Texas Bourbon News

Texas Born from Texas Corn



More Excuses To Drink Fine Bourbon

At the request of a few private clubs, great spirits retailers and legendary Texas bars and restaurants, we’ve added a few more events this spring. Hope you’ll feel inclined to drop what you’re doing and come have a drink with us:
  • Wednesday, May 2 from 4 to 6 – J Black’s in Austin. I’ll have the pleasure of teaching the staff at J Black’s about how best to serve and enjoy Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Afterward I’m buying drinks (well, a few anyway).
  • Thursday, May 3 at 7 – Opal Divine’s WhiskeyFest at Penn Field in Austin. Our distillery director Donnis Todd will be talking bourbon along with dozens of Whiskey representatives from all over the world.
  • Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 – Speaker Dinner at Westwood Country Club in Austin. We’ll talk about my favorite bourbon cocktail: two parts Garrison Brothers and one part glass. This event is open to the public. Get tickets at http://www.westwoodcountryclub.com/ or by emailing Katie at katiel@westwoodcountryclub.com.
  • Saturday, May 12 from 1 to 4 – Sipping and Signing at Joe Saglimbeni’s in San Antonio. Please stop in and meet some of the locals who gather at one of my favorite neighborhood liquor stores. Nobody does it better than Joe and his staff.
  • Tuesday, May 15 from 5 to 9 – Texas Style Hospitality at Smith & Wollensky’s in Houston. Should be an ad promoting this event in the April issue of Texas Monthly.
  • Wednesday, June 6 from 5 to 7 – Happy Hour at The University of Texas Club at Royal Memorial Stadium. Private, member-only event.
  • Friday, June 8 – Nimitz Golf Classic at Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg. We’ll be serving Garrison Brothers at the 17th Hole, so its unlikely anyone will finish their round. Private, member-only event.
  • Saturday, June 16 from 12:30 to 3:30 – WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye. Come help us celebrate our well deserved Blue Ribbon for our parade float in the  Stonewall Peach Parade that morning. We’ll have enough fried chicken for 200 with all the trimmings in The Barrel Barn. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds go to the Hye Preservation Society. We’ll announce how and where to get tickets soon.
  • Thursday, June 21 at 6 – Bourbon Dinner at The Fredericksburg Herb Farm. This should be out of this world. Chef Asa Thornton has prepared an outstanding menu featuring locally grown produce, exotic game and bourbon-inspired cocktails in one the Hill Country’s most beautiful landscapes. For reservations, contact Fredericksburg Herb Farm at 830-997-8615.

Once again, I want to thank all of you who are enjoying a bottle of Garrison Brothers right now. Please rinse, repeat, and go get another. We appreciate your support.

posted by Dan Garrison in Blog and have Comments (2)



Sipping and Signing, Again

With Easter behind us, and Mother’s and Father’s Day right around the corner, it seemed a good time to arrange a few ”sit and sips” for those of ya’ll who might want to give out bottles of Garrison Brothers to your favorite bourbon drinker.

Here’s where I’m headed in the next few weeks. I hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

  • Saturday, April 14 from 2 to 4 – The Houston Wine Merchant: Looking forward to a little time with Everett and his knowledgeable gang at this outstanding liquor store at 2646 South Shepherd.
  • Friday, April 20 from 6 to 8 – Bourbon Tasting at Rye 51 in Houston (reservations required): If you have not visited Rye 51, come to this event. David and his gang have amazing clothes. If I had a real job, and gave a crap how I look, this is where I’d shop. We’ll be talking bourbon and comparing wheats and ryes. To RSVP, please email David at david@qcustomclothier.com.
  • Friday, April 20 from 8:30 to 9:30 - Downing Street Pub in Houston: Please join me and CJ at Houston’s most prestigious whiskey pub and cigar lounge. We’ll be pouring Garrison Brothers and discussing why bourbon is far superior to scotch. That ought to piss somebody off.
  • Sunday, April 22 from 7 to 9 – Married With Dishes Viewing Party at The Auslander in Fredericksburg: Anthony Bourdain’s production company, Zero Point Zero Productions, is launching a new television series called Married With Dishes, which was filmed all over Fredericksburg.  The outrageous, climactic dinner was shot in the Barrel Barn at Garrison Brothers Distillery. It will air on the Cooking Channel. This should be one hilarious evening. Hope you’ll join us.
  • Tuesday, April 24 from 7:30 to 9:30 – Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop (invitation-only event): Private bourbon dinner with Chef Neil Joiner.
  • Thursday, April 26 from 5 to 6 – Strip House in Downtown Houston: Please join us for a Bourbon Happy Hour organized by our friends at Strip House. I understand Chef Mario Vidal may be providing appetizers that pair nicely with fine straight bourbon.
  • Wednesday, May 2 from 4 to 6 – J Black’s in Austin: That afternoon I’ll have the pleasure of telling the staff at J Black’s about how best to serve and enjoy Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Afterward I’m buying drinks (well, a few anyway). Hope you’ll stop by.

 

Finally, I just want to say thanks to all of you who, like I am, are enjoying a bottle of Garrison Brothers right now. It appears you guys are buying about a hundred cases a week, which is crazy, but it makes us damn proud.

Thank you!

 

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2010 Newsletter and have Comments (20)



Texas Bourbon News, The Spring 2012 Release

Cinch Up Your Saddle. Time to Ride.

In two weeks, on Texas Independence Day (that’s March 2nd for the foreign readers), we’ll be introducing the Spring 2012 Release of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

I think it’s our best bourbon yet. But more on the bourbon later, I want to talk about family.

    

The Kids and Volunteers

A Family Business

If you’ve read this newsletter before, you know that Garrison Brothers Distillery is a family business. We’re proud of that. The business is owned by my wife and I, my brother, and about nine of our friends and drinking buddies. They so strongly believed in the business and the bourbon that they invested their savings to make it happen. Those are good friends.

But remaining independent is just the beginning of what we mean when we talk about family. Our mission — lifted directly from the business plan – is: To create, build and sustain a profitable, family-operated bourbon whiskey distillery that makes the best tasting and highest quality bourbon whiskey ever made, and in turn, supports and nourishes our families, the families of those who work with us, and the community in which we operate.

When they aren’t in school or involved in sports, my kids and my wife help out here in Hye – pouring samples for guests, organizing special events, bottling bourbon and helping with chores. I am a proud Papa on those days. Behind the scenes, my wife runs our board of directors, monitors the finances (to be sure), and is never too timid to point out when I lose sight of the mission. I am lucky to have her. She tells me so every day.

      

A Family Business

But the family extends beyond my family. It includes the families of our staff.  Not a day goes by when I don’t see this sensational man named Kevin at the distillery. Kevin doesn’t work for us, but his wife does. Yet, day in and day out, there’s Kevin — hauling barrels, unloading boxes, taking out trash.

The same is true about our distillery director’s son Calvin. When he’s not in school, he’s at the stillhouse, because his dad never leaves and the two of them are inseparable. Calvin knows so much about bourbon, he could give a distinguished speaker lecture series at the University of Kentucky. Our bottling manager is Laurel, whose husband Randy can fix anything with a pocket knife. He shows up almost every week and jumps right in.

Members of our ambassador association, The Old 300, are also a big part of the family. They know that when they visit us for Bourbon Camp, there will be hard work along with the hard play. And when they’re not visiting us in Hye, they’re out promoting our bourbon where they live. I get emails from them daily telling me about a great bourbon bar that I need to visit. Sure it’s tough work, but someone’s got to do it.

Finally, I have to recognize the amazing volunteers who help us bottle this bourbon. This group consists of fathers and sons, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, Harley biker club members, foodies, wayward bourbon connoisseurs, bloggers, and an occasional stripper (those who were here know exactly who I’m talking about). These crazy, wonderful people are family too.

All these folks recognize that we can’t afford to pay them but we would if we could. They believe that one day we will make it up to them. And one day, we will.

We don’t mass produce. We don’t artificially color. We don’t spend millions on branding. We make it like it should be made and we tell it like it should be told. The family believes in what we’re doing and it takes an enormous family to make it happen.

