Distillery: Garrison Brothers Distillery – Hye, Texas
Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)
Age: Seven Years
Mashbill: 74% Corn, 15% Red Winter Wheat, 11% Malted Barley
MSRP: $100
When Texas bourbon trades intensity for control
Garrison Brothers Bottled in Bond Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a release that relies on intention and constraint. Distilled during a single season in Fall 2019 and aged for six years in the often intense Texas climate, this expression adheres strictly to the Bottled in Bond Act—one distillery, one distiller, one season, and bottled at exactly 100 proof.
The mashbill of 74% corn, 15% red winter wheat, and 11% malted barley remains a staple for Garrison Brothers. Aging in a Texas environment, that choice becomes important. The grain bill is not just a component. It’s part of how this bourbon maintains control.
For a distillery known for bold, heat-driven bourbon, the Bottled-in-Bond format removes the Distiller’s flexibility. There is no blending across years to smooth edges and no elevated proof to mask the whiskey’s imbalance. What remains is a direct look into how Garrison Brothers Distillery foundational distillate performs when it’s forced into constraints.
Rather than leaning into intensity, this bourbon appears designed around integration, controlled sweetness, and a deliberate progression from Nose to Finish. At a $100 price point, it carries expectations. It’s not enough for this to be balanced. It needs to show up in the glass.
Garrison Brothers Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (2026) Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.5/5
Golden raisin. Light caramel. Honey. Soft oak. Subtle baking spice.
Strengths: Sweetness immediately presents itself but stops short of becoming heavy or overly rich. The raisin note adds a darker tone. Feels intentionally composed rather than layered.
Why It’s Not Higher: A composed nose that delivers on clarity. Enough character to be engaging but not enough depth to push it higher.
Palate – 4.6/5
Light caramel. Honey. Golden raisin. Gentle cinnamon. Soft oak.
Strengths: Sweet but never syrupy. A wholesome sweetness. The transition into spice is gradual, not abrupt that creates a sense of pace to the sip. The wheated mashbill reinforces the softness. 100 proof clearly and fully presents the flavors without overwhelming the Palate.
Why It’s Not Higher: Cohesion is prioritized over complexity. The progression from entry to Finish is excellent but it stays just a bit too conservative in its lane and does not push into deeper layers.
Rating Justification: A well-structured Palate that emphasizes progression. Strong balance with no sharp edges. The proof enhances clarity of flavors.
Finish – 4.8/5
Warm baking spice. Cinnamon. Nutmeg. Light oak. Lingering sweetness.
Strengths: The Finish is where this bourbon really shines. A decadent spice builds and lingers without introducing dryness or tannic bitterness. There are no sharp edges, which is notable given the six years under Texas aging. The spice feels developed and integrated rather separate and distracting.
Why It’s Not Higher: While satisfying, a longer Finish would be more endearing.
Rating Justification: Delivers depth through balance of sweet and spice. Avoids dryness. Continues the quality of the Palate and elevates the sipping experience rather than feeling disjointed or set apart.
Value – 4.3/5
At a $100 MSRP, this enters a range where expectations shift toward both execution and distinctiveness. This is not priced as an everyday Bottled in Bond bourbon, and it doesn’t try to compete on that level.
What it delivers instead is a clear sense of intention by the Distiller. The six-year Texas aging would seem to be a significant challenge and yet it is handled with restraint, avoiding the over influence from the barrel or dryness that can show up in this climate. The wheated mashbill no doubt plays a role here as well, helping prevent the profile from tipping too far into oak-driven bitterness.
Compared to other options at a $100 price point, it may not offer the same level of layered complexity or proof-driven weight. However, it distinguishes itself through precision and overall design.
Garrison Brothers Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (2026) Review: The Verdict
This is a Texas bourbon that shows what happens when mashbill and intensity are guided through proof rather than unleashed at full force. Sweetness is present and controlled. Spice builds gradually, rather than abrupt. The Finish delivers depth without dryness. The wheated mashbill contributes to softness, while the 100 proof aids in defining flavors.
What ultimately defines this bourbon is its flow. The Nose, Palate, and Finish move together as a continuous sipping experience, distinct enough to be recognized but integrated enough to feel intentional. This is not the biggest Texas bourbon. Instead, it is significant and well-designed Texas bourbon.
Verdict – 4.6/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
