Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon (2019 Release)

Out freaking standing. Toasted smore on a charred piece of sweet oak.. Just amazing

This will be relatively short, because I don't have anything particularly insightful to say.  So I'll get right to the point - THIS BOURBON INSANE.  Powerful waves of candied maple, caramel, tobacco, leather, and a hint of wood (mesquite?) smoke.  Rich and very drinkable at full proof.  Is it worth the $300 that's the current minimum buy-in?  I prefer it to the very fine GTS, and it's very close to my all time favorite bourbon, William Larue Weller.  And both of those bourbons require a much greater monetary outlay. At least that's how I'm choosing to justify it. @pbmichiganwolverine, i stuck with your Garrison Brothers purchase boycott for less than two weeks.  I'd send my regrets, but your stellar review set this chain of events in motion.  A big thank you to @pkingmartin for generously sharing a sample of this gem.

I’ve always been curious of Garrison brothers , but that price tag always had me question if it’s truly good, or just some price gauging. Thanks to @pkingmartin , I got to sample this. It’s been sitting at my desk for ages, and I actually opened it up last night to smell it. I was expecting to take a whiff and put it back...but no, the aromas of marshmallows, oak, vanillla and creme brûlée were just too enticing. Taste is more of the same...liquified creme brûlée with a strong dose of a Texas 2 by 4 wooden plank. Lingering taste. I seriously need to make the plunge and buy this. But let’s talk about that price. $200-300 is damn steep. The only way that price will go down is if demand goes down. And...it just so happens I have over 1900 followers on this app...So...fellow 1900+ folks—-do not buy this. We the people must make a stand!! Let’s boycott all things Garrison till prices slump...and then we’ll swoop in and buy it by the truck load!!!!! I propose we go all out Reddit GameStop style —-us against big booze!!! We’ll mass manipulate the price to come down!!! On a serious note...this is damn good. I’d rather pay $200 for this than buy 4 bottles of something subpar. In fact...buying one right now online... Thanks again @pkingmartin

Color: Burnt Umber / Old Oak Nose: Brown sugar| Oak | Vanilla | Cherry | Pecans. For the proof, this has a surprisingly sweet nose that peeks out from the ethanol. Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Toffee | Vanilla | Oak. This bourbon definitely opens up over time. I am reviewing this neat but a strong urge to add an ice cube or a splash of water. The ethanol quickly takes over and overpowers the palate. Finish: Incredibly long finish with an ethanol burn but not unpleasant. It is hard to explain but the sweet remnants of the palate remain despite the spicy, warmness of the proof. Mouthwatering and leaves you with a numb throat as if you sprayed Chloraseptic to treat sore throat. Possibly a reasonable alternative.

Nose - salted caramel, toffee, vanilla, peanut brittle, sweet creamed corn, chocolate nougat, brown sugar, marshmallow, leather, black pepper, tobacco, cherry, raisin, cinnamon, rich oak, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - salted caramel, toffee, rich oak, marshmallow, candied peanut, cinnamon, allspice, dusty corn, black cherry, raisin, vanilla, mint, tobacco, leather, brown sugar, black pepper, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing long with rich caramel, black cherry, dark chocolate, and musty, candied peanut flavors. Wow! Just wow. What a treat after spending the past month reviewing vodka. This is a masterpiece. It’s simply the best nose I’ve ever encountered on a bourbon. And it’s really not even close. I poured my favorite bourbon I own, Elijah Craig B520, to confirm this. In comparison, the EC seems guarded, austere, and overly hot. The palate is equally stunning. Every flavor is fully formed and robust. There’s a sweaty, musty, oaky, peanuty vibe that resembles the Beam funk, but it’s so much more well executed here. As others have mentioned, it’s ludicrous that this is almost 140 proof and only five years old. I have no idea what kind of black magic is being conjured in Texas, but Garrison Brothers has thrown down the gauntlet. This drinks like it’s 100 proof and at least double its age. I do suspect that the flavor profile may be somewhat of an acquired taste. That sweaty, funky, nutty profile may be not suit some palates. But I love it. This is the first perfect review I’ve given. In my mind, this absolutely deserves it. This is bourbon elevated to an art form. Regarding the price, I can’t responsibly claim that this is worth four bottles of ECBP. However, I can say that this is the best bourbon I’ve ever experienced. Before this, I didn’t think a bourbon would be able to rate above 4.5 on my scale. I assumed a perfect score would be reserved for some ridiculously old and expensive single malt. I’m elated to be proven wrong on this point. A hearty thank you to my new buddy @pkingmartin for generously providing the sample for me to review. Here’s to many more encounters with whiskey perfection.

Game on Texas, game on.... Whiskey night October - enjoying an evening on the porch with a friend, a fire pit, a few blind tastings and a few new bottles. All samples from a Norlan glass. Tasting order: Murray Hill Club, Batch 7 The Gifted Horse, Orphan Barrel Larceny Barrel Proof, A120 Lux Row Double Barrel 12y *Garrison Bro. Cowboy Bourbon, 2019 Saved the most intriguing for last. This thing is dressed like a grand martial and the cost of the box, pillow, small booklet (which does contain some fascinating pics of the barrel heads suggesting they are under filled and barreled at 124), leather, was, stickers and 2lb medallion... I’ll get back to the whiskey now. Second impression - there is earth in this bottle. I did not believe the color, but it is truly mahogany and almost a deep brown and purple, so opaque that the flame of a fire pit could barely penetrate the pour. In the bottom of the bottle there was a cot of sediment so thick that I spurned a small dust tornado in the bottle with a single tilt. Color: see above Nose: at first pop, maybe a hint of sweet youth but that is quickly consumed with a swell of molasses, leather, raisin, smoke, hot tires, barn floor... there’s so much going on it’s hard to stay focused. What is equally amazing is the absence of ethanol at +130 proof - I can bury my nose in the glass and not a singe. Unreal. Body: thick, heavy, slow legs, slightly tannic but minimally drying, conveys a gentle solar heat without bite Palate: tons of dark, sweet dried fruits, molasses, tobacco, baked beans, burnt ends... honestly I once again can’t keep up Finish: long, rich, sweet and earthy How is this 5 years old when it drinks with the depth and complexity of a 10-15 year Kentucky bourbon?? How is it over 130 proof?? Don’t let the youth or bottle bling scare you away, the price is likely justified. Assuming as little as 10% evaporation based on barrel to bottle proof this is a blend of no more than 90 barrels and likely as few as 40 thanks to the Texas heat. Thanks to @dubz480 for drawing my attention to this one. Still so many questions, so few regrets. I’m gonna need a toothpick.

Game over! Let it breath and enjoy the proof

Potent first hit of smoky chipotle chili that fades to a sweet date and finishes with a lovely dry oak.