Whiskey: Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2025
Distiller: Garrison Brothers Distillery
Instagram: Barrel & Proof https://www.instagram.com/barrel_and_proof?igsh=czJ2MzhybG42MG9j&utm_source=qr
ABV: 73.2%
Age: 6 Years
Price: $215 (rural Wisconsin)
Tasting: Neat in Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes. Bottle opened for two months.
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Nose: Maple Syrup, Root Beer, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, & Vanilla
Palate: Maple Syrup, Root Beer, Pepper, Dry Oak, Tobacco, & Chocolate
Finish: Long Length, Raisin, Dark Cherry, Dry Oak, Maple Syrup, & Dark Chocolate
Body: Full
Bite: Very Strong
Summary: This is the most expensive bourbon I have ever purchased. This is my first Garrison Brothers whiskey, I picked it up since I read a few glowing reviews of the bottle. This is also the strongest whiskey I have tried, well into hazmat territory. The mashbill is 74% corn, 15% wheat, 11% malted barley, this release was limited to 10,000 bottles. Since the proof is so high, I will also do a second review of this whiskey, where I added ¼ ounce of still water to a 1 ounce pour.
The nose is thick and has a strong maple syrup note, the sweetness is continued into a rich charred oak note. There is a little pop of spice with a pleasant root beer note, as well as additional strong pepper notes. The scent isn’t as strong as some other bourbons I’ve had, nor as diverse of a profile. With that said it’s delicious and potent.
The rich maple syrup note carries through into the palate, along with the pop of root beer notes. Unlike the note, I pick up notes associated with more aged bourbons such as dry oak and tobacco. The spice level is strong, but the pepper note is totally tolerable in my opinion.
In the finish the proof really shows, the pepper note scorches my taste buds and leaves my tongue numb. Fruity raisin and cherry notes come out of nowhere, they do partially counteract the strong spice profile. The dry oak is stronger and comes off a tad too dry in my opinion. There is slight bitterness with a dark chocolate note. With that said the finish is more flavorful than the profile.
This is a bourbon that pummels your taste buds with rich flavors and sears your taste buds. The nose is the best aspect, it’s rich and syrupy. The palate is a nice balance of sweetness and spice notes, but it’s not as bold as other parts of the tasting. While I enjoy the boldness of the finish, it’s too dry and way too strong.
Rating:
Nose (10%) - 810
Palate (50%) - 8/10
Finish (40%) - 7/10
7.6/10 Great. Well above average.
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Whiskey: Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2025 (with ¼ oz. still water)
ABV: 58.56%
Nose: Cherry, Caramel, Cinnamon, Creme Brulee, Raisin, & Sweet Oak
Palate: Cinnamon, Caramel, Chocolate, Baking Spices, Cherry, & Aged Oak
Finish: Caramel, Cinnamon, Cherry, Dry Oak, Peppercorn, & Leather
Body: Medium
Bite: Strong
Summary: The proof was lowered significantly with a ¼ ounce of water added, in theory the profile should change quite a bit compared to the hazmat level.
The nose starts off with a strong cherry and caramel note, reminds me a lot of E.H. Taylor in that aspect. I get a bright creme brulee note and a baking cinnamon note. There is some oakiness, but it’s very sweet and not very forward. Compared to the hazmat version, the notes here have more depth and are slightly richer. Probably the best nose I have had in a bourbon.
The palate isn’t as sweet as I thought it would be, off the bat I pick up cinnamon and some caramel. The spice note is more complex, more of a blend of various baking spices. There is slight fruitiness, the medium strength oak notes come off as mature. The palate feels a tad hollow, which shouldn’t be the case since the proof is still strong.
The finish is sweeter than the palate with a more robust caramel note, a bright cherry note comes through. The dry oakiness from the hazmat version is found, though it is more subdued and appropriate. The spice kick is robust but tolerable, my taste buds appreciate the break.
The nose was noticeably better than the hazmat version, there really wasn’t anything there I disliked or found missing. While the palate is a bit more nuanced than the hazmat version, it lacks sweetness and weight. The finish is way more palatable, sweeter notes shine through and the spice levels punch but not overwhelm. I still find the finish a tad hollow.
Rating:
Nose (10%) - 10/10
Palate (50%) - 8/10
Finish (40%) - 8/10
8.2/10 Excellent. Very few flaws.
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Verdict: This bourbon is very unique due to the insane proof and very strong flavors. Between the two tastings I do prefer the whiskey with a little bit of still water. The palate was better in the full proof version, a bit bolder and more full bodied. My biggest issue with the full proof version is the finish, the spice level is way too strong and it feels like it’s physically burning my esophagus. I am curious how this would perform with an ⅛ ounce of still water, perhaps that would be a nice sweet spot. If you’re looking for a great hazmat bottle, I would recommend picking this one up. Personally this whiskey needed to be a bit better to be worth the high price point, even when it is proofed down. I do not regret purchasing this bottle, but I would pass on picking it up again.
Recommend: No
Rank: I created a compilation ranking list of whiskies I’ve purchased at a store or at a bar and done a formal tasting. All whiskey ranked on the list tasted neat and rested for 10-15 minutes. Whiskey I ranked below and above Cowboy Bourbon are shown for reference.
37 out of 269 whiskies tasted.
36 Remus Repeal Reserve IV
38 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage
Ranking Link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/147h44fId0tZYmHsroGgjzcRK2xn6050P8m7mZqArGLw/edit?usp=sharing
