Ctrexman
Garrison Brothers Guadalupe (2021 Release)
Bourbon — Texas, USA
Reviewed
October 5, 2021 (edited April 14, 2022)
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
135.0
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per
Bottle
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Bottle Kill: I hate to do a 180 here but this has really improved enough I would repurchase if the price was right. Again its not as good as Cowboy or Balmo but most bourbons fall into that category imo. I would really like to see Garrison ramp up production to get these prices down but I dont think that's their model
Here's the thing....since this bottle has cleared halfway it has improved more dramatically than any other Ive had. Now that its about 200ml left it has become so delicious I would repurchase without question. In fact I will take this over similar priced WT Masters Keep Revival in the genre. The oxidation has done wonders for a bourbon that takes much patience and most likely a dialed in palate. If this sounds like you its worth your while. Score going up
@Ctrexman I’ll second the motion that the corn sweetness of bourbon doesn’t mesh well with wine barrels, or port either. For some reason sherry (nuts and dried fruit) and cognac (stone fruit and chocolate) still work pretty well though. Furthermore it doesn’t sound like IPA finish works for anything.
@Anthology Haven't had the Hechiceros but I have purchased/reviewed Balcones Dusk which is similar and would take it over this offering. In general I feel single malt takes better to wine finishing than bourbon. I think Garrison saves their best barrels for Cowboy and Balmo which is fine by me
@Ctrexman Great review! I wonder how this compares with Balcones Hechiceros, which has similar finishing casks. I figure as the resident Texas whiskey aficionado, you may have tried that one too. Curious minds want to know 😊
FWIW.....I wouldnt buy it again but not sorry I did. Cowboy and Balmo are certain repurchase
@soonershrink yeah me too…I was holding out waiting and knowing @Ctrexman can be counted on for a Texas whiskey review. I’m gonna hold out for the Cowboy or Balmo.
Glad I didn't buy this one. Holding out for Cowboy, if I can ever find it.
“Leather and Gfunk” renders some pretty interesting imagery. Also appreciate the bid to Belle Meade sherry/Madeira as a cost saving option. Glad this opened up for you though!