Garrison Brothers Distillery releases award-winning bourbon

balmorheabourbon — Garrison Brothers Distillery re-released their award-winning Balmorhea bourbon this week. Photo: Adam Voorheas and Robin Finlay, used with permission.

Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced today the second release of their multi-award-winning twice-barreled bourbon and will celebrate with a party at their distillery in Hye, Texas on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Dubbed the Balmorhea Social, the daytime party will feature armadillo races, distillery tours, bourbon flights, bites by Chef Joseph Moreno and live music by Micah Wagner. Distillery gates will open at 10a.m. and the festivities will last until 5:30p.m. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2019)

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible named Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Twice-Barreled Bourbon “American Micro Whiskey of the Year” for 2019. The Garrison Brothers team will celebrate this accolade by releasing the bourbon in a larger format bottle at the party. One lucky attendee will win the chance to join Master Distiller Donnis Todd as he tastes his way through the Garrison Brother’s rick house to find the perfect barrels for the 2020 release of Balmorhea. 55 barrels went into making the 2019 release. One special bottle will be labeled with “#55” and placed on gift shop shelves. The patron who purchases it will win barrel selection rights for the following year. Bourbon lovers are encouraged to keep an eye on Garrison Brother’s Instagram page for teasers and more info.

504 bottles of Balmorhea Twice Barreled Bourbon will be available at the distillery in Hye, Texas, for $139.99 beginning May 4. The remaining 5,496 bottles will be distributed to select liquor stores, bars, and restaurants throughout Texas and the other 26 states and military bases where Garrison Brothers is sold. Bottles will be available for purchase nation-wide the week of May 13.

Balmorhea is named after the majestic West Texas swimming hole and is the only twice-barreled bourbon in the Garrison Brothers family. That means it is aged three years in new American white oak barrels made from wood grown in the Ozarks, then the liquid is transferred to a second new American white oak barrel made from trees grown in Minnesota and aged for another two years. The prized liquid is bottled at 57.5% alc/vol or 115 proof and comes from a sweet mash bill, like all of Garrison Brothers’ releases. Master Distiller Donnis Todd describes Balmorhea as “bourbon candy, frozen fudgesicle bars, amaretto coffee with cream, sticky buns and pecan brittle. Thick white chocolate syrup.”

In January 2019, Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery, presented the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation with a $30,000 donation from Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)(3) public charity formed by Garrison and his employees. The funds were earmarked for the restoration, preservation and beautification of Balmorhea State Park, which shuttered due to structural damage in May 2018. Garrison Brothers stepped in to host a series of fundraising pool parties and pledged to donate a portion of Balmorhea Bourbon’s sales to repair the shuttered pool. On March 1, 2019, Balmorhea State Park reopened just in time for swimming season.

Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye Albert Rd.
Hye, TX 78635
(830) 392-0246

Garrison Brothers Distillery celebrates Texas Independence

garrisonbrobourbon — Garrison Brothers Distillery celebrates Texas Independence with style. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, recently announced its plans to celebrate Texas Independence Day in three big ways: The Bourbon Takeover of Texas – a five-day culinary event leading up to March 2, Texas Independence Day; The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl – a statewide bartender contest; and Liberations & Libations – an authentically Texan day party at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2019)

The Bourbon Takeover of Texas consists of five days of more than 50 distinguished bars and restaurants across the state featuring culinary and mixological specials that include Garrison Brothers’ Small Batch Bourbon. These limited-time offerings will be available at select establishments in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio from Sunday, February 24 through Saturday, March 2. The Garrison Brothers team will visit every participating location to taste, critique, examine and enjoy each cocktail, considering its potential for advancement to the second round of The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl, a statewide, high-stakes bartender competition with a $10,000 cash prize. The $10,000 cash prize will be paid out by Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)3 public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018.

Liberations & Libations will be a more localized celebration of Texas Independence. Taking place in the heart of downtown Austin at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, the day party is scheduled to take place from 7:30a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Texas-born businesses will showcase their hand-crafted products while Texas chefs and beverage-makers serve bourbon-infused brunch bites in the spacious ballroom. Tasting wristbands will be available for $25 and will include eight food and drink tickets. The party will take a brief recess from noon until 3p.m. and will kick off again with a happy hour from 3p.m. to 6p.m. Afternoon attractions include passed bourbon-infused bites by Chef Bryan Gibson, a roaming “redneck mariachi” duo and a silent auction benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. A live auction will also be held at 5p.m. for an entire barrel of the award-winning Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon.

