On Monday, the Good Bourbon for a Good Cause initiative presented the Amarillo Area Foundation with a $220,000 check to support recovery efforts following the Texas Panhandle wildfires. The funds were raised by several Texas-based businesses through Panhandle Proud, an initiative focused on aiding local communities impacted by the fires.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, III Forks Steakhouse, William Chris Vineyards, the Texas Distilled Spirits Association, and the Texas Whiskey Association collaborated to raise the funds through events held across the state. The Amarillo Area Foundation will allocate the money toward rebuilding efforts in the wildfire-affected communities. This contribution marks a significant step in helping those hit hardest by the devastation.
The Texas Panhandle Wildfires
In 2024, the Texas Panhandle was devastated by a series of wildfires, with the Smokehouse Creek Fire becoming the largest in state history. Ignited in February, the fire quickly spread due to dry, windy conditions, consuming over 1 million acres. It destroyed homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land, with two fatalities reported. The fires displaced thousands of residents, left many without power, and caused significant damage to farms, particularly affecting livestock and crops.
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In the wake of the devastating fires, Garrison Brothers Distillery, a Texas-based whiskey producer, recognized the importance of helping those affected and emphasized the importance of Texan agriculture in the state’s economy.
“The Texas Panhandle is the great breadbasket of American agriculture. Garrison Brothers and other whiskey producers purchase their grain from producers, coops, and malting houses located there. Panhandle residents are tough as nails. We are happy to help them rebuild with these raised funds,” said Dan Garrison, founder of Garrison Brothers Distillery and Good Bourbon For A Good Cause.
The funds for Amarillo Area Foundation were raised through several events and activations across Texas. Garrison Brothers’ Winner Winner Chicken Dinner event raised over $100,000 alone. The event included an auction that saw artist-painted bourbon barrels go under the hammer.
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In August, III Forks Steakhouse hosted two Panhandle to Table Benefit Dinners at its Austin and Frisco locations. The events featured Curtis Osmond of III Forks, Dan Garrison of Garrison Brothers Distillery, and Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards. Guests enjoyed five-course dinners highlighting Texas-sourced meat and produce. These ticketed events raised over $120,000 across both evenings, with proceeds supporting relief efforts for communities affected by the Texas Panhandle wildfires.
Good Bourbon For A Good Cause
The non-profit organization, Good Bourbon For A Good Cause, was founded by Dan Garrison of Garrison Brothers Distillery in order to give back to the community that produces the grains for Garrison Brothers bourbon.
Funds raised through the organization have benefited communities across Texas in times of need.
