Garrison Brothers - Single Barrel - Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$101.99Garrison Brothers – Single Barrel – Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Collection: Barreled Mar 2018. Barrel # 11414 Bottle # 30/162
Proof: 94
Age: 3 Years
Distillery: Garrison Brothers Distillery
Type: “Texas” Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: Garrison Brothers Distillery
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Grains upfront. Smell of Corn and Wheat (Grassy/Hay). Usually you don’t pick up smells that are grain specific but rather something else unless the juice is young. Not with this Bourbon grains are the first thing I get. After you get past the grains you get Honey, Caramel, and Leather.
Taste/Palate: Tobacco, Leather, Slight Caramel, and a little bit dry on the palate.
Finish: This finishes with some heat. It’s heat makes it seem higher proof than it is. It is bold in the midpalate and lingers off in the finish. At the very end I get some Leather and Citrus notes.
Verdict: This is very unique. It is bold. It reminds me of when I was horseback riding and doing trail rides when I was younger. You get hay and leather out of this and it just reminds you of the country. It screams Texas. However, I just paid over $100 with tax for a Single Barrel 3 year old bourbon. As unique as it is it was not worth the price tag for me. Given that there are plenty of people that think this stuff is gold and willing to pay that price for it I’m sure they won’t change their pricing on my account… I don’t have anything against the MSRP. The old saying; “Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it”. For this bottle I will not be that willing person again, but I’m sure there is a line of people behind me that are.
The Value rating took this down a notch or two. My verdict is that this is solid, but in the $40-$50 category. There’s plenty of people out there that put Blanton’s on blast because it’s now selling for $100+ in certain places, but don’t bat an eye and line up for a TX 3 year with a “candy in a bottle”, “bold”, or ” Bourbon man’s Bourbon” – This quote is what I found on the internet and certainly not from Garrison Brothers.
The Story: The verdict and value rating of this bourbon might seem harsh, but let me explain. In my shopping cart today I had Yellowstone Limited Edition – 2021 ($109), Buck 8 Year ($34.99) and this bottle ($101.99). I saw the price tag and picked it up anyway because people on the good ole’ interwebs can’t stop talking about Garrison Brothers and how they wish they could find a bottle.
Here I was.. I found a bottle. As I have stated before I don’t even read the description on the bottle prior to buying it and opening it. I don’t look up other reviews and I don’t visit the distillers website. I tore the leather band off of this through the thick wax and I got to sipping. Boom! Right up front my initial impression is that this is bold and YOUNG. Yup. It’s young.
I mean its not fair that I had this pour immediately following the review that I did for the Yellowstone. Doing a side by side comparison of bourbons in the same price category with the same level of scarcity the Yellowstone is hands down my preferred choice. The Garrison Brothers is unique and it takes me back to the country, but it doesn’t make it worth 3 figures for me.
The Distillery’s Story (Summary): As always.. Visit the site linked above and read the story in their own words. I’ll capture what sticks out to me. Garrison Brothers’ claim is that they were the first legal distillery in TX. They had to figure out a way to configure their barrels to withstand the TX heat. Using standard barrels the heat would crack and break the barrels losing gallons upon gallons of juice. The heat, barrel design, and mash bill, seem to lend a hand in this bottle’s taste profile uniqueness.
In Summary: If you can afford to… Pick up one of these bottles and decide for yourself. I might be in the minority that this bottle is not worth what I paid given there are plenty of people that would disagree with me. By no means is this bad. But when I saw 3 years on the side label it made me question what I was getting out of that in comparison to other bourbons. I mean cool bottle, but upon further inspection the silver on the bottle is a high quality sticker. There’s wax yes.. But Makers Mark can put a 6 year bourbon in a bottle with wax for $75 less. Other than profit what exactly made this bourbon “worth” over $100? My only explanation is demand. Yellowstone, in the same price category delivered me a 7 year bourbon finished in a Amarone cask blended with a 15 year bourbon.
There are other variations in Garrison Brothers line-up. Variations such as, Small Batch and Cowboy Bourbon which I’ll likely avoid as I believe it will be similar to what I just tried, but blended or a higher proof. Something different, such as, Balmorhea (5 total year double oaked – 4+1), Laguna (Limousin Oak Immersed), Honey Dew (Speaks for itself), Rye, and Guadalupe (Port Finished). I will only try these if I can pay for it by the glass or if I’m handed some. I won’t jump on the price grenade again just to wish I allocated the money I spent on the bottle to something I would have enjoyed more… Or 3-4 of somethings I may have enjoyed more. I’m not passing judgement on the entire Garrison Brother’s line-up from one bottle, that’s a single barrel, that could have been a barrel that maybe didn’t agree with my palate. I, however, will be more mindful with my wallet in how I review these guys in the future. Lets be honest my review won’t make or break Garrison Bros given the cult following, but for my own edification I’ll try to get my hands on another variation (a glass) and try another pass in the future.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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