“Texas Independence Day…. also commemorates the day we released our very first batch of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon back in 2010. In keeping with tradition, we’ve released the current year’s vintage on this holiday every year since. This year we’re going all out, and we hope you celebrate with us at one of our three major events throughout Texas. Salud.” – Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery

Desert Door Texas Sotol now available online

Desert Door, a craft distiller of Texas sotol and distillery based in Driftwood, Texas, is excited to announce that it is now available for purchase online through Speakeasy Co. The spirit just celebrated its first successful year in business and recently expanded its distribution to bars, restaurants and retail stores in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and beyond. Given the brand’s continued growth and heightened demand, the launch of e-commerce was a natural progression for Desert Door. This new endeavor with Speakeasy Co. will give consumers across the country access to the unique spirit while the brand continues developing its operations and physical distribution in Texas. (Desert Door, 2018)

After a well-received debut in the Austin and San Antonio markets last fall and winter and a recent expansion into the Dallas and Houston markets and counting, Desert Door is carrying the momentum forward through the addition of this e-commerce platform that provides national shipping to 41 states. It is not currently available for other countries, PO Boxes, Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Dakota, Utah, Alaska, or Hawaii. Desert Door will start by selling its Original Desert Door Texas Sotol priced at $55.99 per 750 ml bottle online, with plans to add its 100-proof Desert Door Oak-Aged Texas Sotol variation to the e-commerce platform down the line when supply allows.

Desert Door is produced from the West Texas-grown evergreen sotol plant (Dasylirion texanum) and is currently the only domestically produced sotol on the market. There are two types of Desert Door: Original Desert Door Texas Sotol, a versatile and complex spirit that is organic, low calorie, and perfect for cocktails, and the 100-proof Desert Door Oak-Aged Texas Sotol, an ultra-premium sipping spirit aged in new American oak barrels.

Desert Door was founded in November 2017 by Texans Judson Kauffman, Ryan Campbell and Brent Looby. The founders are all former service members of the United States military and met while attending The University of Texas McCombs School of Business, where an elective course on entrepreneurship planted the seed that would lead to the group developing the only sotol distillery in the nation.

German Chocolate Cake Stout at Alamo Drafthouse

germanchocolatebeer — This year’s End Credits beer is a German Chocolate Cake Stout from Independence Brewing Co., available now through December 31. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

At the beginning of this month, Independence Brewing Co and Alamo Drafthouse announced the 2018 edition of a holiday beer that has become a seasonal favorite among Alamo Drafthouse patrons; a yearly release called End Credits. The recipe for End Credits changes with each release and this year’s version is a German Chocolate Cake Stout. There is still a chance to try this year’s End Credits, as it is available now through December 31 at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and both Alamo Drafthouse locations in Denver. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)

This year’s recipe, German Chocolate Cake Stout, was inspired by the Alamo Drafthouse staff’s collective sweet tooth. According to Independence’s head brewer, Brannon Radicke, the beer’s driving flavor is layers of chocolate and cocoa with hints of toasted coconut in the aroma and taste. The malt bill and addition of lactose gave the brew a touch of sugariness, which balanced out the mild bitterness of cocoa and hops. End Credits has an ABV of 6.5% and a medium body that is not too heavy. Radicke describes it as “more cakelike than syrupy.” A fitting description for a beer emulating a decadent dessert.

John Gross and others from the Alamo Drafthouse crew joined Radicke and his team at the Independence brewery in South Austin to help brew the beer. Together, they hand-toasted 300 pounds of raw coconut on a flat top griddle. It took five days, five hours each day. The 2018 release of End Credits is special for another reason: it will be the first-ever Independence brew to be sold in Denver, making this recipe the company’s official debut in The Centennial State. Colorado is now the third state that Independence Brewing Co. beer is sold, rounding out an already incredibly successful year for the brewery.

Independence’s End Credits German Chocolate Cake Stout is now available on draft at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and at both Drafthouse locations in Denver. The seasonal brew is also available at select restaurants and bars in both states.

