping on these; don’t be one of them. I really look forward to the 11 YR coming out later this year.

NAS BATCH No. // 23F22 NEAT NOSE - White grapes and Honey. Maybe a hint of Caramel. Very refreashing nose. PALATE - Honey over white grapeskins. No noticeable oak notes. Not too sweet. Nice balance. FINISH - The influence of the chardonnay is most evident on the finish. The finish could trick you into thinking that you just had some wine. BUY? - I was hesitant against buying this, but decided to pull the trigger since my wife seems to enjoy whiskey finished in wine casks. I’m interested to see how this one opens up although the proof isn’t too high. I think this is a unique pour that deserves a chance. BUY AGAIN? - No, but I will enjoy this bottle.

PUT IN OAK // 2015 BARRELED ON // 10.6.15 BARREL No. // 511 BOTTLED ON // 3.14.24 NEAT NOSE - Immediately as I sniff this pour, I prepare myself for dissapointment. I have to darn near allow the bourbon to run up and touch my nose just to pick up any notes from the aroma. Nevertheless, I do pick up very faint notes of caramel and oak. PALATE - Still disappointed. After I swirl the bourbon around in my mouth, all I pick up is faint notes of caramel. FINISH - A completely unexpected turn of events. On the finish, there is an explosion of caramel, cinnamon, honey, and oak! Certainly not what I was expecting, but this one took me for a surprise! Medium finish, no burn. BUY? - Absolutely. I hope they continue to release these outside of Kentucky. I was surprised to see this im Texas, knowing that these have been exclusive to Kentucky. BUY AGAIN? - Yes. This is a great value at the price and an amazing sipper.

AGE // 5 Years BARREL # // 2289 NEAT NOSE - Cherries, Caramel, Honey PALATE - Thin mouthfeel, but very flavorful. Caramel is the most dominant note supported by the cherry and honey for an incredibly easy sipper. FINISH - Pretty short unfortunately but there is absolutely no burn. BUY? - Yes! These are very scarce where I live and I was happy to stumble across this one. I hope to find it at cask strength one day. For now, its a definite buy. I got this for $45. This would be in my top 10 for bourbons to recommend for beginners because of the drinkability and sweet flavor profile. However, from reading some other people’s tasting notes, it seems like these barrels vary in flavor quite a but from one another. BUY AGAIN?? - At this price point, how could I not?

BATCH // 12AI BOTTLE // 1740 NEAT NOSE - Rich Brown Sugar, Caramel, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and the slightest hint of Maple PALATE - Fairly complex and rich. The proof point is very nice and the flavors come through on the palate nicely. Everything on the nose came through on the palate. There is a hint of rye spice as to be expected, but it was very pleasant. FINISH - Smooth, Medium BUY? - Yes! I have not had a Sagamore Spirit offering that I did not love for what it was and the price point. BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely