Distillery: Garrison Brothers Distillery – Hye, Texas
Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Age: Three years
Mashbill: 74% Corn; 15% Wheat; 11% Malted Barley
MSRP: $80
Website: https://www.garrisonbros.com/
Who They Are
Google Hye, Texas and you will find it is a hub for vineyards and wineries AND the proud home of Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first and oldest legal whiskey distillery in Texas. Pay a visit to the Distillery and you will find it operating with the same authentic virtues as when Dan Garrison started it back in 2006. That’s quite a statement, considering the numerous awards they have garnered from their many unique expressions.
What’s cool about Garrison Brothers is their meticulous production process. They still distill in small batches with high standards. Custom-made barrels with thick staves that can withstand the Texas heat are used in the aging process.
Their production process includes the use of a sweet mash process, meaning they use fresh grains and water for each fermentation batch instead of reusing a portion of a previous batch. The Texas climate creates a challenging environment for aging bourbon as the heat and humidity swings can be extreme, causing high evaporation rates. But the rewards of those extremes can be a rich, complex flavor profile.
If you give Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon a try, have questions or want to suggest an expression for a future review, please drop me a note. I would love to hear from you at mike@bourboninspector.com
Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4/5
The aroma is rich with significant notes of caramel, vanilla, and graham crackers. Subtle hints of dark chocolate, honey and butterscotch. A definitive combination of sweet and woody sets a high bar for the tasting.
Palate – 4/5
This packs a more initial punch than expected. Spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, which were rather unexpected given the wheat content, follow the initial sweetness of caramel and vanilla. That unexpected pop of spice gives a wonderfully dynamic and layered taste. Hints of chocolate and walnuts round out the taste profile. Simply put, there is a lot happening on the palate… a lot more than the mashbill predicted.
Finish – 4.5/5
The finish lingers with notes of toasted oak, dark chocolate and caramel. For a Texas whiskey, well really for any whiskey, the finish is smooth… very smooth… okay, very very smooth, as the spice notes gradually fade into a highly pleasant, lingering aftertaste with hints of lemon.
Value – 4.25/5
At $80, Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon is on the pricier side. But I feel like this is one that is worth the investment and I most definitely do not say that about every “north of $75” bottle. This expression has a flavorful experience that’s well worth it for both bourbon enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Review: The Verdict
Verdict – 4.25/5
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.