So, if there’s a theme to this post, family is it. We love this family. They’re strange as hell; they are immensely talented and intensely dedicated, and we look out for each other. Don’t Mess with This Texas Family!

 

 

The Spring 2012 Release of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

 

A New Bourbon is Born

Prepare for something a little different with the Spring 2012 release. There is a noticeable change from our previous bourbons in this beautiful brown liquor. First off, this is the first bourbon we’ve made exclusively using organic #1 gourmet grade white corn from the Texas Panhandle. All previous releases have been organic yellow dent corn. Additionally, this bourbon was made primarily with organic soft red winter wheat we harvested from our farm in 2009.

The bourbon was distilled and entered into barrels that same year and has been under careful watch in our barrel barns for almost three years. Every drop was distilled by me, Donnis, Fred or JD on The Copper Cowgirl. Every barrel used in this release was custom-made for Garrison Brothers.

As always will be the case with Garrison Brothers’ bourbons, it is not chill-filtered. Doing so is an unforgiveable sin, because it removes the fatty acids from the grain and the wood, which are an important aspect of the flavor. As a result, if you leave this bourbon sitting for a long time, especially in a cold area, you may eventually see cloudiness and solids resting in the bottom of the bottle. Connoisseurs, who know great bourbons like George T. Stagg, will recognize that this is to be expected from an authentic bourbon whiskey, made the way bourbon was made – before the technology and marketing geeks brought us chill-filtration. If it clouds up, just shake it, pour and enjoy responsibly.

        

  Bourbon in Barrels                    Dumping Barrels                       Bourbon Rain        

The result is pretty damn special. This one has a smoky butterscotch and maple syrup nose, caramelized brown sugar sweetness on the tongue, and unlike the Fall 2011 Release, a crisp and delicate finish. Our distillery director Donnis Todd says it reminds him of toasted marshmallows. I get that, but I’m reminded of the buttery cinnamon toast my mom used to make for breakfast when we were kids. She used real butter.

We selected 134 barrels from our barns for this release. The brutally hot summers these past two years took their toll and the Angel’s certainly got their Share. The release is small by liquor industry standards at just 7,026 bottles. As always, I signed and numbered every bottle. As is our custom, we skipped bottle #666, so one case will have two #665s.

 

          

 

Bottled By Texans, Proud Texans

Once again, wonderful Texans – and members of the family – drove in from all over the state to help us bottle this bourbon. We had more than 100 guests in all, from Clear Lake, Cedar Park, Dallas, El Paso, Fredericksburg, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, The Woodlands and many wonderful small Texas towns. We sincerely appreciate those of you who helped out. We are indebted and hope you’ll come home again soon.

We were in for a treat the first two days. Chuck Cowdery, the author of Bourbon, Straight, came down from Chicago to pay a visit. Chuck knows more about the makers and the history of Kentucky bourbon than any man I’ve ever met and shared his deep knowledge while he was here. We also put him to work. My respect for the Kentucky boys grows daily. Buy his book!

If you wanted to help bottle and did not get the call, please accept our apologies. We currently have a waiting list with more than 600 names on it. We’d invite everybody down, if we could, but it just wouldn’t be safe to have more people in the stillhouse. We are working in those who have been on the list the longest first, I promise.

 

Bourbon Bound for The Bayou City

So, here’s what many of you have been waiting to hear: Much of this release is headed to Houston, just in time for the Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Houston is a bit of a homecoming for me. I spent my teenage years there. My fondest memories are of the Bunker Hill area where I played football at Spring Branch Junior High and spent one year at Memorial High. Not paying attention, I had my first car wreck on Westheimer. I got in my first fight in the Memorial City parking lot, and lost. My first girlfriend went to St. Cecelia’s Catholic School. She taught me how to kiss and some other cool stuff.

So, yeah, I’m looking forward to Houston. When I wasn’t distilling or bottling in Hye this February and March, I’ve been living out of a Motel 6 there while meeting with bar, restaurant and hotel managers. Clearly, Houston is a straight bourbon town. The reception at fine on-premise establishments has been amazing.

Here’s just a partial list of award winning and amazing restaurants, hotels and bars that will be featuring Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey behind their bar. I hope you’ll pay them a visit and tell them I sent you.

  • III Forks
  • Anvil
  • Ava/Alta
  • Benjy’s on Washington
  • Benjy’s on Dunstan
  • Branch Water Tavern
  • Brasserie 19
  • Brennan’s of Houston
  • Brenner’s On The Bayou
  • Cullen’s Upscale American Grill
  • Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (Galleria)
  • Downing Street
  • Gigi’s
  • Haven
  • Hotel Zaza
  • Hugo’s
  • Masraff’s
  • Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
  • Pesce
  • Prohibition (Galleria)
  • Poison Girl
  • RDG & Bar Annie
  • Reef
  • Reserve 101
  • Royal Oak
  • Ruth’s Chris
  • Vic & Anthony’s

 

In addition, the Spring 2012 Release of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey will most likely be available at these fine liquor stores. I recommend calling first to make sure they have some in stock.

  • CostCo Liquor Stores
  • Fiesta Liquor Stores
  • Heights Liquor
  • Houston Wine Merchant
  • International Champions
  • Richards Fine Wine and Spirits
  • All Specs stores
  • Sunny’s
  • PG Liquor
  • Ralstons
  • Tony Ks

 

A few hundred cases of this release will also be shipped to the fine liquor stores in Austin and San Antonio, and all points in between, who sell Garrison Brothers. As soon as we know which stores reorder, we will post that information here. Sincerest thanks to those stores who have made our bourbon available to your customers. We truly appreciate your support.

      


Houston, Let’s Share Some Bourbon!

Since we hate to see anyone drink alone, the Garrison Brothers gang and I will be hosting a few events in The Bayou City over the next few weeks. We hope you’ll come out and share a glass with us. If you’ve never tried my bourbon before, I’m buying.

  • February 24 from 5 to 8 Gift Bottle Signing at Specs on West Highway 290 in Austin (open to all)
  • February 28 at 6:30 – Bullshitting about Bourbon at Reserve 101 (tickets on sale now at www.Reserve101.com)
  • March 1 at 6:00 – Meet The Maker at Poison Girl (open to all)
  • March 2 from 5 to 8 – Gift Bottle Signing at Specs on Smith Street (open to all)
  • March 7 at 5:30 – Bullshitting about Bourbon at The Coronado Club (private event)
  • March 24 from noon to 3 – Gift Bottle Signing at Costco on Bunker Hill (open to all)
  • March 27 at 6:30 – Guest Lecture, Whiskey 101 Class at Rice University (private event)
  • April 14 from 2 to 4 – Gift Bottle Signing at The Houston Wine Merchant (open to all)

 

What’s Happening at Home in Hye

Our original Alembic copper pot still, The Copper Cowgirl, is back in action after a long overdue vacation during bottling. We are taking down our fancy, non-automated bottling table and putting her back in operation.

Hye Rye™ from Garrison Brothers

This spring and summer, Donnis and I will begin recipe development for a future release of our first rye-based bourbon, Hye Rye™, which will be distilled from The Cowgirl. Fans of rye bourbon whiskeys shouldn’t get too excited though. In the bourbon business, research and development is planned in terms of decades. Test recipes we begin aging in oak barrels this summer won’t be tasted until Christmas, and we won’t start production until 2013. Since this will be a straight rye bourbon, it probably won’t touch glass until 2016.

Cowboy Bourbon™ from Garrison Brothers

We’re also working on a special limited release of our Cowboy Bourbon™ that will be introduced this winter. I have set aside the finest twelve barrels we’ve ever produced for this release. I am planning to bottle this bourbon when the barrels are four years old. It will be uncut, completely unfiltered and bottled at barrel proof. I anticipate these bottle will be up around 135 proof. But you won’t believe how smooth and rich this bourbon is.

This limited release will only be available at fine liquor stores in the Hill Country near the distillery. Those of you who like this kind of high-end stuff may need to consider a road trip.

Welcome Stephanie Whitworth and JD Anderson to The Family!

    

 

If you’ve visited us here in Hye, these beautiful people are already familiar faces.

