Garrison Brothers HoneyDew

Rating: 12/23 N: There's that classic Garrison Brothers sawdust, though it's a bit more mellow here, possibly due to the lower proof. Then I get a kind of vegetal grassiness with some sweetness like slightly watered down clover honey, mixed with some bitter herbal smell that must be the bitter side of the honey. I still get some of that sweet corn with the sawdust in here, but not a ton of it and there aren't many distinct smells to it. P: What hits me first is bourbon, but obviously low proof bourbon. The sawdust with some corn sweetness. Then the sweet honey hits with its vegetal and bitter backing. The bitterness is flatter than I'd expected. This is pretty watery though. It's hard to pick out much complexity and that honey flavor comes across as kind of brash. A dash of milk chocolate, which would explain that vegetal flavor a bit if there were actual milk chocolate used to make this. A little grassy at times. F: Really just watery with some washed out wood, like teabags being steeped for the third or fourth time. A little honey sweetness and bitterness, but not much. It's sort of like drinking a highball at the end of an evening of tasting, when my palate is fairly tired. I'm not liking this. - Conclusion - This is disappointingly a bit watery and isn't as sweet or hedonistic as I'd expected it to be, especially when put side by side with Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey. I'm torn because this is better as a bourbon, but it's also not a great bourbon, whereas the Jack Daniel's actually is a liqueur and it owns that identity. The regular Garrison Brother Small Batch (14) is fuller with more complexity, and a more coherent identity. Between the two, I'd take the regular Garrison Brothers, and it's just an OK whiskey. So there's no way this is getting a 14. Comparing mellow, fairly sweet whiskeys, I'd probably take Buffalo Trace (which I currently have at an 11, but have to believe I underrated) over this too. I might take Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (12) over this as well, but that's a closer call. I think I'll be going with a 12 for this, though I could see a 13 and an 11 isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. If this were several percent higher in proof, I could imagine going up a point or two, but at the end of the day I'm not convinced that lightly honeyed was that good of a concept here. I really thought it would be, but I see problems in how it worked out here. I'd be curious to see a batch of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof done with some honey-soaked cubes and a batch of this done with ones soaked in grade B maple syrup. Those seem like they might be better combinations. This tastes like clover honey was used, which is far too light for a bold bourbon like Garrison Brothers. Thank you, @ctbeck11 for the sample!

For this one, Garrison Brothers transferred their four year old small batch bourbon into stainless steel tanks, threw in some upcycled bourbon barrels repurposed into wooden cubes that were soaked in Burleson’s Texas Wildflower Honey to the tanks, pulled it out seven months later and lastly bottled it at 80 proof. A huge thanks to @ctbeck11 for the generous sample as I’m curious to find out if those honey bourbon cubes, stainless steel aging and low proof make for an easy sipping bourbon treat. On the nose, it’s very simple and light with freshly rolled raw cinnamon roll dough topped with a cinnamon sugar/butter mixture and some light barrel spices with light ethanol burn. A taste reveals a thin-medium mouthfeel that starts with that raw cinnamon roll dough with some toasted pecans then chocolate, light fruit followed by light barrel spices with a light ethanol burn that finishes medium length with cinnamon honey butter on toast, a cup of Mexican hot chocolate and candied pecans. This is almost like a sweet tea that has been spiced with bourbon that tastes mediocre at first, but the more I drink, the more flavors emerge with more raw cinnamon roll and lingering honey. It’s not complicated, but it’s extremely easy to sip on without turning into a sickly sweet drink with those bourbon flavors coming through and honey emerging on the finish. These appear to cost $70 which is more than I’d want to pay, and would rather have a WR Double Oak (Hershey’s syrup covered banana split with cherries) or an OF 1920 (chocolate covered alcoholic cherries with creamy center) for my sweet whiskey craving, but if a raw cinnamon roll with honey butter is more your style, you’ll really like this.