“This evolving series of limited-release holiday beers from Independence has become an annual end of year cinematic tradition for Alamo Drafthouse. We think highly of everything the brewery puts out and savor every drop of the limited releases while we can.”- John Gross, Alamo Drafthouse’s Director of National Beer Promotions.

Celebrate National Repeal Day on Wednesday December 5

hotelemmadrink — Celebrate National Repeal Day on Wednesday December 5 at Sternewirth at Hotel Emma. Photo: Hotel Emma, used with permission.

National Repeal Day celebrates the Repeal of Prohibition, or the end of the great experiment, and the return of legal alcohol sales. This year, Repeal Day will be observed on Wednesday December 05, 2018. The Repeal of Prohibition in the United States was accomplished with the passage of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 5, 1933. The Esquire Tavern and Hotel Emma will be holding events on Wednesday to commemorate the big day.

The Esquire Tavern is excited to invite all of San Antonio to party like it’s 1933 and celebrate the establishment’s 85th birthday at a timeless bash on Wednesday, December 5, the day recognized as ‘Repeal Day’ throughout history. To commemorate 85 years of providing downtown San Antonio with exquisite classic cocktails and delectable tavern food, the oldest bar on the Riverwalk will host an evening of revelry. Guests can expect entertainment including live music, a fortune teller, burlesque performances and plenty of the Esquire’s classic, prohibition-era cocktails like its famous Old-Fashioned. A variety of complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be shared throughout the night. Reservations are encouraged and available for both The Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at The Esquire. (The Esquire Tavern, 2018)

Special guests include Stars and Garters Burlesque accompanied by live music from The Dirty River Dixie Band. Chef Brooke Smith’s full menu will be available until 11p.m., including Esquire favorites like the Chicken Chalupitas in addition to the recently updated seasonal menu featuring new items like her savory Artichoke Dip and Grits and Grillades. The mysterious Shaman-like, ‘Brujo Jerry’ will be inhabiting Downstairs at The Esquire Tavern for the evening to share his revelatory visions of the future. Patrons are encouraged to celebrate their right to drink alcohol and visit Downstairs for the best Grower Champagne list in town, paired with house-prepared charcuterie and oysters on the half-shell. Everyone is invited. The event is from 7p.m. to midnight and the entertainment begins at 8p.m.

The Esquire Tavern
155 E. Commerce Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

Hotel Emma is hosting a National Repeal Day event at Sternewirth from 6p.m. to 10p.m. The evening will feature drink specials and Jazz Age music by award-winning artist Henry Brun. The public is invited to toast the end of prohibition and celebrate the freedom to drink and be merry this holiday season. The staff will dress the part in era-appropriate attire for an authentic Roaring Twenties feel. New features include speedier drink service courtesy of a new service bar and a new mezzanine seating area, where there is space for every reveler. The event is free and open to the public. (Hotel Emma, 2018)

The exclusive drink specials include:
• Gin Martini – Gin, Dry Vermouth, Orange Bitters $8
• House Bubbles – $8
• Aviation – Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Crème de Violette, Lemon $9
• Sazerac – Rye, Peychauds Bitters, Absinthe $9

Sternewirth Tavern & Club Room,
136 E. Grayson St.
San Antonio TX 78215

Independence Brewing Co announces seasonal fall beers

independenceredbudcherry18 — Cherry Redbud is one of the seasonal beers introduced for the fall season. Photo: Kirsten Kaiser, used with permission.

Independence Brewing Co. is excited to announce the fall release of three seasonal beers just in time for colder weather. The Autumn lineup introduces two brand new fruit-infused variations; Cherry Redbud Berliner Weisse and Tangerine Highboy Double IPA. The Independence team also welcomes back the seasonal classic, Shiny Diamonds Ale, an increasingly popular session IPA. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)

Cherry Redbud is inspired by the traditionally tart and lemony German beer with round cherry finish. Its subtle wheat maltiness has a delicate mix of fresh sweet and tart cherries, making Cherry Redbud a highly effervescent, easy-to-drink brew with a refreshing finish perfect for the crisp fall air. Cherry Redbud brings a deeper, sweeter flavor to the already robust Berliner Weisse-style beer.

