Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon (2019 Release)

Rating: 20/23 I'm quickly becoming quite fond of the Cowboy. I'm hopeful this continues with this expression. Nose: Aromatic spices like those in baking, along with maple and polished wood. There's a hint of mineral and a surprising, faint vegetal note. It's quite rich and full-bodied. Not the most thrilling, but it possesses that signature Cowboy boldness. Palate: Spiced, but not overly aggressive. It has a warmth, accompanied by sweet cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and a subtler ginger. A surprising cherry flavor adds fruitiness and tartness, reminiscent of brandied cherries. I also detect faint maple and a touch of dry minerality. There's a hint of that characteristic Garrison Brothers woodiness, though not excessively, along with traces of chocolate and perhaps a touch of vanilla. It also has a slightly vegetal, barbecue-like note that seems a bit out of place, reminding me of my underwhelming bottle of Garrison Brothers Balmorhea (2021). Hints of ancho chili are present. Nevertheless, it's quite delicious. Finish: The minerality is more pronounced, as is that hint of barbecue. Sawdust and lingering spices, including the ancho chili, are definitely present. A dry, tart vanilla flavor emerges that I didn't notice before; it's actually quite significant. - Conclusion - It's excellent, but it doesn't astound me. I definitely prefer the Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2020 (rated 22/23) by a considerable margin. This bottling is less rich and engaging, and I'm not particularly fond of that barbecue note. While it exhibits less alcohol, the difference isn't substantial enough to be truly impressive. Compared to my Garrison Brothers Balmorhea 2021 (rated 17/23), this is less complex but richer, with fewer odd characteristics. It's clearly superior. It falls somewhere between the 2021 Balmorhea and the 2020 Cowboy, likely scoring a 19 or 20. I'm currently leaning towards this being closer to the 2020 Cowboy than the 2021 Balmorhea, but I'll need to do more side-by-side comparisons. I'm fairly confident this is better than Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (rated 18-19/23), though the difference isn't huge. In terms of value, the Wild Turkey is undoubtedly better. However, in terms of sheer quality, this one wins. I'm now considering it could score as high as a 21. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (rated 21/23) is sweeter, richer, and has a thicker consistency than this. It has a bit more burn, but lacks those peculiar flavors and possesses substantial depth. This won't surpass a 21. I'm thinking a 20 or 21, with a 20 seeming more probable at the moment. It's just slightly less refined. Yes, it's a 20. This is another instance where I adore a Garrison Brothers product but conclude it's overpriced. It's certainly not as good as the 2020 Cowboy (rated 22/23), which was the first Garrison Brothers I felt was worth the cost. A big thank you to a friend for this delightful pour!

On the night before Halloween, I'm experiencing a strange evening in the Northeast. The wind is blowing eerily, a storm is approaching, and the air has a damp chill. It's the perfect time for a warming drink. The liquid is a deep mahogany with hints of maroon. Right away, the smell is dominated by candied pecans. You can tell other scents are trying to emerge but can't get past the pecans. Time will allow them to develop. As it rests and opens up, those hidden aromas start to emerge. Milk chocolate, toffee, and vanilla create a rich sweetness. But there's more: wood shavings, dried grass, leather, charred marshmallows, cinnamon, maple syrup. A vast array of smells. It's like I could smell everything in the kitchen. The first taste, unlike the sweet aroma, is more earthy. It has a medium-full body with a smooth, velvety texture. Subsequent sips are potent but don't sting, which is surprising given the 68% ABV. A leather foundation carries the pecan notes from the aroma. I can only detect cinnamon, allspice, and root beer as the alcohol makes it difficult to discern more. I'll add some water. Tree bark, vanilla, peanut brittle, and cigar tobacco provide a wonderful earthiness balanced by a touch of sweetness. Leather, wood, and char linger on the palate for a considerable time. Eventually, candy corn emerges, adding a hint of sweetness. Overall, the palate remains woody, dry, and leaves you wanting another taste. I've been fortunate to sample many excellent bourbons and whiskies. A select few I can recall without tasting them again. Midwinters Act 2 and Cragellachie 51 are among them. This one is in that elite category. It possesses a distinct character. Earthy and sweet, with considerable strength. However, its power is expressed with finesse and elegance, like ballet rather than a fight. It offered a wide range of aromas, which is uncommon. Most spirits highlight a few notes (caramel, vanilla, or leather). This had everything, all perfectly balanced. The palate is rich, full, and packed with flavor that complements the aroma. An exceptional whiskey. Patience and time are necessary to fully appreciate it. The only drawback, as others have noted, is the price. Thank you to a friend for this wonderful sample. [97/100][Tasted: 10/29/21]

