Twang’s Galentine’s Day Pink Drink. Photo: Twang, used with permission.
Valentine’s Day is just two weeks away and many couples will be celebrating at home this year. Below are a couple of the best easy-to-make, cocktails lovers can shake up from the comfort of their own kitchens to share with their valentine or best gal pals. Best of all, all spirits mentioned are available nationwide for door-step delivery. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, Twang, 2021)
Garrison Brothers Distillery – the first legal whiskey distillery – Sweet-Mash Texas Bourbon Kicks Up A Decadent Chocolate Strawberry Martini Recipe – Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini; Glassware – Martini Ingredients: • 2 oz. Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon • 1.5 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur • 1 oz. half-and-half • simple syrup to taste (1/2 oz. to 1 oz.) • 2 whole strawberries, washed & stemmed • 1 bottle Hershey’s dark chocolate shell
Instructions: • prepare martini glass by dipping the rim in chocolate syrup and allowing it to harden • swirl chocolate syrup in circular pattern inside the martini glass, place in freezer to chill • dice one strawberry and place in bottom of mixing tin • add bourbon, Godiva, half and half • muddle until strawberry becomes pulp • add ice • Shake • strain into martini glass • garnish with upside down strawberry strawberry slice
Twang – Celebrate Girls’ Night In this Galentine’s Day With This DIY Cocktail Recipe – Galentine’s Day Pink Drink; Glassware – Margarita glass Ingredients: • Twang-A-Rita Citrus Splash • 4 oz. Strawberry lemonade • 1 oz. lemon juice • 1 oz. Dulce Vida Tequila • 1 oz. triple sec
Instructions: • Run a lemon along the edge of a highball glass and rim with Twang-A-Rita Citrus Splash • Add ice, strawberry lemonade, lemon juice, triple sec, and tequila. Stir to combine • Garnish with lemon wedge
Garrison Brothers’ first rye whiskey, Hye Rye. Photo: Garrison Brothers Distillery, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery recently announced the release of Hye Rye, the company’s first-ever rye whiskey. This limited-run, experimental expression is a 98-proof rye whiskey that pays homage to rye whiskey’s deep roots in American distilling history. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Hye Rye will be available exclusively at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, for $99.99 beginning December 5 —the 87th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition in America and founder Dan Garrison’s birthday. Garrison Brothers will celebrate the release of Hye Rye with a drive-thru sealed bottle sales day at their distillery in Hye, Texas, on December 5. Gates open at 8a.m. and singer-songwriter Scooter Pearce will play her own blend of outlaw Americana and country-western music beginning at 11a.m. Purchase limit is two bottles per person.
Rye, known as the “flavor grain,” yields spicy and savory notes that are unique amongst Garrison Brothers’ portfolio of ultra-premium, Texas-born bourbon whiskies. Where bourbons tend to be sweeter and smokier with hints of caramel, rye whiskey is spicier, with notes of pepper, grass, and grain. It has been distilled in America since the late 1700s.
For Garrison Brothers, the production of Hye Rye dates to 2012 when Master Distiller Donnis Todd sourced several hundred bags of organic rye from Justin Crownover’s Lonestar Family Farms in Sunray, Texas. His goal was to create a sweet mash bill of 52% South Texas corn and 37% organic rye. Todd aged the test barrels for two years, tasting them at six-month intervals to assess flavor development. Although he was initially pleased with the progress of Hye Rye’s aging, Todd wanted a more robust flavor profile, so he decided to mature the bourbon for five additional years. In the summer of 2015, Todd and his production team strategically placed fourteen barrels in rickhouses throughout the ranch to allow the flavors to evolve.
“It’s an honor to create Garrison Brother’s first-ever rye whiskey. Although the quantity is limited, we are excited to hear what fans think of this experimental release.” – Master Distiller Donnis Todd
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas in 2010 and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey—and only bourbon whiskey. The business was founded in 2006. Garrison Brothers is a proud and active member of the communities of Blanco, Fredericksburg, Hye, Johnson City, and Stonewall. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas.
