Garrison Brothers makes some pretty unique bourbon, and Balmorhea is no exception. I've always thought the Texas heat gives their whiskey a character you just don't find in most bourbons.
Balmorhea isn't cheap, though. It retails for around $180, and we ended up paying $220 for our bottle.
The Tasting
The first thing I remember about Balmorhea was how dark and rich it was. The nose was intense, and the flavor followed right along with it. Lots of brown sugar and oak, along with that distinctive Texas funk we've come to enjoy from Garrison Brothers.
At 115 proof, there was plenty going on in the glass.
As we always do, we tried it both neat and with ice. The group was pretty evenly split. Some preferred it neat, while others thought a little ice helped mellow it out.
But regardless of how we drank it, everyone agreed this was really good bourbon.
Worth the Pour?
Here's where things get a little complicated. We all thoroughly enjoyed Balmorhea, but $220 is a lot of money for a bottle of whiskey. Even at its regular retail price, none of us could really justify buying another one.
That doesn't mean we wouldn't recommend it. Quite the opposite, actually. If you enjoy Garrison Brothers, I'd absolutely suggest giving Balmorhea a try. It's a rich, flavorful bourbon with plenty of character.
Would we buy it again? No.
We're glad we bought it and got to experience it together. It's excellent bourbon, just not one we'd spend that kind of money on again.