Garrison Brothers Guadalupe (2023) – (Review)

Info Shots

• Price: ~$150 (2023)
• Spirit: Whiskey
• Proof: 101 (50.5% alcohol)
• Noses (smell): dark chocolate, cherry wood aromas
• Palate (taste): Rich, Sweet Cherry wood, Tobacco, Dusty mouth feel from the port cask, tawny almost to the mouthfeel. Mild caramel almost playing back seat to the other flavors
• Age Statement: 6 years (equivalent to 18 year Tennessee whiskey)

Distiller information

Background

Garrison Brother is one of those unique distilleries that is still privately owned and making some of the top bourbons in the whiskey industry. They were founded in 2005 with the goal to make some of the best bourbon in the world. Their first year didn’t go to plan when the entire lot of whiskey exploded from the intense Texas summer that can hit as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit. That didn’t deter them in the least as they went back the next batch with stronger barrels and ended up making some whiskey that in their own world “Good Bourbon can change the world”.

Their biggest claim to their brand is that they are making whiskey with the highest-grade corn that they can obtain in Texas which is Food Grade #1 White Corn. The intense heat from summers also provides the other unique characteristic that is known for this brand. The heat causes the liquid that is aging to age at a rate that is estimated to be three (3) times faster than Tennessee and Kentucky whiskies. Thus an 8-year-old whiskey from here is the equivalent to an 18-year bourbon from someone like Elijah Craig.

Guadalupe is one of these special products that the Texas climate generates. The basic garrison Brothers bourbon is taken after four years of maturing in white American oak, and is then placed into Spanish port cask barrels from Portugal. This is then set back in the Rick house in Texas for an additional 2 years. This two year creates this complex aroma and flavors of Guadeloupe. I could keep talking about the history, but if you want that information, I encourage you to go to Garrison Brothers website for more information. On to the review.

Temperature

The first thing to start on this portion is how much the nose helps this one in particular. Usually for me the nose doesn’t bring or contribute to the experience as much as this bottle does. The nose on this one brings to me this rich aroma <Insert the nose notes> that welcomes me to take a sip further.

The first sip is met with the dryness that is imparted by the Spanish port wine cask finish, followed by this rich chocolate note that last for a long time on this sip. There are flavors of what can be described as a cherry wood flavor and this dusty mouth feel that is taken from the Spanish port cask. The other remarkable thing is how smooth or lack of harshness this bourbon can feel while drinking. For being 101 proof, it certainly doesn’t feel as though it drinks that hot.

I don’t really get the raspberry or the cinnamon on this one, not to say it’s not there either. It just wasn’t present for my pallet.

Conclusion

This bottle is a unique version of the standard Garrison Brothers Guadalupe releases, if not the best one so far. It features richness from the port cask finish that coupled with the standard mash bill. The nose is fantastic, with the nose of both cherry wood to complement the flavors of cherry wood are just short of amazing. The richness that lingers from just a small to a big sip is exquisite. There is so far no bourbon I have tried that comes close to the flavor profile previously mentioned either. The corn gives it this dusty mouth feel, the Spanish port cask give it a tawny dryness to it along with the cherry wood flavors. The chocolate note is beyond where I can understand as this is a note that doesn’t seem to come from one particular place, but rather a mixture of the Garrison Brothers whiskey mixed with the Portugal Spanish port cask.

For the money it is expensive, but is it ever so worth it. There isn’t another bourbon in any of the price ranges I know that deliver on the nose notes, smoothness or unique characteristics in the flavor. Sure, there are others that are complex, there are smoother bourbon, there are even more unique Mizunara cask or what have you coming out of Japan from some rare tree. My point to there is very few bourbons that hit all three for less than 200 dollars usually. I’m sure if you’re reading this and disagree, that is totally fine, you and I are both entitled to our opinions at the end of the day.

When compared to 2022’s release the flavors are more pronounce in this one. The nose as well and overall taste of this bourbon from 2023 edition gives me the impression of being the best between the 2022 and 2024 release for me so far.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Absolutely. For 150, you are getting one of the best bourbons I know for really a killer price. The only nit-pick for me, is I wish they made more of it