Five San Antonio bartenders win title at this year’s Bourbon Brawl. Photo: Marshall Tidrick, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced this week that a team of five bartenders from San Antonio has won its 2020 Bourbon Brawl contest, a statewide bartender competition that ended last Thursday evening. Originally an in-person event, Bourbon Brawl 2020 was adapted to a COVID-safe format through a partnership with Sourced: Craft Cocktails. Sourced packaged and delivered kits of all five team’s cocktails to guests, which allowed them to participate in the final round by tuning-in, tasting each cocktail and casting their vote for the best. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Twenty-five bartenders, five each from Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston, were chosen to compete in the final round of the virtual competition. The San Antonio team is taking home a grand prize of $12,500 as well as the title of Bourbon Brawl 2020 Champions. The $12,500 prize is from a 501(c)3 public charity called Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018. The money will be split evenly between the five bartenders. San Antonio team members include Trinh Quan Huy-Philip, Gladys Estrada, Cruz Gutierrez, Michelle Stephenson, and Johnny Yumol.
In February 2020, contestants submitted a cocktail recipe to Garrison Brothers. A panel of drinks experts judged each cocktail blind and chose 75 bartenders to proceed to the next round. Each of the 75 bartenders’ venues featured their cocktail for two weeks, while the Garrison Brothers team visited each location to judge the cocktail along with the service. After that, they selected 25 mixologists to compete in the semi-finals, five from each major Texas city.
The five semi-finalists from each city collaborated to create one cocktail that represents their hometown. For San Antonio, it was the Alamo City cocktail that carried them to victory. This delightful combination of fresh watermelon juice, hand-squeezed lime juice, rosemary simple syrup, and Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon spoke to the rich history and vibrant culture of the city. Each city’s semi-finalists were then invited to Austin for the Finals event on November 19, where only select Garrison Brothers staff were in attendance.
In further efforts to keep Bourbon Brawl 2020 COVID-safe, Garrison Brothers partnered with Sourced Craft Cocktails, a cocktail curation and delivery service, to create custom cocktail kits available for purchase and delivery in each major city. Those who purchased a cocktail kit were able to follow along with every cocktail made in the final competition, then cast their vote for the winner.
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas in 2010 and is one the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas
Funds of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause are distributed to charitable organizations in Blanco and Gillespie counties of Texas and to charitable organizations that serve current and former American military personnel nationwide. The types of charitable causes that are supported include, but are not limited to organizations that help current or former American military veterans and their families and organizations dedicated to conserving and preserving nature, wildlife, green spaces, or historical landmarks and historical sites. To date, the nonprofit organization has raised and contributed close to $500,000.
‘Cocktails to go’ include the Mint To Tea. Photo: Rob Cordes, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced this week the inaugural San Antonio Whiskey Month, a month-long promotion to support local businesses while celebrating the joy of good bourbon throughout the city. The award-winning Hill Country bourbon maker has teamed up with some of San Antonio’s best cocktail bars and mixologists to feature a limited-time San Antonio Whiskey Month cocktail. A portion of proceeds from every cocktail sold, from both dine-in and to-go cocktails, will benefit Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)3 public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018. Funds of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause are distributed to charitable organizations primarily, but not exclusively, in Blanco and Gillespie counties of Texas and also to charitable organizations that serve current and former American military personnel. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Participating businesses include local favorites like Bamboo, Botika, Broadway 50/50, Cover-3, Dorrego’s, Francis Bogside, Lucy Cooper’s Icehouse, On the Bend Oyster Bar, Ostra at Mokara Hotel & Spa, Paramour at the Phipps, Rebelle, The Good Kind, Tucker’s Kozy Korner and The Well. More business will be confirmed on a daily basis and will be added to the running list.
San Antonio Whiskey Month customers are encouraged to share their experience on social media with #sawhiskeymonth for a chance to win a Garrison Bros. prize pack (ages 21+ only).