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 a new buddy for generously providing the sample for me to review. Here’s to many more encounters with whiskey perfection.

Texas, consider this a challenge. Evening on the porch in October, fire pit going, sharing some blind tastings and new bottles with a friend. All sampled from a Norlan glass. Pouring sequence: 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 interesting for last. This bottle is presented like royalty, and the cost of the packaging, presentation box, small booklet (which includes intriguing photos of barrel heads suggesting underfilling and barreling at 124 proof), leather, wax, stickers, and 2lb medallion... I'll get back to the whiskey. Second impression: there's earth in this bottle. I didn't believe the color, but it's truly mahogany, almost a deep brown and purple, so dark that a fire pit's flame could barely shine through the pour. There was a thick layer of sediment at the bottom, creating a small dust storm in the bottle with a single tilt. Color: as described above Nose: initially, perhaps a faint sweetness of youth, but it's quickly overtaken by a wave of molasses, leather, raisin, smoke, and hot tires, with a barn floor aroma... there's so much happening it's difficult to concentrate. Equally remarkable is the absence of ethanol at over 130 proof - I can bury my nose in the glass without any sting. Incredible. Body: thick, heavy, slow-moving legs, slightly drying tannins but minimal, providing a gentle warmth without a burn. Palate: abundant dark, sweet dried fruits, molasses, tobacco, baked beans, and burnt ends... honestly, I can't keep up again. Finish: long, rich, sweet, and earthy. How is this only 5 years old when it drinks with the depth and complexity of a 10-15 year old Kentucky bourbon? How is it over 130 proof? Don't be deterred by its youth or flashy packaging; the price is likely justified. Assuming as little as 10% evaporation from barrel to bottle proof, this is a blend of no more than 90 barrels, likely as few as 40 due to the Texas heat. Thanks to a friend for bringing this to my attention. Still so many questions, so few regrets. I'm going to need a toothpick.

I've always been intrigued by that distillery, but the high price always made me wonder if it's genuinely good or just overpriced. Thanks to a friend, I got to try this. It sat on my desk for a long time, and I finally opened it last night to smell it. I expected to just take a whiff and put it away, but the aromas of marshmallows, oak, vanilla, and crème brûlée were too appealing. The taste is similar, like liquid crème brûlée with a strong hit of a Texas wooden plank. The flavor lingers. I genuinely need to buy a bottle. But let's address the price. $200-300 is quite high. The only way the price will decrease is if demand falls. And coincidentally, I have over 1900 followers on this platform... So, my fellow followers with over 1900 people—do not purchase this. We must take a stand! Let's boycott everything from that distillery until the prices drop... and then we'll swoop in and buy it in bulk!!!!! I suggest we go full Reddit GameStop mode—us against the big alcohol companies! We'll collectively manipulate the price downward! Seriously though, this is very good. I'd rather spend $200 on this than buy four bottles of something mediocre. In fact, I'm buying one online right now... Thanks again to a friend.

This will be quite brief, as I don't have much insightful to add. I'll get straight to the point: THIS BOURBON IS AMAZING. Powerful waves of candied maple, caramel, tobacco, leather, and a hint of wood smoke (mesquite?). It's rich and very drinkable at full proof. Is it worth the current minimum buy-in of $300? I prefer it to the excellent GTS, and it's very close to my all-time favorite bourbon, William Larue Weller. Both of those require a much larger financial commitment. At least, that's how I'm justifying it. A friend, I only held out against your Garrison Brothers purchase boycott for less than two weeks. I'd express my apologies, but your outstanding review initiated this sequence of events. A big thank you to a friend for generously sharing a sample of this gem.