Garrison Brothers Guadalupe (2021 Release)

Like drinking a bottle of syrup

So let me start by saying and letting it be know that I’m a fan of the Garrison Brothers but this bottle is trash my absolute worst buy of 2021 Garrisons profile does not mix well with the port finish and at $150.00 bucks for something I won’t even drink it’s that bad .

I am a huge fan of Garrison Bros bourbon. Cowboy and Balmo are sensational. I enjoy Honeydew and even the small batch. Thus despite warnings I lustfully pursued this bottle. I did find it listed online at a few stores but upon arrival they would not sell to public (saving for bar purchase). This seems like real bullshit to me but whatever I reached out to my whiskey connection. My "source" delivered yet again that same day from an undisclosed liquor store at MSRP. After all that hoopla I expected to be let down and I was. Neck pour wasn't that much better than small batch. Certainly nowhere near the vaunted Cowboy. Pissed off I overpaid back on the shelf it went. Second outing was better and by the shoulder break I was a happy camper. This is a nuanced sensitive Garrisons that needs time to open up allowing the port casks to be released. Poured neat/drop (be very careful with water as it washes out the cask fruits easily) nose has the Garrison flour/sawdust funk with maple oatmeal, black raspberry jam, melted caramel, raw cinnamon and lotsa barrel oak. Its hiding in the glass you have to coax it out. Palate is not the flavor bomb of Cowboy or Balmo. Its rich and delicious but doesn't assault the taste buds. Abundant caramel and oak accompanied by aged dried dark fruits courtesy of casks from Portugal. Leather and Gfunk round it out leading to finish of heavy barrel, dry spice, cinnamon, sweet pipe tobacco, fading caramel wrapped fruit and dark chocolate. This is an easy drinker even at 107 pf and tastes older than 6 yrs. Im sure the unbelievable Texas freeze in February has affected all the state's whiskies in 2021 in some way so I would imagine there will be variation to contend with. With all that said I do really like this bourbon but do not think its worth $130's nevermind secondary pricing(put that $towards Balmo or Cowboy). If you want a wine cask finished bourbon Belle Meade Sherry is amazing for much less money. Alas this is still very enjoyable so despite pricing ....90/100....if Garrison would only make more it would cost less yadda yadda...they know exactly what they are doing