2020 COWBOY UNCUT & UNFILTERED STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY | 137.3 PROOF 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. 2019 COWBOY TASTING NOTES Bouquet of lavender, Manhattan street-cart roasted walnuts, pipe tobacco and Arabica coffee. Powerful rush of raw honeycomb, dried cherries, toffee, warm molasses, cooked apricots, and burnt raisins. Figs and ganache. Burnt marshmallows and a Milk Dud finish. A pleasing hiss like a snake’s rattle as it settles in and numbs the tongue.