J.D. Anderson joined us part-time in 2009 as The Mash Man. His former job as a part-time gigolo and exotic dancer just wasn’t paying the rent. Hell, look at him. We were sympathetic and took him under our wing. Today, J.D. runs our entire kitchen and will soon start distilling again. Starting before the sun comes up and finishing well after dark, he grinds grain, fills tanks, spit-shines kettles and makes the finest tasting distillers’ beer in the country. He’d probably want me to tell you he’s single, available and a Leo, but since it ain’t true, I won’t go there.

Stephanie Whitworth joined us as our Hospitality Manager in December 2010. As soon as she did, the entire operation became much more sunny, attractive, and efficient. When she’s not screaming at the rest of us, she’s smiling and leading tours, and she really knows her shit. I truly believe Stephanie knows more about fine bourbon whiskey than any woman in Texas. Generally, wherever she goes, she can make anyone feel relaxed, welcome and at home. She, too, is unavailable. And don’t even think about, because if you were to, her husband Kevin and the rest of us would kick your ass.

A Hill Country Ranch That Makes Fine Bourbon Whiskey

Wish You Were Here

It’ll still be a few years before we’ll have enough aged bourbon to start selling statewide and it’s likely this release will sell out quickly.

But remember, if you can’t find Garrison Brothers near your home, you can always come share bourbon with us in Hye. We conduct tours and tastings Wednesday through Sunday at 10, noon, 2 and 4. Stephanie will make you feel at home. This ain’t a wine tour though. We don’t have a “tasting room.” We don’t offer artisan cheeses. And we don’t sell candles or lace doilies.

You can smell and taste the corn cooking; walk through the fermentation rooms; nose and taste the “White Dog”; sample a little bourbon from one of our releases; and ask all the questions you want. No need to call ahead; we can always make room for a few more.

Making Bourbon This Good is Expensive!

To alleviate some of the pain, we’ve launched Garrison Brothers’ Dry Goods Store. You’ll find t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and cool bourbon shit there.

If you really want to get doused in Garrison Brothers, consider joining The Old 300. If you do, you’ll soon know more about fine bourbon whiskey than anyone else in Texas and you’ll have a great time learning.

Vaya con Dios. We’ll check back in with ya’ll in the fall.

Kind regards,
Dan Garrison
Proprietor and Distiller

P.S. Please join the Garrison Brothers Gang in Luckenbach for Billie Joe Shaver on Saturday, April 7.  As is my custom, I will be in a bourbon-and religion-fueled hypnotic trance during the show, but I look forward to visiting with y’all before and after.

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2012 Newsletter and have Comments (12)



JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

On Friday, the wise and hilarious Federal Judge Sam Sparks ruled in favor of Jester King Brewery, Authentic Beverage and Zax Pints and Plates in their lawsuit against the TABC.

As a result, it is now legal for Garrison Brothers Distillery to actually inform bourbon drinkers which stores are selling our bourbon.

Seems a little ridiculous that it took a lawsuit to make this happen, but for now, our hats are off to Jester King, Authentic and Zax. Ahh, and just in time for Christmas!

Here’s a list of the fine Texas liquor stores who have ordered and should be carrying Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. We strongly encourage you to call them first to make sure they’re not sold out before you make a road trip.

