Every now and then, Garrison Brothers releases one of the most highly-coveted bourbon whiskies in America: Cowboy Bourbon. This was the American Whiskey of the Year in Jim Murray’s 2014 & 2017 Whisky Bibles. It’s the ultimate ambrosia. Unlike the Small Batch, The Cowboy comes from Dan and Donnis’ favorite barrels. They’re set aside for a couple of years for further maturation and the liquid is bottled at cask-strength, uncut and unfiltered.
It takes a special barrel to create a bourbon nectar sweet enough to be enjoyed at such a high proof. The potency normally overpowers the flavor. This ain’t the case with the Cowboy – it’s so sweet, the flavor overpowers its proof. And you can thank the Texas heat for that.
But as delicious as it all sounds, make sure you proceed with caution; barrel-proof bourbon is not for everyone. It should always be savored in moderation. For something strong enough to run a car engine, the finish is incredibly smooth. While surprising, maybe it ought not be, as that restraint makes it ideal for summertime drinking. This stuff was heat-forged in Texas, after all.
These past releases of Cowboy Bourbon were pretty good. This one is better. This year’s release will be 4,725 750 mL-sized bottles. Every barrel used in this release was five years old: the oldest bourbon whiskey ever made in Texas. Finally, it will be barrel proof. Straight from the barrel. Unfiltered. Uncut. Cask strength at 133.9 proof!
Each bottle is housed in a rugged, custom-built white American oak gift box lined with a satin pillow, branded with the Garrison Brothers brand. Each bottle is hand-signed and numbered by master distiller Donnis Todd.
