Dense peppery oak | Bold spice | Raisin | Dark chocolate | Proof is evident

Wave of spice | Surge of raisin | Caramelized brown sugar | Vanilla custard | Charred oak | Vanilla extract | Leather | Intense with a rich, oily mouthfeel

Rush of heat | Dense peppery aged oak | Brown sugar | Lingering spice

This year marks the first release of Garrison Brothers Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre. Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre is limited to one single barrel at 135.4 proof, and is released alongside the standard 101 proof Laguna Madre expression, which is seeing its 7th annual release. The expression is one of the distillery’s oldest and most carefully matured, spending 4 years in American oak, then 4 more years finishing in Limousin oak barrels. Laguna Madre features messaging that raises awareness of the mission of FlatsWorthy, a charity Master Distiller Donnis Todd and his son are involved in. The organization focuses on Texas’ coastal areas via public awareness and education, along with involvement with state and federal agencies to protect resources.  

Limousin oak is a specific type of French oak that’s harvested from the Limousin region of central France, which derives its name from a dialect of the Occitan language. It’s known for its loose, wide grain and high tannin levels, which allow for deeper interaction between the aging spirit and the wood. For this release, Garrison Brothers transferred the liquid to eight custom-coopered Radoux 225 Liter (~59.4-gallon) French oak barrels with a specific “vanilla” toast, which Radoux refers to as a medium-plus toast and toasted heads. Seven of the barrels were blended for the 101 proof standard release, and one was selected for the Cask Strength Single Barrel release.

The burning question fans of Laguna Madre have is undoubtedly: “Is the cask strength version better?” The answer is “it depends.” While high proof cask strength variations are often better than their proofed-down counterparts due to a significant increase in flavor, the base 101 proof version of Laguna Madre has something unusual going for it; it’s already packed with flavor. Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre shares a lot of the same flavors with its lower proof counterpart – raisin, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, caramelized brown sugar, vanilla custard, leather, peppery seasoned oak, and even that thick, oily mouthfeel.

However, Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre goes harder on spice and proof (not surprisingly), which translates to a bolder nose, less complex midpoint, and longer finish. It’s an exploration in intensity, and while the midpoint is less complex, it’s also noticeably thicker and has a more oily texture than the 101 proof version, which is already oily and thick to begin with. The price is the only prohibitive factor, but considering it’s not far off from the standard 101 proof version, those who are able to splurge on just one should choose between overall complexity (standard version) versus increased intensity (cask strength barrel proof version).  

The bourbon in review is bottle number 3 from barrel number LM44.