Garrison Brothers Balmorhea

BourbonReviewsAmerican WhiskeyGarrison Bros.Texas

Dec 2

Written By David Levine

Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Review

Garrison Brothers Distillery

Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

57.5% ABV/115 Proof

4Y + 1Y in a new charred oak barrel

Eye: Red-tinged mahogany - gorgeous. Thin rims and thin legs.

Nose: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof profile (tons of heat, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar) plus the Garrison Brothers whiskey profile I’m getting on each pour - interesting and really enjoyable! Bourbon powerhouse plus menthol and honey. There’s a light and rich duel going on too. With air the richness wins, ushering in maple.

Palate: Tip of the tongue….nope, whole tongue-on-fire burn. This packs a punch! There’s that Ricola note again followed by bourbon candy, maple sugar, brown sugar caramelizing - it’s mouthwatering. Caramelized banana, deep dark stewed fruits with crystallizing maple sugar. Mouthfeel is rich and sweet after the fire subsides, but the burn is delicious. Oily, silky even with the heat, with a smoked honey note on the back end.

Finish: Mouthwatering, tons of maple candy, Runts and Nerds, maple everywhere.

Overall: I like this a lot! Reminds me of Widow Jane Decadence but at a higher proof - maple and heat punching back and forth deliciously. I’d buy a bottle of Garrison Brothers Balmorhea.

Rating: 7.4

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)