In 2013, Garrison Bros Master Distiller Donnis Todd filled 22 new American white oak barrels from The Barrel Mill – a Minnesota cooperage – with freshly-distilled 114 proof white dog. The barrels were then aged in the relentless West Texas heat for two years. All the while, the liquid inside cycled through the wood’s pores and crevices, extracting every bit of flavor possible.
In 2015, Donnis lugged the barrels in from the barns and dumped the liquid into stainless steel tanks. He then rolled a few 27-gallon Kelvin Cooperage barrels from Louisville, Kentucky below the tank spigot and filled the barrels with the already two-year-old straight bourbon. This second round of barrels had far different lignin and chemical compositions than the original barrels because they had been scorched and toasted differently, caramelizing the sugars in a wonderful new way.
In 2017, the bourbon was dumped into a long, thin stainless steel trough we call The Whiskey Girl, and we all began nosing and tasting the results. After rounds of tear-filled high fives and brotherly hugs, we started talking about names – the easiest part of getting this sensational liquid to market.
A full list of Garrison Bros products can be found on their site Garrison Bros Whiskey.
BALMORHEA TASTING NOTES
Bourbon candy: frozen fudgesicle bars, amaretto coffee, sticky buns, and pecan brittle.
Thick, white chocolate syrup.
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