STORE NAME ADDRESS CITY
1626 WINE AND SPIRITS 2120 FM 1626 SUITE B, , MANCHACA, TX78652 MANCHACA
19TH HOLE LIQUOR STORE 553 W VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEV, , HARKER HEIGHTS, TX76548 HARKER HEIGHTS
ABC LIQUOR 2121 PARMER LANE SUITE 105, , AUSTIN, TX78727 AUSTIN
ALAMO CITY LIQUOR 2943 THOUSAND OAKS, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78247 SAN ANTONIO
APPLEJACK WINES & SPIRITS 5775 AIRPORT BOULEVARD SUITE 1, STORE 60, AUSTIN, TX78752 AUSTIN
ARROWHEAD LIQUOR 305 HWY 281 NORTH, , JOHNSON CITY, TX78636 JOHNSON CITY
ARTS LIQUOR INC 1370 FM 2673, , CANYON LAKE, TX78133 CANYON LAKE
ATASCOSA LIQUOR 2087 W OAKLAWN STE 205, , PLEASANTON, TX78064 PLEASANTON
AVERY FINE WINE & SPIRITS 10510 W PARMER LANE, SUITE 118, AUSTIN, TX78717 AUSTIN
B & H SPIRITS AND MORE! 2207 19TH STREET, , HONDO, TX78861 HONDO
BANDERA WINE & SPIRITS 1006 MAIN ST, , BANDERA, TX78003 BANDERA
BERGHEIM CELLARS 1 FM 3351 SOUTH SUITE 150, , BOERNE, TX78006 BOERNE
BEVERAGE WORLD 1948 IH 35 SOUTH, , AUSTIN, TX78704362 AUSTIN
BOTTLE SHOP 7503 HWY 2147 W, , HORSESHOE BAY, TX78657 HORSESHOE BAY
BOTTLE SHOP THE 201 S KEY AVE, MAKE ALL DELIVERIES AROUND BAC, LAMPASAS, TX76550 LAMPASAS
BRAND BEVERAGES 29202 RALPH FAIR ROAD SUITE 40, , FAIR OAKS RANCH, TX78015 FAIR OAKS RANCH
BRODIE’S LIQUOR 7612 BRODIE LANE ‘B’, , AUSTIN, TX78745583 AUSTIN
BULVERDE BEVERAGE CO. 2838 N LOOP 1604E SUITE 110, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78232 SAN ANTONIO
C C PACKAGE 163 FM 2483, , MORGANS POINT, TX76502 MORGANS POINT
CASALS PACKAGE STORE 2026 E MAIN STREET, , UVALDE, TX78801 UVALDE
CEDAR VALLEY LIQUOR 12002 HWY 290 W, , AUSTIN, TX78737 AUSTIN
CENTENNIAL PKG 46 2932 GUADALUPE, , AUSTIN, TX78705 AUSTIN
CHAMPIONS LIQUOR & WINE 1619 BABCOCK ROAD, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78229474 SAN ANTONIO
CHRIS PACKAGE STORE 2 2203 S LAMAR BLVD, BLDG 1 SUITE 100, AUSTIN, TX78704 AUSTIN
CHRIS’ AT 2110 NEW SLAUGHTER LANE, , AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
CIBOLO LIQUOR 3111 TPC PARKWAY SUITE 109, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78259239 SAN ANTONIO
CIRCLE B LIQ INC 1108 RR 1431 W  STE A, , MARBLE FALLS, TX78654 MARBLE FALLS
COSTCO LIQUORS 21 5607 UTSA BLVD @ 1604, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78249 SAN ANTONIO
COSTCO LIQUORS 22 1203 FM 1604 N @ 281, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78258 SAN ANTONIO
COSTCO LIQUORS 23 15330 IH 35 N STE. 100, , SELMA, TX78154 SELMA
COWBOY LIQUORS 923 10TH ST STE 104, , FLORESVILLE, TX78114 FLORESVILLE
COWBOY LIQUORS #2 14414 HWY 87W SUITE A, , LA VERNIA, TX78121 LA VERNIA
CRIS LIQUOR III 6800 WESTGATE -STE 14, , AUSTIN, TX78745 AUSTIN
DANY’S LIQUOR 2700 W PECAN ST- SUITE 303, , PFLUGERVILLE, TX78660 PFLUGERVILLE
DAVENPORT LIQUOR STORE 3801 CAP TX HWY E-180, , AUSTIN, TX78746 AUSTIN
DEBS LIQUOR 3 10740 RESEARCH STE 13, , AUSTIN, TX78759 AUSTIN
DEPOT LIQUOR 6401 BROADWAY, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78209 SAN ANTONIO
DISCOUNT LIQUOR 6829 SAN PEDRO, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78216720 SAN ANTONIO
DOC’S LIQUOR 8806 BANDERA ROAD SUITE 106, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78250 SAN ANTONIO
DONS LIQUOR 1 100 E WHITESTONE S140, , CEDAR PARK, TX78613 CEDAR PARK
FAR WEST LIQUOR AND FINE WINES 3616 FAR WEST BOULEVARD #105, , AUSTIN, TX78731 AUSTIN
FAULT LINE LIQUOR 1904 RANCH RD STE 114, , SAN MARCOS, TX78666 SAN MARCOS
FAVORITE PKG STORE 801 W 6TH, , AUSTIN, TX78703 AUSTIN
FIESTA DISCOUNT LIQUOR 600 SANDAU STE 600, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78216 SAN ANTONIO
FIESTA LIQUOR STORES 1 14415 BLANCO STE 108B, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78216 SAN ANTONIO
FIESTA LIQUOR STORES 2 5601 BANDERA RD S112, , LEON VALLEY, TX78238 LEON VALLEY
FIESTA LIQUOR STORES 3 2367 NW MILITARY HWY, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78231 SAN ANTONIO
FIESTA LIQUOR STORES 4 8181 TEZEL RD S105, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78250 SAN ANTONIO
GABRIEL’S WINE LIQ OUTLET 4200 IH 35S SUITE 100, , SAN MARCOS, TX78666 SAN MARCOS
GABRIELS LIQUOR & WINE 60 1309 LOOP 1604 NORTHWEST SUITE, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78258 SAN ANTONIO
GABRIELS/DONS & BENS WHOLESALE 10903 INDUSTRY DRIVE SUITE 102, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78217383 SAN ANTONIO
GRAPE & GRAIN LIQUORS LLC 1225 BANDERA HWY SUITE E, , KERRVILLE, TX78028 KERRVILLE
HILL COUNTRY LIQUOR 806 MAIN STREET, , BLANCO, TX78606 BLANCO
HILL COUNTRY WINE & SPIRITS 28604 IH 10 W  STE 1, , BOERNE, TX78006 BOERNE
HILLSIDE LIQUOR 160 W SLAUGHTER LN, , AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
HITCHING POST LIQUOR 1105 S MAIN, , BOERNE, TX78006 BOERNE
HUBER PACKAGE STORE 1815 S MAGNOLIA AVENUE, , LULING, TX78648 LULING
HYE SPIRITS 10261 HWY 290 WEST, , HYE, TX78635 HYE
ISLAND LIQUORS & GIFTS 1638 NE LOOP 410 S101, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78209 SAN ANTONIO
J & J LIQ AND DRUG 1131 E 11TH ST, , AUSTIN, TX78702 AUSTIN
J P LIQUOR INGRAM 3304 JUNCTION HWY, , INGRAM, TX78025 INGRAM
JENN’S BEER WINE & SPIRITS 1210 MADRID, , CASTROVILLE, TX78009 CASTROVILLE
JOE SAGLIMBENI FINE WINE 638 W RHAPSODY STE 1, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78216 SAN ANTONIO
JP LIQUOR 1425 E MAIN STE 200, , FREDERICKSBURG, TX78624 FREDERICKSBURG
JUDYS LIQUOR 411 S WASHINGTON, , FREDERICKSBURG, TX78624 FREDERICKSBURG
K & B LIQUORS 117 S IH 35, , NEW BRAUNFELS, TX78130 NEW BRAUNFELS
KEG LIQUOR 1306 ZANDERSON, , JOURDANTON, TX78026 JOURDANTON
KING LIQUOR 2 4601 S W PARKWAY, , AUSTIN, TX78735 AUSTIN
KING LIQUOR 3 5310 BURNET RD STE 10, , AUSTIN, TX78756 AUSTIN
LAKESIDE LIQUORS 18100 FM 306 STE 130, , CANYON LAKE, TX78133 CANYON LAKE
LIQUOR MAX  NACO 15150 NACOGDOCHES SUITE 125, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78247 SAN ANTONIO
LIQUOR MAX 5 CULEBRA 10650 FM 471 STE 120, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78251 SAN ANTONIO
LIQUOR MAX 6 UC 902 KITTY HAWK SUITE 14, , UNIVERSAL CITY, TX78148 UNIVERSAL CITY
LIQUOR MAX SA 11840 BANDERA RD, , HELOTES, TX78023 HELOTES
LIQUOR MAX SCHERTZ 17460 IH 35 N  S110, , SCHERTZ, TX78154 SCHERTZ
LIQUORS AT THE LAKE 8088 FM 2673, , CANYON LAKE, TX78133 CANYON LAKE
LIQUORS ETC 11620 BANDERA  S102, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78250 SAN ANTONIO
LONE STAR SPIRITS 31623 B FM 306 @ 281, , SPRING BRANCH, TX78070 SPRING BRANCH
LOTSA LIQUORS 15136 SAN PEDRO AVENUE, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78232371 SAN ANTONIO
MAIN LIQUOR 501 MAIN ST “C”, , KERRVILLE, TX78028 KERRVILLE
MARGO’S LIQUOR 409 W FRONT ST   S130, , HUTTO, TX78634 HUTTO
MY CHOICE LIQUOR 1601 IH 35S STE 390, , ROUND ROCK, TX78664 ROUND ROCK
N B LIQUOR & WINE 1308 COMMON STREET STUITE 207, , NEW BRAUNFELS, TX78130356 NEW BRAUNFELS
NORTH SHORE LIQUORS 7708 LOHMAN FORD BLDG D SUITE, , LAGO VISTA, TX78645 LAGO VISTA
NORTHRIDGE LIQUORS 131 W SUNSET RD, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78209 SAN ANTONIO
NORTHWEST HILLS LIQUOR 3563 FAR WEST BOULEVARD, SUITE 100, AUSTIN, TX78731302 AUSTIN
OAK HILL LIQUOR 6036 HWY 290 W, , AUSTIN, TX78735 AUSTIN
OAK LIQUOR CABINET 12636 RESEARCH BLVD #107B, , AUSTIN, TX78759 AUSTIN
PLAZA PKG STORE 262 S MAIN, , BOERNE, TX78006 BOERNE
POOTERS LIQUOR STORE 4110 HWY 46 NORTH, , SEGUIN, TX78155 SEGUIN
PRECINCT LINE BEER &WINE CO 8600 FM 150 W, , KYLE, TX78640 KYLE
R & B LIQUOR 1435 HWY 123N BYPASS, , SEGUIN, TX78155395 SEGUIN
R & H PACKAGE STORE 330 LANDA ST, , NEW BRAUNFELS, TX78130 NEW BRAUNFELS
REUBENS WINE & SPIRITS WHSE 107 W STASSNEY LN, , AUSTIN, TX78745 AUSTIN
SCHNAPS HAUS 1881 IH 35S BUSINESS, BUS LOOP 35 S, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX78130646 NEW BRAUNFELS
SFP DISTRIBUTION LTD #74 SPECS 1305 SIDNEY BAKER STREET SUITE, , KERRVILLE, TX78028 KERRVILLE
SHOT GLASS 1027 OAKLAWN, , PLEASANTON, TX78064 PLEASANTON
SKI’S 525 HWY 132 NORTH, , DEVINE, TX78016 DEVINE
SOUTHERN SPIRITS 3193 JUNCTION HWY, , INGRAM, TX78025 INGRAM