Highboy Double IPA takes on a citrusy profile in the form of the Tangerine Highboy Double IPA, a resinous, fully-juiced beast of a beer that’s been double dry-hopped with loads of late-addition hops and souped-up with fresh tangerines. Made with a blend of Centennial, Citra, Amarillo and Summit hops, Tangerine Highboy brings together the old school West Coast Double IPA, East Coast IPA haze craze and a grove of ripe tangerines all packed into one bracing beer.

Shiny Diamonds is a hoppy ale mingling rich flavors with a clean finish, inspired by the heavy metal glam and soulful finesse in the song “Holy Diver” by Dio. Shiny Diamonds has fresh herbal and tropical flavors producing mild grapefruit notes followed by a clean, dry finish. Simple, yet as intricate and multifaceted as a skillfully cut gem, Shiny Diamonds is as complex as it is flavorful.

These seasonal exclusives will be available throughout the winter on draft at Independence Brewing Co.’s brewery and at local bars and grocery stores. Shiny Diamonds and Cherry Redbud will be available in six-packs and Tangerine Highboy Double IPA will be available in four-pack, 16oz tallboy cans.

“Each of the three fall releases brings a completely different flavor profile to the table. You have the heavy taste of hops in the Tangerine Highboy Double IPA, the crisp, fruity notes of Cherry Redbud and the dry, tropical taste of Shiny Diamonds to round it out.” – Head Brewer Brannon Radicke.

Independence Brewing Co. is a local craft beer brewery and taproom located in Southeast Austin, Texas. Founded by Amy & Rob Cartwright in 2004, Independence Brewing Co. has grown from a small mom, pop, and dog operation to a team of 40 people producing more than 17 thousand barrels a year with distribution throughout Texas and Arkansas. Independence Brewing Co. is now one of the largest and most beloved breweries in Central Texas.

Garrison Brothers Distillery releases Cowboy Bourbon

This week, Garrison Brothers Distillery announced the release of Cowboy Bourbon™, the rarest, most coveted release in the company’s portfolio of ultra-premium, Texas-born bourbon whiskeys. In celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month, Cowboy Bourbon™ will be available at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, for a limited time beginning September 21. The special edition 134-proof bourbon is bottled at cask-strength and comes from barrels hand-selected by the distillery’s founder and its master distiller. In bourbon connoisseur circles, The Cowboy has become known as the crown jewel of Garrison Brothers’ homegrown bourbon family. Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible named Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon™ “The American Micro Whiskey of the Year” in 2014 and again in 2017. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2018)

Garrison Brothers will celebrate the release of Cowboy Bourbon™ with a party at their distillery in Hye, Texas, on Friday, September 21. Dubbed ‘Cowboy Round-Up,’ the daytime party will feature frozen cocktails by Frost 321, a mobile cigar lounge by Habana Cowboy and food offerings from Chef Jake Gober of Silver Whisk. Distillery gates will open at noon and the festivities will last until 6p.m.

Only 500 bottles of Cowboy Bourbon™ will be available at the distillery in Hye, Texas, beginning September 21 at Hye Noon. 2,500 bottles will be distributed to Texas liquor stores, bars and restaurants, and 1,725 bottles will be distributed to the other 25 states and military bases where Garrison Brothers is sold. Each bottle comes packaged in a decorative wooden box with a weighty pewter medallion emblazoned with the release year around the bottle’s neck.

As part of an ongoing partnership with Team Rubicon, a non-profit veteran service organization that uses disaster response to help reintegrate veterans back into civilian life, Garrison Brothers Distillery will donate $5 to the organization for every bottle of Cowboy Bourbon™ purchased between September 21 and November 1.

Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye Albert Rd.
Hye, TX 78635
(830) 392-0246

Limited edition honey-infused bourbon from Garrison Brothers Distillery

honeydewbourbon — HoneyDew, the limited edition honey-infused bourbon from Garrison Brothers Distillery will be available starting August 17. Photo: Garrison Brothers Distillery, used with permission.

Garrison Brothers Distillery recently announced the release of HoneyDew, the latest experimental release in the company’s portfolio of ultra-premium, Texas-born bourbon whiskies. HoneyDew be available at the Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas for a limited time starting August 17 with only 4,000 bottles available. The special release 80 proof bourbon is infused with 100% Texas-made Burleson’s wildflower honey resulting in a smooth, light bourbon with a subtle honey finish. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2018)

The project is eleven years in the making and a departure from previous styles created by the brand. Nancy Garrison, wife and business partner of proprietor Dan Garrison, wanted the distillery to produce a honey-sweetened bourbon whiskey since they started the business together in 2006. Dan strongly objected due to his disdain for “flavored whiskies,” hence the name “HoneyDew”, as a play on “Honey Do” requests. Garrison’s objections to flavored whiskies come from the fact that so many of them are chemical concoctions; several even made with propylene glycol.