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey and only straight bourbon whiskey. In 2010, Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas and has since developed a rabid fan base. They currently have a waitlist of more than 17,000 people hoping to land a spot on bottling days, and their Cowboy Bourbon™ normally sells out within hours of its release. Garrison Brothers is the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas history and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey. The business was founded in 2006, though rumor has it they may have started production a little earlier. Garrison Brothers is a proud and active member of the communities of Blanco, Fredericksburg, Hye, Johnson City and Stonewall. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas.
At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020, the Garrison Brothers team was awarded a double gold medal for its Balmorhea Double-Barreled Bourbon, a silver medal for its Single Barrel Bourbon and a bronze medal for its Small Batch Bourbon. Garrison Brothers was voted Best Craft Whiskey Distillery in America by readers of USA Today in 2017.
“The mission of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause is to change the world through the power of good bourbon. The inaugural San Antonio Whiskey Month gives us another tool to raise money for those impacted by the pandemic, and I’m inspired by the coalescence of our community during these uncertain times.” – Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery.
San Antonio’s Alamo City, one of the five semifinalists for this year’s Bourbon Brawl. Photo: Garrison Brothers Distillery, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced the virtual adaptation of its statewide bartender competition, Bourbon Brawl 2020. The contest was originally supposed to take place in May but was postponed in light of the pandemic. Now, in lieu of an in-person event, Bourbon Brawl 2020 will take place entirely online on Thursday, November 19.(Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Garrison Brothers has partnered with Sourced Craft Cocktails, a cocktail curation and delivery service, to provide custom cocktail kits for guests to order and receive prior to the virtual Finals event where one kit will be selected as the winner. The grand prize is $12,500 from a public charity called Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018. They will also get the opportunity to take the title of Bourbon Brawl 2020 Champions home to their respective Texas city.
In February 2020, contestants submitted a cocktail recipe to Garrison Brothers. A panel of drinks experts blind judged each cocktail and chose 75 bartenders to proceed to the next round. Each of the 75 bartenders’ venues featured their cocktail for two weeks, while the Garrison Brothers team visited each location to judge the cocktail along with the service. After that, they selected 25 mixologists to compete in the semi-finals, five from each of these five major Texas cities: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
The semi-finals and final event of Bourbon Brawl 2020 were initially slated to take place throughout March, April and May. After postponing the events several times due to COVID-19, the Garrison Brothers team decided to change the format so it could still take place safely this year. The five semi-finalists from each city have collaborated to create one cocktail that represents their city using ingredients from a list provided by Sourced Craft Cocktails.
The Bourbon Brawl 2020 cocktail kits are available online for $212.40 and for pre-order through Sourced from October 12 through November 12. The kits will be delivered just before the Finals event on November 19. Guests are encouraged to order the five-in-one cocktail kit that includes everything needed to make two full servings of each of the following cocktails:
Fort Worth’s Chisholm Two-Step
The Chisholm Two-Step will put some boogie back in your boots with a jolt of Chai Tea Latte concentrate and a complement of sarsaparilla-infused Simple Syrup, giving an entirely new meaning to the legendary “Texas Tea.”
Dallas’ Snake In My Boot
Do not let the mellow coconut sugar syrup and warm, smooth bourbon goodness fool you: the combo of tart cherry juice and muddle jalapeno slice ensures that this snake has plenty of bite.
San Antonio’s Alamo City
Just like the Alamo, this simple South Texas sipper is easy to remember. With notes of fruit and rosemary adding a bit of lightness to a generous pour of Garrison Brothers bourbon, the Alamo City would be a perfect companion to any day on the Riverwalk.
Austin’s MIA (Missing In Austin)
Go off the grid for a while with this fruit-focused delight, featuring pineapple juice, grapefruit juice and plenty more. When you wrap up these fruity notes in the warm caramel cradle of bourbon, you get an entire night on Sixth Street all rolled into one.