SPEC’S LIQUOR #69 SPEC’S WINE 14623 IH 35, STORE 69, LIVE OAK, TX78233 LIVE OAK
SPEC’S LIQUORS #76, SPEC’S WIN 1100 HWY 290 EAST, , ELGIN, TX78621 ELGIN
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS & FINER#63 201 UNIVERSITY OAKS BOULEVARD, STORE 63, ROUND ROCK, TX78664 ROUND ROCK
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS & FINER#77 10601 RR 620N SUITE 107, , AUSTIN, TX78753 AUSTIN
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS & FINGER F 9900 IH 35 SERVICE ROAD SOUTH, BUILDING G  STORE 64, AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS AND FIN#38 739 HWY 71 WEST, STORE 38, BASTROP, TX78602 BASTROP
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS AND FINER 3550 S GENERAL BRUCE DRIVE, SUITE 182A, TEMPLE, TX76504 TEMPLE
SPEC’S WINE SPIRITS AND FINER 2500 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPRESSWA, UNIT C, KILLEEN, TX76543 KILLEEN
SPEC’S WINES SPIRITS & FINER F 10515 N MOPAC EXPRESSWAY, BLDG K   STORE 62, AUSTIN, TX78758 AUSTIN
SPEC’S WINES SPIRITS & FINER S 1013 W UNIVERSITY AVENUE #200, , GEORGETOWN, TX78628 GEORGETOWN
SPEC’S WINES SPIRITS AND FINER 13015 SHOPS PARKWAY, STORE 65, BEE CAVES, TX78738 BEE CAVES
SPEC’S WINES, SPIRITS & FINER 4970 HWY 290 WEST BLDG 6 UNIT, STORE 61, AUSTIN, TX78735 AUSTIN
STAR OF TEXAS LIQUOR & WINE 400 HWY 290W BUILDING A SUITE, , DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX78620 DRIPPING SPRINGS
STEINER RANCH LIQUOR 2900 N QUINLAN PARK RD SUITE#2, , AUSTIN, TX78732 AUSTIN
STEVE’S LIQUOR & FINE WINES 4 2425 EXPOSITION BOULEVARD ‘B’, , AUSTIN, TX78703 AUSTIN
STEVES LIQUOR  LLANO 809 ANGLE, , LLANO, TX78643 LLANO
STONE OAK LIQUOR 19202 STONE OAK PARKWAY SUITE, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78258 SAN ANTONIO
STONEY’S LIQUOR LAMPASAS 609 S KEY AVENUE, , LAMPASAS, TX76550 LAMPASAS
TEJAS LIQUOR 2030 E OLTORF #112, , AUSTIN, TX78741 AUSTIN
TEJAS LIQUOR 3 1779 WELLS BRANCH PKWY STE 111, , AUSTIN, TX78728 AUSTIN
TEXAS WINE & SPIRITS 30070 HWY 281 N, , BULVERDE, TX78163 BULVERDE
THE AUSTIN WINE MERCHANT 512 W 6TH ST, , AUSTIN, TX78701 AUSTIN
THRIFTY LIQUORS 2 14602 HUEBNER  S122, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78230 SAN ANTONIO
TRIANGLE WINE & SPIRITS 4601 N LAMAR SUITE 501, , AUSTIN, TX78751 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS #34 (NEW) 598 HWY 290 EAST SUITE 200, , DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX78620 DRIPPING SPRINGS
TWIN LIQUORS #36 1471 E COURT STREET, , SEGUIN, TX78155 SEGUIN
TWIN LIQUORS #67 1200 LOWES BOULEVARD SUITE 110, , KILLEEN, TX76542 KILLEEN
TWIN LIQUORS 1 519 E 7TH, , AUSTIN, TX78701 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 10 7301 FM 620 N STE 105, , AUSTIN, TX78726 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 11 1600 LAVACA, , AUSTIN, TX78701 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 12 900 E PECAN   S700, , PFLUGERVILLE, TX78660 PFLUGERVILLE
TWIN LIQUORS 16 11637 RESEARCH, , AUSTIN, TX78745 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 2 8030 MESA, , AUSTIN, TX78731 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 21 112 WOODMONT, , GEORGETOWN, TX78628 GEORGETOWN
TWIN LIQUORS 22 107 W STASSNEY LANE, , AUSTIN, TX78745 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 23 1700 W PARMER LN  S25, , AUSTIN, TX78727 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 24 2303 RR 620S SUITE 110, , LAKEWAY, TX78734 LAKEWAY
TWIN LIQUORS 25 1420 CYPRESS CK  S500, , CEDAR PARK, TX78613 CEDAR PARK
TWIN LIQUORS 26 4500 WILLIAMS  S248, , GEORGETOWN, TX78628 GEORGETOWN
TWIN LIQUORS 27 9901 BRODIE LN   S195, , AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 28 11521 N FM 620 STE 30, , AUSTIN, TX78726 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 29 2604 W 7TH, , AUSTIN, TX78703 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 3 3652 BEE CAVES, , WESTLAKE HILLS, TX78746 WESTLAKE HILLS
TWIN LIQUORS 30 1205 HWY 281 N, , MARBLE FALLS, TX78654 MARBLE FALLS
TWIN LIQUORS 31 7317 HWY 1431, , KINGSLAND, TX78639 KINGSLAND
TWIN LIQUORS 32 600 E POLK  SUITE A, , BURNET, TX78611 BURNET
TWIN LIQUORS 34 OLD OOB 27490 RR 12 BUILDING 1 SUITE 4, , DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX78620 DRIPPING SPRINGS
TWIN LIQUORS 35 2800 E WHITESTONE S11, , CEDAR PARK, TX78613 CEDAR PARK
TWIN LIQUORS 37 16238 HWY 620    C, , ROUND ROCK, TX78681 ROUND ROCK
TWIN LIQUORS 38 500 CANYON RIDGE J250, , AUSTIN, TX78753 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 4 5505 BALCONES, , AUSTIN, TX78731 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 40 1711 S COLORADO-STE A, , LOCKHART, TX78644 LOCKHART
TWIN LIQUORS 42 4220 WM CANNON, , AUSTIN, TX78745 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 43 9300 IH 35 S STE C100, , AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 47 5900 W SLAUGHTER LANE, BLDG C SUITE 420, AUSTIN, TX78748 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 48 1700 E PALM VALLEY BL, , ROUND ROCK, TX78664 ROUND ROCK
TWIN LIQUORS 49 651 HWY 183N, SUITE 265, LEANDER, TX78641 LEANDER
TWIN LIQUORS 50 5401 FM 1626 SOUTH STE 115, , KYLE, TX78640 KYLE
TWIN LIQUORS 52 9455 RR 12 SUITE B, , WIMBERLEY, TX78666 WIMBERLEY
TWIN LIQUORS 54 102 WONDER WORLD DRIVE SUITE 4, , SAN MARCOS, TX78666 SAN MARCOS
TWIN LIQUORS 56 999 E BASSE ROAD SUITE 149, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78209 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 57 201 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 590, HARKER HEIGHTS, TX76548 HARKER HEIGHTS
TWIN LIQUORS 59 21019 HWY 281 N SUITE 804, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78258 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 6 701 CAPITOL TX HWYB20, , WESTLAKE HILLS, TX78746 WESTLAKE HILLS
TWIN LIQUORS 60 3925 MARKET STREET, , BEE CAVE, TX78738 BEE CAVE
TWIN LIQUORS 62 1521 MARLANDWOOD ROAD, , TEMPLE, TX76502 TEMPLE
TWIN LIQUORS 63 1659 HWY 46W SUITE 130, , NEW BRAUNFELS, TX78132 NEW BRAUNFELS
TWIN LIQUORS 64 1503 LOOP 410 SOUTHWEST SUITE, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78227 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 65 10003 NW MILITARY HWY STE  110, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78231 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 66 5910 BABCOCK ROAD SUITE 210, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78240 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 68 12955 HWY 281 NORTH, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78216 SAN ANTONIO
TWIN LIQUORS 7 1000 E 41ST STREET SUITE 810, HANCOCK CENTER, AUSTIN, TX78751 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 8 12400 HWY 71 W  S280, , AUSTIN, TX78738 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS 9 5716 BURNET RD, , AUSTIN, TX78756 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS AIRPORT 5639 AIRPORT BOULEVARD ‘A AND, , AUSTIN, TX78751 AUSTIN
TWIN LIQUORS WAREHOUSE 519 E 7TH, , AUSTIN, TX78701 AUSTIN
UPTOWN LIQUOR 300 W. CENTRAL TX EXP, SUITE 102,103,104, HARKER HEIGHTS, TX76548 HARKER HEIGHTS
WAREHOUSE LIQUOR STORE 2424 S 1ST, , AUSTIN, TX78704 AUSTIN
WB LIQUORS AND WINE 101 9801 IH 10 WEST, , SAN ANTONIO, TX78230 SAN ANTONIO
WEST WOODS LIQUOR 3201 BEE CAVES SUITE 130, , AUSTIN, TX78746 AUSTIN
WESTERN BEVERAGES 41 10401 D1 RESEARCH, , AUSTIN, TX78759 AUSTIN
WESTERN BEVERAGES 42 4301 W WM CANNON STE, , AUSTIN, TX78749 AUSTIN
WESTERN BEVERAGES 53 706 E MAIN, , FREDERICKSBURG, TX78624 FREDERICKSBURG
WESTERN BEVERAGES 56 1464 JUNCTION HWY, , KERRVILLE, TX78028 KERRVILLE
WESTERN BEVERAGES 57 1421 SIDNEY BAKER  B, , KERRVILLE, TX78028 KERRVILLE
WESTERN BEVERAGES 61 1040 A JUNCTION HWY, , KERRVILLE, TX78213 KERRVILLE
WIGGYS 6TH STREET 1130 W 6TH, , AUSTIN, TX78703 AUSTIN
WIGGYS NORTH LAMAR 1104 N LAMAR, , AUSTIN, TX78703 AUSTIN
WIMBERLEY VALLEY SPIRITS 1 BROOKMEADOW DR BLDG 1, , WOODCREEK, TX78676 WOODCREEK
WINE & LIQUOR WORLD 28295 IH 10 WEST SUITE 3, , BOERNE, TX78006 BOERNE
ZELLAS PKG STORE 1052 E KINGSBURY, , SEGUIN, TX78155 SEGUIN
posted by Dan Garrison in Blog and have Comments (10)



