Garrison Brothers Estacado

Rating: 16/23. Nose: There's definitely an alcohol burn here, but there's also plenty of wood, with spices, sawdust, nesquik, and bold berries (black and red). There's also substantial limestone. It smells good, but not all that mature. Palate: Sweet with light caramel and some ripe berries. Some spicy burn, with cinnamon coming in most notably. The spices still add some sweetness. There's definitely some of that limestone here and the overall profile is a little bit light. Still, that fruity sweetness is pretty enjoyable. Finish: Lingering fruit and limestone with a spicy burn and hints of slightly more bitter versions of spices - maybe slight spices with a bigger barrel backing. Not bad, but definitely forgettable. Conclusion: The port finish adds a fullness that makes me like this better than Garrison Brothers Small Batch (14/23) or my cask strength Garrison Brothers Single Barrel (15/23). On the other hand, there's a more traditional flavor and maturity to Garrison Brothers Balmorhea 2021 (17/23) that I definitely prefer. I think that this is pretty clearly in the 16 range then. I quite like it, but it's kind of odd and is clearly using a finish to hide its flaws.

The nose has rich caramel and oak. The port influence is not very apparent on the nose, but it's noticeable on the palate. There's a subtle jammy fruitiness that softens some of the sharper notes. Mid-palate has a pleasant cinnamon spice, and surprisingly, it's tannic. The corn-like mustiness and sawdust are less prominent here, giving way to the port. It's sweet, spicy, full-bodied, and rich. I rate it considerably higher than the small batch and single barrel expressions, though not as high as Balmorhea or the BPs I've tried, so a 4.25 seems appropriate. It benefits greatly from a few minutes of resting after pouring before tasting.

Nose: Sweet vanilla and lemon. Almost like a Lemonhead candy. Palate: Sweet citrus candy continues, viscous maple and fig on the mid-palate. Finish: Sweet port wine finish. Long but only a bump of heat.

Nose: Sweet vanilla with a whisper of red fruit P: Carrots with brown sugar F: Bold, dry Texas oak that remains on the palate for an extended period

Nose: vanilla, port, smoke, oak Palate: velvety, sugary but not overly sweet, more like maple Finish: leather, pepper, caramel, lingers a long time

This is the Garrison Brothers expression that was finished in port. It's decent, and port finishes usually aren't my thing.