Houston’s The Pho-Kit
Say “Pho-Kit” and turn your cocktail into a savory meal in a glass. This unique combination of curry powder, chili oil and fish sauce melds with honey syrup to bring out every spicy note you can find in a pour of Garrison Brothers.
Each city’s semi-finalists have been invited to Austin for the Finals event on November 19, where only select Garrison Brothers staff will be in attendance. The select staff will judge each cocktail in person in a socially-distanced, COVID-safe environment. Guests are invited to tune in virtually, taste each cocktail, and vote on the winning drink amongst themselves.
“This partnership with Sourced not only makes Bourbon Brawl 2020 possible despite the event limitations of the pandemic, but it also prepares Texas bartenders to create the ‘cocktails of the future.’ By challenging them to create cocktails from ingredients that ship well and working through the process of curating a cocktail kit with Sourced, they’re learning valuable skills that will hopefully help them evolve with the industry.” – Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery.
Garrison Brothers Distillery’s limited edition Cowboy Bourbon. Photo: Garrison Brothers Distillery, used with permission.
This week, Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced the 2020 release of their limited-edition, highly-anticipated Cowboy Bourbon™. This uncut, unfiltered, limited-edition bourbon comes from barrels that are hand-selected by the distillery’s master distiller. Those barrels are then set aside for several more years for further maturation and the liquid is bottled at cask-strength — this year’s batch clocks in at a stout 133.9 proof, or 66.95% alc/vol. Cowboy Bourbon™ has become known as the crown jewel of Garrison Brothers’ Texas bourbon family, hence the hand-dipped, gold wax seal. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Although the Garrison Brothers team produced a total of 6,768 (750ml) bottles, only 1,000 bottles will be available for purchase at the distillery’s drive-thru purchasing event on Saturday, September 26. Gates will open at 8a.m. sharp, but patrons are encouraged to arrive early to secure a bottle.
Cowboy Bourbon™ was named “American Micro Whiskey of the Year” in Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible once in 2014 and again in 2017. Balmorhea, the distillery’s first twice-barreled bourbon, was awarded the same distinction in 2019 and 2020. Master distiller Donnis Todd created the 2020 edition of Cowboy Bourbon™ by fusing 100 of his favorite top-shelf barrels, which he calls his “piggy banks.”
Each bottle, priced at $199, comes packaged in a custom-built American white oak gift box lined with a satin pillow and weighty medallion emblazoned with the release year around the bottle’s neck. Only 5,768 bottles of Cowboy Bourbon™ will be distributed to liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, as well as military bases across the 35 states where Garrison Brothers is sold.
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey and only straight bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas in 2010 and has since developed a rabid fan base. Garrison Brothers is a proud and active member of the communities of Blanco, Fredericksburg, Hye, Johnson City and Stonewall. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas. Anyone interested in learning more about Garrison Brothers Bourbon or in taking a tour of the distillery should visit Garrison Brothers online or follow @garrisonbros on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Laguna Madre is named after the beautiful blue waters along Texas’ Gulf Coast. The ultra-premium bourbon was first aged for four years in new white American oak barrels. It was then aged for four more years in barrels made of Limousin oak from France, which is prized for the vanilla flavor it bestows. Limousin oak imparts spirits with distinct flavors of vanilla, sweet candy, cacao and thick, white chocolate. There are only 400 bottles of Laguna Madre remaining and they are available for purchase for $299/each exclusively at the Garrison Brothers Distillery Gift Shop in Hye, Texas. Additional donations to Good Bourbon for a Good Cause are strongly encouraged at point of purchase.
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch, located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas in 2010 and they currently have a wait list of more than 17,000 people hoping to land a spot on bottling days. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas.
Funds of Good Bourbon for a Cause are distributed to charitable organizations in Blanco and Gillespie counties of Texas and also to charitable organizations that serve current and former American military personnel nationwide. The types of charitable causes that are supported include but are not limited to:
Organizations that help current or former American military veterans and their families
Organizations that help former American military personnel get back to leading a rewarding life
Organizations that help American veterans recover from debilitating medical, mental health or psychological challenges
Organizations dedicated to conserving and preserving nature, wildlife, green spaces, or historical landmarks and historical sites
Other charitable organizations that the board of directors determine to be within the intent and spirit of the formation of this corporation
To date, the nonprofit organization has raised and contributed over to $500,000.