Sittin and Sippin at Drink Local Night and Joe Saglimbeni’s

Folks, tonight is DRINK LOCAL NIGHT in Austin. Garrison Brothers Distillery will be providing tastings of our finest straight bourbon yet and we’ll have incredible bourbon filled choclates from Lecia Duke’s CHOCOLAT in Fredericksburg.

Meet your local distillers and try seasonal cocktails highlighting their spirits at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center Ballroom. Featuring the Official Drink of Austin Cocktail Contest presented by Tipsy Texan. Crowd Favorite Award sponsored by Google Places. Tasty appetizers by Swift’s Attic, BC Tavern, The Carillon and Lick Ice Creams! 6:30-9:30 pm. All for a very good cause. You can get tickets here: http://www.edibleaustin.com/content/buy-tickets-now

On Saturday, December 17, I will have the great pleasure of visiting with the fine folks at Joe Saglimbeni’s Fine Wine at 638 West Rhapsody in San Antonio. If you’re like me, and visiting a liquor store is as exciting as as entering a hardware store, you will LOVE Joe Saglimbeni’s. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, great customers and you’re surrounded by an amazing selection of spirits and fine wine. I’ll be there sampling Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey from noon until 3.

Did I mention a case of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey makes  one hell of a Christmas gift? If you buy a bottle as a gift, I’m delighted to write a personal note on the back. Please come visit.

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2010 Newsletter and have Comments (3)



Talking and Tasting at The University of Texas

UT Campus ClubIf you’re in Austin this Thursday evening, and are looking for something to do that’s a little out of the ordinary, please join me at the University of Texas.

The UT Campus Club is hosting a bourbon tasting and discussion at 6 p.m. at The Carillon Restaurant in the AT&T Executive Conference Center. I promise this won’t just be about Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

We’ll discuss the history of bourbon whiskey in America; how fine straight bourbon is made; how we make ours at Garrison Brothers Distillery; proper techniques for nosing and tasting bourbon; and we’ll offer a comparative tasting of fine ryes and wheated bourbons.

Non-member tickets are $40 plus gratuity. Reserve your space by emailing morgan.jones@austin.utexas.edu or you can call Morgan at 512.471.8611.

Here’s a link to their poster advertising the event: http://utexas.dmplocal.com/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=2891&ids=ee19ee86488c8826f2f916f81fed4e866be93843

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2010 Newsletter and have No Comments



Texas Bourbon News, Fall 2011

BarnFlag

 

Somewhere in here there’s an announcement that might be important to those who enjoy Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. But first, I feel the need to step up on my soap box.

SOME SAY TEXANS ARE A LITTLE TOO PROUD…

It is rare today to find a business or a product that is 100% authentic, especially in the liquor business. This is why:

Making a distilled spirit can be done fast and cheap or slow and well, the latter at great cost to the distiller. Ninety-nine percent of today’s “artisan spirits” are pre-distilled refinery-produced ethanol or bulk foreign whiskey with coloring and flavoring added. For many of the individuals who make this stuff, the glass bottle, the label and “the marketing spin” are the greatest expenses.

Few are willing to take the time or spend the money it takes to make real, authentic bourbon, as we have. Bourbon must be distilled at below 160 proof. That takes time and its expensive. Bourbon cannot be “flavored” or blended. Bourbon must be aged in new barrels and new whiskey barrels are damned expensive!

Unlike bourbon though, whiskey can be bought in bulk and it can be chemically altered to taste better. But still, no sane whiskey businessman would consider making his own when he can bring in cheap whiskey by the tanker-trailer-load from elsewhere for pennies on the dollar. And who can afford to wait years and years for the whiskey to properly mature when they can buy barrels full of the stuff from the refineries in Canada, Kentucky, Indiana or Missouri?

Hell, all they have to do next is slap a snakeskin label on the bottle that says “Made in Texas” and they’ve made a Texas whiskey, right? And who can blame them? They want to make their million dollars tomorrow — damn it — not in ten, twenty or thirty years! Good Lord, who has that kind of patience?

Those who visit us at Garrison Brothers Distillery tell me the same thing: You guys are clearly proud of what you do. Some are ribbing me about the price of my bourbon. Others have deeper vision.

Castration SignThe fact is that we are intensely proud of what we do… and where we do it. Our pride shows in the magnificent carpentry of our barrel barn, our guest cabin and our buildings. When a visitor stops by, we drop what we’re doing to show off our stills and explain our process. That’s pride! Our pride shows in how clean our facilities are. It shows in how we are good stewards of our land and its resources. Indeed, if you throw a cigarette butt out your car window on distillery property, you had better pray we don’t see you. Signs throughout the property forewarn: we will cut your nuts off!

You can see pride in the intense determination on the faces of the volunteers who help painstakingly hand-wax our bottles, etching the Texas Star deep into the wax. Every one is a unique, polished work of art. There’s no doubt in my mind that the price of a bottle of Garrison Brothers does not come close to reflecting the quality of the bourbon that goes into it.

Jack GarrisonThose who bring in vodka or whiskey made elsewhere and claim it’s from Texas will never know the pride I feel right now as I sip on a tall glass of Garrison Brothers.

I guess by publicly revealing how all this works I will never get an invitation to join the “craft distillers” for brunch at the country club. What a shame, huh?

Indeed, I have never been more proud of our business, our staff, our community, our volunteers, our state, and our bourbon than I am right now. I am also proud to announce that the Fall 2011 Release of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey is on its way to fine liquor stores, bars, restaurants and hotels throughout Central Texas. And I can confidently boast that this is the best bourbon we’ve made yet!

As promised, readers of this newsletter are the first to know. We are not going to announce the release for fourteen days so you can get yours first.

But, fine bars, hotels and restaurants throughout Austin and San Antonio are wisely starting to list Garrison Brothers on their bourbon menus. They will get their share and they order quickly! So, this time, please don’t call and bitch at me when you can’t find any in stores.

We’d appreciate it if you’d consider buying a case of our bourbon for Christmas presents. You’ll make a bourbon drinker’s holiday, and you’ll make us here in Hye – and our extended family of bottlers and supporters throughout the state — even more proud of what we do.

Now, About This Bourbon

Finished BottlesBack in August (yeah, it was hot), we moved 208 barrels (each weighing about 135 pounds) by hand from our warming barns into the finishing barn. Many of these barrels – all cooked and distilled in 2008 — were three years old, a few two and half. The proof of the whiskey in each ranged from 128 to 139. In the finishing barn, I began tasting from each using my little glass whiskey thief, a few dozen nosing glasses and a bucket of rainwater. Having learned my lesson previously, when my tongue swelled up like a grapefruit, I decided to taste from just five barrels in the morning, five after lunch and five in the evenings. This may sound romantic to the uninitiated, and at first it is, but after a week it feels like work.

 I narrowed my selection down to 141 barrels to marry together for this “small batch.”  I also found seven barrels that will be set aside for their own spectacular future (more on that in a future newsletter). To make sure I wasn’t literally drinking my own Kool Aid, I called a special joint session of the redneck investigative sub-committee.