The new bourbon has tasting notes of sweet elderberry syrup, yeast, yellow-flesh peaches, apricots, white chocolate and of course, delicious, golden Texas honey. Garrison Brothers will celebrate the release of HoneyDew with a party at their distillery in Hye, Texas on Friday, August 17. Dubbed the HoneyDew Hullabaloo, the daytime party will feature frozen HoneyDew cocktails by Frost 321, a mobile cigar lounge by Habana Cowboy and a honey-education tent by Burleson’s Honey. Distillery gates will open at noon and the festivities will last until 6p.m. HoneyDew will be available exclusively at the distillery in Hye, Texas for $69.99 beginning August 17 at Hye Noon.

Garrison Brothers Distillery™ is a small farm and ranch located in the Texas Hill Country which produces straight bourbon whiskey. Founded in 2006, Garrison Brothers is the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas history and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey and only bourbon whiskey. At the American Craft Spirit Awards in 2016, they were awarded a gold medal for their Cowboy Bourbon™, silver medal for their 2016 Vintage Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey and another silver for their Texas Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas.

Garrison Brothers Distillery
1827 Hye Albert Rd
Hye, TX 78635

DIY ideas for National Margarita Day

limewithred — DIY ideas for National Margarita Day. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Thursday February 22 is National Margarita Day and for anyone looking for some last-minute DIY cocktail ideas, Twang is sharing a twist on the typical margarita and a recipe using their products. Anyone can use these ideas to create their own cocktail in the comfort of their own home. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in Texas. Twang’s product lines include Twang-A-Rita, Beer Salt and more, all designed to easily add flavor to drinks and elevate at-home alcoholic beverages to cocktail bar status. Twang’s products are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores, convenience stores and online. (Twang, 2018)

Orange Pomegranate Margarita:
1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. orange juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz Tequila Blanco
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz light agave syrup
Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar Salt

Prepare the glass. Drag a cut lime around the rim of the glass. Dip the rim in Twang-A-Rita GOLD salt. Make the drink. Combine ice, agave, pomegranate, orange and lime juice with the tequila and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and then pour into chilled, ice-filled glass or mason jar.

Margarita Con Twang:
Ice cubes
3 oz tequila
2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 to 1 teaspoon orange liqueur
1 tablespoon Lime-salt-sugar
2 tablespoons of Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime Salt

Rim a glass with Twang-A-Rita Lime Salt and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up. Place Lime-salt-sugar on a plate. Press the rim of a chilled rocks mason jar or wine glass into the mixture to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass.

National Margarita Day on February 22

contessapricklypearmargarita — The Prickly Pear Margarita at Hotel Contessa. Photo: Hotel Contessa, used with permission.

Thursday February 22 is National Margarita Day and San Antonio has plenty of places to get a margarita, whether authentic or creative. When it comes to downtown, Downstairs at the Esquire is the place for a simple, traditional, tequila-forward margarita and at the Cork Bar at the beautiful Hotel Contessa, guests can try their prickly pear margarita. At the Pearl, the house cocktails at Sternewirth at Hotel Emma include La Babia Margarita and Pony Tricks. For those in New Braunfels, Krause’s Café features margaritas on tap featuring fresh citrus and served on the rocks. (The Esquire Tavern, Pearl, Krause’s Café, 2018)

Rosella at the Rand is the recently-opened restaurant with a full bar that is livening up downtown San Antonio. They are celebrating by offering a special, off-menu cocktail called The Rosella Margarita ($9) on February 22. The signature recipe below was created by Jesse Torres, Bar Manager at Rosella at the Rand.

The Rosella Margarita:
1 oz Cimarron Tequila Blanco
1/2 oz Arette Tequila Reposado
3/4 oz Combier
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup

Shake well with ice and serve either up or on the rocks in chilled, salt-rimmed glasses. Express the oils of an orange over the drink and garnish with a lime wedge.

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Category: Liquor News