“The mission of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause is to change the world through the power of good bourbon. The highly-anticipated Laguna Madre release provided us the best tool to raise the maximum amount of money, and I’m inspired by the coalescence of our community during these uncertain times.” Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery.
The new 80-proof bourbon is perfect for summertime cocktails like the Reckless Beehavior, a spicy combination of HoneyDew, amaro, citrus, cinnamon, chipotle bitters and cacao. Photo: Rob Cordes, used with permission.
This week, Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced its 2020 release of HoneyDew, the latest addition to the company’s portfolio of ultra-premium, Texas-born bourbon whiskies. The 80-proof bourbon, infused with 100% Texas-made Burleson’s wildflower honey, is a smooth, light bourbon with a subtle honey finish. It will be available year-round in select liquor stores, bars and restaurants throughout Texas, California, Florida, New York, twenty one other states as well as on military bases where Garrison Brothers is sold. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
This special release is 13 years in the making and represents a departure from previous expressions created by the brand. Nancy Garrison, business partner and wife 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 are syrupy, chemical concoctions and several are even made with propylene glycol. The new bourbon has tasting notes of sweet elderberry syrup, yellow-flesh peaches, apricots, white chocolate, and of course, delicious, golden Texas honey.
Garrison Brothers will celebrate the release of HoneyDew with a drive-thru sealed bottle sales day at their distillery in Hye, Texas on Saturday, July 18. Per state law, the bottles are sold for off-premise consumption. HoneyDew will be available at the distillery in Hye, Texas, for $89.99 beginning July 18. Bottles will then be distributed to select liquor stores, bars, and restaurants across the nation, available for purchase nationwide the week of August 1.
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces straight bourbon whiskey. It is the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas history and one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey—and only bourbon whiskey. The business was founded in 2006. Every expression of Garrison Brothers bourbon is made from a sweet mash bill and barrel-aged in the intense Texas climate. The extreme heat creates multiple aging seasons in a year, resulting in a darker, richer, and fuller bourbon, bolder than almost any other bourbon on the market.
Since 1907, Burleson’s Honey has been manufacturing the highest-quality honey from its facility in Waxahachie, Texas. For the first 40 years, the company operated as a honey beekeeping organization (producer) while also packing honey for local distribution. With company growth came increased opportunities to provide the highest-quality honey to more consumers. Today Burleson’s purchases raw honey from worldwide sources and offer their Clover Blended product, which is found in the distinctive “Blue Label,” as well as a Natural honey, which is darker and more robust in flavor. Both products contain only the finest U.S. Grade A honey.
“It’s exciting to have two family-owned businesses collaborating in support of Texas agriculture and entrepreneurship. It’s been a rewarding experience to work with Dan Garrison over the years and we’re excited to deepen Burleson’s relationship with him and his team. We want to continue bringing fine honey and fine bourbon together for everyone to enjoy.” – Tim Burleson, President of Burleson’s Honey
Team Rubicon COVID-19 relief. Photo: Trang Lee, used with permission.
On April 2, Garrison Brothers Distillery launched Operation Crush COVID-19, a fundraising campaign to help American communities recover and rebuild from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One way Garrison Brothers was able to raise these funds was by pivoting the forthcoming release of an eight-year-old, top-shelf bourbon called Laguna Madre and gifting it to donors who contributed $1,000 or more to the cause. Since then, the initiative has raised over $200,000 and has an ultimate goal of $2 million. Veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon received $100,000 from the philanthropic effort and Garrison Brothers recently announced three more groups as beneficiaries, including 53 individual bartenders, Southern Smoke Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund and The Texas Restaurant Education Association’s TX Restaurant Relief Fund. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Two Texas hospitality nonprofit organizations each received $23,500 from Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, Garrison Brothers Distillery’s 501(c)3 public charity. Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation allocated the donation to their Emergency Relief Fund, providing assistance to individuals in need in the food and beverage industry.