I asked Donnis, our distillery director, to reaffirm my selections. He concurred, as did Fred, and our newest redneck J.D., commonly known by his nome de guerre, Mash Man. It was official. We had a hillbilly consensus. Fred struck the gavel. Meeting adjourned. (We actually have a gavel, constructed of an oak dowel rod and a barrel bung. It works really well.)

barrelThese barrels yielded the Fall 2011 Release of Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This bourbon is bottled at 94 proof — because we like it that way – in clear 750 ml glass bottles. The suggested retail price is $69.95. We believe it is worth much more than that; apparently retailers do to, so you may not be able to find it at that price.

Bottle Bling

Silver Medals from the San Francisco International Spirits Competition and the American Distilling Institute

This one is sweeter and smoother than any previous release: Yeast, grain, vanilla and oak on the nose. When you swallow, you will taste sweet panhandle corn on your tongue and it opens up your senses.  As always, it lingers on your palette with a warm, buttery, toasted butterscotch and caramelized maple syrup finish. Stay with it and you might detect chocolate, coconut, coffee and figs. Seriously. If you want more of the sweet wheat flavor, add a splash of soda or water and a few cubes of ice.

Hill Country liquor stores in Blanco, Fredericksburg and Hye will get theirs first, probably by October 28th, because we look out for our own out here. The remaining bottles should be in fine liquor stores, restaurants, hotels and bars, stretching from as far north as Temple and as far south as South San Antonio, by Friday, November 4th.

CASI BottlerKeeping with tradition, each bottle is hand-dipped in hot black wax by a fellow Texan, for a thick seal, and is signed and numbered by me. Deerskin lace securely wraps each neck and the Texas Star is etched deep into the wax by hand with a leather tool. Some of the corks can’t handle the heat of the wax, so you may need a corkscrew to get into it. It’s worth the effort.

As in the past, this is a limited release that will sell out quickly. If you want a bottle, I strongly encourage you to call your local liquor store today. If they haven’t started a waiting list, you might politely suggest they do so. We won’t be releasing more bourbon until Texas Independence Day and that release will be smaller than this one.

Cowboy’d Up!

All of the barrels I’d selected were proofed, weighed (the government gets their cut) and emptied into a 500 gallon proofing tank named “Whiskey Girl,” because she looks like a sailboat without sails, which we stole from The Beer Boys at Real Ale in Blanco. We then added Hill Country rainwater to bring the proof down to 94. We delicately pumped this “cut” bourbon into our most recent acquisition, a 3,300 gallon stainless steel tank, which may have been stolen from a Wisconsin Dairy. She’s named “Elsie, The Bourbon Cow.”

It was time to bottle. I sent out a blog (if you like hearing me rant, you can sign up for these on our website) announcing a call for help. Within 48 hours, Lolo our bottling queen had more than 150 emails from brave volunteers.

This always reminds me of The Alamo, when Colonel Travis drew that line in the sand, and only the crazy people stepped across. Dramatic? Maybe. But these wonderful folks take two days off from work; drive all the way out to Hye; pay for their own gas and lodging; and then bust their ass for two days of daunting craftsmanship. All we offer them is a signed “thank you” bottle, a couple of questionable meals, and a handshake to say thanks. Sure, every hour they are offered a small sample to assure quality control — and maintain their courage — but is it really worth it?

We are indebted to those of you who played a role. Thank you for your service and we hope we were good hosts while you were in Hye. Please come back soon!

Bourbon Camp 2011

On September 24, we held our third annual Old 300 Bourbon Camp at Garrison Brothers. I’ve included a few pictures of the beautiful people (my wife is in one of the pictures, so I have to say that.) We started the morning with Bourbon for Breakfast in the form of a Hill Country Sunrise: Garrison Brother’s bourbon, fresh squeezed orange juice and prickly pear puree. Guests enjoyed the stunning and lavish breakfast buffet brought in by Silver K Café in Johnson City.

BottlingLineAfter that we went to work bottling the first bottles of this release. By noon we had bottled a few hundred of the most surreal bottles of Garrison Brothers I’ve ever seen. It is disturbing to witness firsthand what black wax can resemble after a few breakfast cocktails.

At noon, we broke for lunch: fresh squeezed lemonade, iced tea and Garrison Brothers, which we call a John Daly. The Silver K Café provided a spectacular lunch too. Our Old 300 members tell me it was sensational though I can’t remember what it looked or tasted like. We bottled into the late afternoon when our guests retreated to the Hanger Hotel for siesta.

That night the Old 300 returned to Hye for an evening I’ll never forget. Our staff had spent weeks preparing the barrel barn with romantic mood lighting, beautiful flowers, white tablecloths, mood music, and well, feminine, decoration.

As dusk approached, the temperature dropped to a sensational 65 degrees and the Milky Way lit up the night like a million incandescent bulbs. Showing no signs of sophistication and little respect for the hours spent on interior design, our guests began to carry their wine and nosing glass-filled dining tables out on to the spacious porch so they could be under the stars. Below the ethereal blanket of light, Scooter Pearce played guitar and sang until no one could dance another step.

Hollywood Comes Back to Hye

We receive bottle requests from hip New York and California magazines all the time. We turn most of them down, unless they have a large Texas readership, because we just don’t have enough to spare. Earlier this year, we were profiled in The New York Times, ATX Man Magazine, FD Luxe, The Dallas Observer, Houston Press and The Standard, as well as fine local publications like the Austin Chronicle, the Austin American-Statesman and the San Antonio Express News. We don’t know much about it yet, but we hear we’ll be in Southern Living Magazine in November.

I’d be lying if I told you the attention doesn’t add to the pride we already feel. We truly appreciate the writers and photographers who have come out to visit us in Hye. Sincerest apologies if I missed anyone.

Make More Bourbon, Damn It!

My kids showed me how to use Facebook but I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Every time I go there someone is pissed off because they can’t find our bourbon. It’s always the same question: When can I get Garrison Brothers in Beaumont, damn it?

I wish I had a good answer. When I started making bourbon, I thought releasing 7,000 bottles would mean our bourbon was already available in Dallas, Amarillo, Houston and Central Texas. I was dead wrong. The thirsty-ass Central Texans keep drinking it all!

What we don’t drink ourselves, we really do plan to sell. You have my word that by 2015 we’ll be in all four corners of the great state of Texas. We appreciate your patience and your support.

A Hill Country Ranch That Makes Fine Bourbon Whiskey

View from the PorchGood news though: Even if you can’t find Garrison Brothers near home, you can always come share our bourbon with us in Hye. We conduct tours and tastings Wednesday through Sunday at 10, noon, 2 and 4. Our sweet and stunning hospitality manager Stephanie will greet you with a smile and make you feel at home.

This ain’t a wine tour though. We don’t have a real “tasting room.” We don’t offer a selection of artisan cheeses. And we don’t sell candles or lace doilies.  Chances are, we’ll hand you a pair of work-gloves and make you rotate barrels. But if you have an interest in home-grown liquor, agriculture, history, microbiology, chemistry, engineering or art, this may be right up your alley.

You’ll see the entire operation. You can smell and taste the corn cooking; walk through the fermentation rooms; nose and taste the “White Dog”; sample a little bourbon from one of our releases; and ask all the questions you want. No need to call ahead; we can always make room for a few more.

(If you’re coming out on a Saturday afternoon or a holiday, you might want to make sure we aren’t closed for a private event. Stephanie’s email is events@garrisonbros.com)

Making Bourbon This Good is Expensive!

Every month we’re cooking 60,000 pounds of the most expensive organic sweet corn in the world and we’re filling 200 or so equally expensive, white American oak barrels. So, yeah, we’re still burning through some cash.

To alleviate some of the pain, we’ve launched Garrison Brothers’ Dry Goods Store. You’ll find t-shirts and bumper stickers there and we’re trying to add more cool stuff. Please consider buying something. Each time you do, it enables us to make a little more bourbon.

If you really want to get doused in Garrison Brothers, consider joining The Old 300. If you do, I personally guarantee you’ll soon know more about fine bourbon whiskey than anyone else in Texas and you’ll have a great time learning.

As always, if you don’t buy this high-powered marketing propaganda about our bourbon, then come on out and taste it.

