Garrison Brothers Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Finished Cask Strength Bourbon Reviews
My aunt used to bring Turkish delight to our family Christmas parties. I hadn’t thought about it in a while, but somewhere in the middle of tasting Garrison Brothers’ Oloroso Finished Cask Strength Bourbon, that memory came right back.
There’s a rich, sweet note in this whiskey that reminds me of it, surrounded by fig and plum jam, toffee, and plenty of oak. It’s absolutely delicious. It’s also rich enough that one pour would probably do it for me.
Garrison Brothers sent me samples of two new sherry-finished cask strength single-barrel bourbons ahead of their October 17 release: an Oloroso at 136 proof and a Pedro Ximénez at 122 proof. I spent some time with both, and there’s plenty to enjoy here.
The Story Behind These Releases
Both bourbons spent four years in new American oak, followed by another four years in first-fill Oloroso or Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Eight years total, with half that time spent in sherry casks. That gives some context to just how prominent those finishes are in the glass.
These come from the same original production lot as the Ranch Reserve sherry-finished bourbons Garrison Brothers introduced in June 2026. If you’re curious about those, you can read my review of the original Ranch Reserve Oloroso and PX releases.
For this release, Master Distiller Donnis Todd held back 27 standout barrels—13 Oloroso and 14 PX—to bottle individually at cask strength, uncut and unfiltered.
Because these are single barrels, the proof and flavor will vary. The Oloroso barrels range from 124.6 to 136.7 proof, while the PX barrels range from 122 to 135.2 proof. Each bottle identifies its barrel number and proof. My notes describe the samples I received, so another barrel may give you a different experience.
Garrison Brothers Oloroso Finished Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon
Age: 8 years total—4 years in new American oak, followed by 4 years in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks
Proof of sample reviewed: 136
Listed release price: $189.99
Release date: October 17, 2026
Nose
Oak bomb. That’s my first impression.
I get dusty, woody oak, soft leather, rich fig and plum jam, dark chocolate, and toffee. There’s a lot of oak, but it still has a deep, complex nose. The darker, sweeter notes give me plenty of reason to keep going back for another sniff.
Taste and Finish
The bourbon shines on the front end with toffee, caramel, and oak. Then the mid-palate turns dark, sweet, and rich as the Oloroso shows up.
The body is dense, almost syrupy, with decadent jam notes and that flavor reminding me of the Turkish delight my aunt would bring to our family Christmas parties. It’s a very specific memory, but that’s where this whiskey takes me.
The finish lingers with a little spicy cinnamon and sherry. Those rich flavors stick around well after the sip.
Final Thoughts
Absolutely delicious, and very rich. I don’t think I could handle more than one pour in a sitting, simply because of how dark and dense it is. I’d be happy taking my time with that one.
If you enjoy wine-finished bourbons, I think you’ll find a lot to like here. The bourbon notes are present, especially up front, but the Oloroso is not shy either. If you prefer your bourbon to stay firmly in the classic caramel, vanilla, and oak territory, this might push further into sherry than you want.
For me, it works beautifully.
Garrison Brothers Pedro Ximénez Finished Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon
Age: 8 years total—4 years in new American oak, followed by 4 years in first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Proof of sample reviewed: 122
Listed release price: $189.99
Release date: October 17, 2026
Nose
Much like the Oloroso, this is also an oak bomb on the nose. Here, though, more fruit sweetness shines through.
I get red grape, strawberry, and dates, with that familiar Garrison Brothers bourbon hanging out underneath it all. There’s still plenty of oak, but the fruit gives this a different character from the Oloroso.
Taste and Finish
Very sweet up front. The grape, strawberry, and dates I found on the nose are right there in the sip, and they evolve nicely into toffee and sweet oak.
Overall, this doesn’t feel as dense as the Oloroso. The fruit and bourbon come together well, and it’s a little lighter on my palate.
The finish is a little shorter, with cinnamon and spice. That date note lingers at the back of the roof of my mouth.
Final Thoughts
This is beautiful, and a good follow-up to the Oloroso.
It’s sweet and friendly—as friendly as a 122-proof cask strength whiskey can be, at least. I really enjoy how those fruit notes carry through the sip and blend with the toffee and sweet oak.
For my tastes, this is worth considering even at a premium price. It has plenty of flavor without quite as much of the density I get from the Oloroso.
Oloroso or Pedro Ximénez?
Both are lovely, and my choice would depend on what I felt like drinking that evening.
The Oloroso gives me darker jam notes, chocolate, leather, and a dense, almost syrupy palate. It’s a rich pour that I’d want to sit with for a while.
The PX brings more red grape, strawberry, and dates. It’s still bold, but a little lighter on the palate, with a shorter finish.
If I were pouring both, I’d start with the Oloroso and finish with the PX. That’s the order I’d recommend, letting the sweeter fruit notes follow the richness of the Oloroso.
I also think either would pair well with an equally bold cigar or a properly cooked prime rib. I haven’t tried those pairings with these samples, but I’d certainly be interested.
Release Details and Where to Buy
Both expressions are scheduled to release at the Garrison Brothers distillery in Hye on Saturday, October 17, 2026, beginning at 8 a.m. The release event runs until 4 p.m.
The official Garrison Brothers release-event page lists each bottle at $189.99.
Garrison Brothers reports approximately 3,000 bottles of each expression, with 984 of each allocated to the distillery release and the remaining bottles going to select retail partners nationwide. If you can’t make it to Hye, there will be additional opportunities to find them through those retailers.
More Whiskey to Explore
If these caught your attention, here are a few related reviews:
Garrison Brothers Ranch Reserve Oloroso and PX Review: My take on the original releases, including what happened when I blended them.
Garrison Brothers Bottled in Bond Review: Another Garrison Brothers bourbon to explore alongside these sherry-finished expressions.
BENDT Bourbon Finished in a Blue Ostrich Tempranillo Barrel Review: Another option if wine-finished bourbon interests you.
Kooper’s Father’s Office Cigar Blend Review: A bourbon finished with Amburana and Mizunara oak.
You can also browse all my Texas whiskey reviews for more bottles to put on your radar.
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Disclosure: These samples were provided to me by Garrison Brothers for review.
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