Nonprofit organizations were not the sole beneficiaries of funds raised via Operation Crush COVID-19. Bartenders who participated in The Bourbon Take Over of Texas each received $1,000 as well. The Bourbon Takeover of Texas is Garrison Brothers Distillery’s annual mixology event, which pre-qualifies bartenders to compete in a statewide bartender competition, The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl. The competition was originally supposed to take place from March 26 through May 7 but has been tentatively rescheduled to October.
Garrison Brothers Distillery plans to continue their fundraising efforts until their goal of $2 million is met. Anyone interested in making a contribution to the fundraising efforts can do so online. Contributors of $1,000 or more will receive a bottle of Laguna Madre, an eight-year-old, top-shelf Garrison Brothers.
“This crisis has once again shown how our industry and our customers band together to support each other. Restaurants are the core of our communities, and the generosity of individuals and organizations like Garrison Brothers who rally them are helping to ensure that they survive this challenging time. On behalf of those independent restaurateurs and their employees who will benefit from these funds via the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, thank you!” – Dr. Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association.
Garrison Brothers will celebrate the release with a drive-thru purchasing opportunity on Friday May 22. Photo: Adam Voorhes, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announces the third release of its multi-award-winning twice-barreled bourbon, Balmorhea. The limited release will kick off on Friday, May 22 in Hye, Texas, at the distillery. The team will have a drive-through purchasing experience for the first available bottles. Balmorhea will then be available nationwide in extremely limited quantities beginning May 25. First released in 2018, the twice-barreled bourbon’s 2020 release produced 6,000 bottles total. Named after the iconic West Texas Park that is home to the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, the initial release of this bourbon raised over $250,000 to help keep Balmorhea State Park open. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)
Garrison Brothers’ Balmorhea has won the most awards to date in the distillery’s portfolio of grain-to-glass bourbon whiskies. Most recently, Balmorhea won a Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Awards. Double Gold distinctions are only awarded to entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel; these are noted to be among the finest products in the world.
Balmorhea is the only Garrison Brothers’ twice-barreled bourbon released annually. It is aged four years in new American white oak barrels made from wood grown, yard-seasoned and dry-aged for 25 months in the Ozarks. Then, the liquid is transferred to a second new American white oak barrel, custom designed by Master Distiller Donnis Todd to highlight specific flavors and qualities and aged for another year. The bourbon is bottled at 57.5% alc/vol or 115 proof and comes from a sweet mash bill, like all of Garrison Brothers’ releases. Todd’s tasting notes for Balmorhea include a litany of what he calls “Dairy Queen toppings” including bourbon candy, frozen fudgesicle bars, amaretto coffee with cream, sticky buns and pecan brittle.
Garrison Brothers will celebrate the third release of Balmorhea Twice-Barreled Bourbon with a drive-through purchasing opportunity at their distillery in Hye, Texas, on Friday, May 22, 2020. Distillery gates will open at Hye Noon (12p.m. CDT) and remain open until 2p.m. All bottles allocated to the distillery typically sell out within one hour, so the Garrison Brothers team encourages early arrival. The purchase limit is two bottles per person.
One lucky attendee will win the chance to join Master Distiller Donnis Todd as he tastes his way through the Garrison Brothers’ rickhouse to find the perfect barrels for the 2021 release of Balmorhea. Seventy-seven barrels went into making the 2020 release. One special bottle will be secretly labeled with “#77” and placed on gift shop shelves. The patron who purchases it will win barrel selection rights for the following year. Balmorhea lovers are encouraged to keep an eye on Garrison Brothers’ Instagram page for teasers and more info.
Only 504 bottles of Balmorhea Twice-Barreled Bourbon will be available at the distillery in Hye, Texas, for $159.99 beginning May 22. 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 nationwide the week of May 25.
SA Examiner 