Happy holidays from the Rednecks at Garrison Brothers. Vaya con Dios. We’ll check back in with ya’ll in the spring.

Kind regards,

dan-garrison-sig

Dan Garrison
Proprietor and Distiller

posted by Dan Garrison in Fall 2011 Newsletter and have Comments (44)



Cowboy’d Up, Again

Once again, our fellow Texans have demonstrated why this is the greatest country in America. Less than 48 hours after soliciting bottling volunteers, we had more than 100 brave souls step across that line in the sand.

If you’ve emailed Laurel already to volunteer, please trust that she is sifting through your emails – first come, first served — as fast as she can. We needed about 30 folks to help out and received many more offers than we can possibly fill. Please trust that Laurel will get back to you soon and let you know if we were able to work you in or not.

Anyone who does not get a bottling slot this time will be moved to the front of the list for the next bottling effort in February.

Thanks so much for your willingness to help out. We couldn’t do this without you.

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2010 Newsletter and have No Comments



Want To Help Bottle Some Bourbon?

Want to try something no one in Texas has ever done before? Medals

Next month, we’ll start bottling our largest bourbon release ever – more than 120 barrels of our straight bourbon will be emptied into stainless steel tanks, married with crisp, clean rainwater, proofed and entered into bottles. Each hand-numbered and signed bottle is sealed with a cork, wrapped in deerskin lace, and then dipped in hot wax. These bottles will be sold throughout the Hill Country and a few hundred cases will make it to fine liquor stores, bars and restaurants in the big cities. (We can’t say where just yet.)

We thought a few of you might like to come out to Hye and give us a hand.

A word of warning: Bottling at Garrison Brothers is not for the faint of heart! It means hard work, attention to detail, reliable, consistent help, and above all else, patience. Every finished bottle has to get past Inspector Number 1 — me. This video from our talented friends Rob Cordes and Jim Walters will give you an idea what to expect:

http://www.garrisonbros.com/video1.html

We’ll be bottling from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, the weeks of September 26, October 3, October 10, October 17 and October 24. We may finish early and may not need to continue that last week. 

We need 7 people each day and already have about 70 sensational volunteers already. We provide meals, beverages and plenty of bourbon throughout the day. (In fact, tradition holds that we periodically celebrate with a little “quality control” sample to keep us all motivated.)

If you’d like to take part, it will take you a couple of hours to learn the craft, so we ask those who participate to commit to two full days, 8-5. At the end of your shift, we’ll reward you with your own bottle to take home with you, along with a few other thank you gifts.

If you can handle your own travel and lodging arrangements, and commit to giving us two days hard work, please send an email to Laurel Hoekstra, our Bottling Queen, at laurel@garrisonbros.com and give her your contact information. She’ll let you know what days are still open. The deadline for contacting her is Sunday, September 12, so that we can invite others to fill any remaining slots.

Please don’t delay your decision too long though; last time we did this, we were cowboy’d up in less than 24 hours.

Hope to see you in Hye.

posted by Dan Garrison in Spring 2010 Newsletter and have Comments (14)



Whiskey, Bourbon and Barrels

It seems we’ve pissed someone off. Not really sure why but some folks who write about the whiskey business seem to have their panties in a wad.

In recent weeks, John Hansell of Malt Advocate, a well respected whiskey writer whose opinions I greatly admire, has written that craft distillers may be damaging the bourbon industry. In his most recent newsletter, Mr. Hansell writes: “The issue here is that these bourbons aren’t as mature and complex as the straight bourbons being put out by the larger distillers and it’s going to drag down the reputation of bourbon.”

Mr. Hansell refers to a story from Clay Risen, which appeared in The Atlantic, that claims “distilleries are cutting corners to speed up the process.” In this story, Mr. Risen has fond things to say about Garrison Brothers, but he then goes on with broad generalizations about all craft distilleries making whiskey.

It seems highly coincidental that at the same time these gentlemen are making these far reaching accusations, the Kentucky bourbon industry is rushing a bill through their state legislature that would give them a tax break for their aging barrel inventories.

Much of the fuss seems to focus on craft distilleries (and I guess we are one since we consider making fine bourbon a craft) that are using smaller barrels to age their bourbon. The authors argue that this is “cutting corners” and that the result is a green, raw, woody bourbon that does not have the same character and complexity of bourbon aged longer in larger barrels.

I suppose this is an interesting debate for those who are talking about it. For those of us actually making fine bourbon, the debate is ridiculous.

At Garrison Brothers, we have more than 1,500 small barrels filled with bourbon we made ourselves from scratch aging in our barns. We also have 10 gallon barrels, 20 gallon barrels, 53 gallon barrels, and 59 gallon barrels filled with our bourbon.

We hand-select the organic Texas corn, wheat and barley that we use. We grind the grain by hand. We cook our own mash. We ferment our own beer. My men and I distill our own bourbon, day in and day out, on three beautiful, reliable Vendome copper alembic pot stills. I dare say our White Dog is superior to any White Dog I’ve tasted in Kentucky.

But since they’ve opened the door, let’s talk about “cutting corners.” My small barrels cost me twice as much as a traditional 53 gallon Kentucky bourbon barrel. Most of my barrels hold only 15 gallons of bourbon. So, it costs me almost five times as much money to age my bourbon in small barrels as it does for the large commercial distilleries.

Could we use larger barrels? Sure. But we don’t. Why? Because the bourbon we’re aging in the small barrels tastes far superior to the bourbon aged in the larger ones. Does this sound to you like we’re “cutting corners”?

Recently, one of the largest Kentucky bourbon distilleries bought 100 small barrels from my cooperage to make their own small barrel bourbon. Does that seem odd? A distillery that’s been in business for decades tastes our bourbon and then decides to try make their own. Isn’t imitation the most sincere form of flattery?

So, debating the use of small barrels does not hold water. Just maybe the real debate should be about what we don’t do.

  • WE DON’T RELEASE YOUNG, UNDER-AGE  BOURBON. All Garrison Brothers today is straight bourbon whiskey, aged a minimum of two years. Soon, all Garrison Brothers will be three years old. Then four. Then five. 
  • We don’t buy whiskey from a large midwestern ethanol refinery and call it our own.
  • We don’t use grain neutral spirits and then claim we made it ourselves.
  • We don’t buy Canadian whiskey or Kentucky bourbon and then put a label on the bottle that says “MADE IN TEXAS.”
  • We don’t add wood chips, flavoring, or wood spirals. We believe that is illegal, and it should be.

 

In the next few months, new “craft” whiskies will flood Texas liquor stores. From the outside, the bottles will appear to look like bourbon. Many may be altering their barrels to try to make the distillate inside taste like bourbon. As I understand it, these “whiskies” are aged 6 or 9 months in used bourbon barrels.

These bottles will say “Texas Whiskey” or “Made in Texas”, probably in big, bold print, even though the makers know good and well that it was actually distilled somewhere else.

The liquid inside these bottles is NOT bourbon. If anything should piss off bourbon writers — who claim a desire to preserve and protect America’s native spirit – this should be it. It makes me mad as hell.

Interestingly, a few weeks ago I invited Mr. Hansell down to Texas, at my expense, to learn the truth about small barrel aging.  I wanted him to try our three-year old directly from small barrels and large barrels so he could taste firsthand that the bourbon has indeed gone through the extraction, absorption and esterification phases. I wanted him to taste the character and complexity that can only come from small barrel aging. He declined my invitation.

So, I’m going to try it again and this time I’ll put my money where my mouth is:

Mr. Hansell and Mr. Risen, please come visit us at Garrison Brothers Distillery and try our bourbon. While you are here, we will offer you a taste of all three previous releases of Garrison Brothers and the forthcoming November release. We’ll also share some of our favorites from Kentucky: George T. Stagg, Pappy Van Winkle 23, Old Drum, W.L. Weller 12, and Makers. We’ll provide these samples blind and ask you to choose your two favorites.

If you DON’T select my bourbon as one of your top two favorites, I will donate $500 to the charity of your choice.

Come visit us here in Hye. Then be the judge of whether our distillery might be “damaging the reputation of bourbon.” Around here, bourbon is sacred and we will fight like hell to defend it.

posted by Dan Garrison in Blog and have Comments (46)