I feel like I’ve let my South Asian brethren down. I should have my cultural heritage card revoked. Let me explain: my daughter got a B in Accelerated Algebra. If I did that as a 7th grader (granted, she’s in the 7th grade taking 9th grade level math), I’d have a thousand generation of shame bought to my household, followed by a swift beating with a dough roller. Instead, I took the American born South Asian approach…sat her down, and tried to get to the root cause of her B. Talking it out instead of shame and a whooping? That’s a discredit to my kin. But the way I look at it, it’s a life lesson for her. She needs to evaluate for herself where she went wrong, and what she needs to do to course correct. I feel the same can be said of this Garrison pour, sent graciously by @ctbeck11 . Oak and honey…that pretty much sums up the nose and palette. I personally found it a bit too sharp and sweet, a telling sign it was bottled too young, and a heavy hand with sticky honey casks. I was hoping more a balanced pour, but this drinks like a dessert. They’re so good in what they got right, like Cowboy and Balmo, that I felt this one was a bit off-pace for them. It’s theoretically a flavored whiskey, and that is just not my cup of tea…so, maybe it’s me and not them. But I feel it’s okay to have an off product…just need to step back and re-evaluate how you need to course correct. If you like pours on the sweet side, this might be for you. Good to try another Garrison product, especially considering the royal lineage it comes from : the Cowboy. Thanks @ctbeck11 for the pour!

Well I was excited to find this finally at Specs 1 per customer. Its not a flavored bourbon but lets just say its heavily finished. I love honey and sweet bourbon so this should work for me .......it does. Poured neat nose is clover honey and raw dough with gold medal flour tossed all over. This flour note is identifiable in Cowboy as well. I think this is the sawdust some speak of but I get flour. After time there is also bamboo beads and sharpie. The honey will mature into a thicker beeswax if rested. Palate belies 80 proof with total flavor saturation. Rich thick raw honey notes dominate with an unexpected spicy kick. Light woods and more doughy bakery goods with the sprinkled flour persist in the periphery. Its a one trick pony but this equine plays violin. Finish is same honey dough lingering with nutmeg, leather and barrel oak that is non drying. If you like this profile its all star. I wont deny the pricing is way out of line at 70-80+ should actually be in the 40s imo maybe 50 but thats the price for craft small business distillery. Im ok with that as I live local to these guys but cant see how others will be on board(guess youll never find this anyway). At the end of the day I am personally enamored with Garrison Bros and will support them.........86/100.........great stuff imo just not worth the price of admission. Non sweet tooths need not apply

Nose - rich honey, raw cinnamon bun dough, salted caramel, vanilla, brown butter, marshmallow, sweet oak, graham cracker, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - honey syrup, cinnamon bun, apple, salted caramel, frosted wheat, vanilla, sweet floral notes, candied pecan, melted chocolate, toasted oak, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with honey, caramel, and toasted oak flavors. I’m heading south from Waco to Hye, Texas for the next few days and reviewing some Garrison Brothers releases. My first thought was to wonder why I’m paying $80 for a bottle of 40% alcohol that’s not far off from a flavored whiskey. But I bought it anyway, since I’ve had extremely positive experiences with Garrison Brothers. This is an interesting experiment, and I think they pulled it off. The nose and palate are both dominated by honey and doughy cinnamon buns. There are other aromas and flavors, but they’re relegated to the background. I’m actually not disappointed in the low proof. It’s thick and rich as it is. This is good whiskey, but it’s not great whiskey. I wouldn’t buy this again at $80. It feels more like a $50 dram. I’m willing to shell out for the Balmorheas and Cowboys, but this doesn’t deserve the premium.

An outstanding, flavored Wheated Bourbon Whiskey by Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas crafted by infusing their Small Batch Bourbon with Texas Burleson's wildflower honey; aged for a minimum of 4 years in American white oak barrels; before being bottled at 80 proof. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, wood, fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; while a rich & creamy life adds notes of honey butter, pineapples, stewed apricot, elderberry syrup & saltwater taffy; while a warm & honeyed death of medium length adds notes of oak, vanilla, more honey, cinnamon-toast-crunch, clove, white chocolate & hibiscus tea. June 2024 Story & Tasting with Master Distiller Donnis Todd