In the rugged heart of Texas Hill Country, where summer temperatures often climb past 38°C, Garrison Brothers has turned extreme conditions into a defining advantage. The distillery is crafting bourbons that are bold, intense, and unmistakably Texan.
By embracing the sweet mash process, local grain sourcing, and the punishing climate, Garrison Brothers has created award-winning bourbon that could only come from one place.
Embracing the Texas Climate
“No such thing as typical aging in Texas,” says Donnis Todd, Master Distiller at Garrison Brothers. “We may not yield as much bourbon per barrel in Texas after 4–6 years of aging than a mainstream distillery, but what’s left in our Garrison Brothers’ barrels that has survived 4–6 years of Texas heat isn’t mainstream bourbon and that makes every challenge we face with climate more than worth it.”
Texas’ scorching summers and dramatic seasonal swings force a dynamic interaction between spirit and oak, creating deeper color, richer flavor, and remarkable complexity. While the evaporation losses—the infamous angel’s share—are higher than in Kentucky, the result is bourbon with a character as distinctive as the land it comes from.
The Sweet Mash Difference
Garrison Brothers takes an uncommon path with its fermentation process, opting for sweet mash instead of the traditional sour mash technique.
“Sweet mash bourbons are created with zero set-back. None of the last batch is used in the next batch,” explains Todd. “On my palette, the sweet mash process creates a sweeter, more flavorful bourbon than the sour mash produces.”
This method requires meticulous care and absolute cleanliness but rewards the final spirit with naturally sweeter notes, vibrant complexity, and a richer mouthfeel—no additives, no shortcuts.
Harvesting True Texas Terroir
Garrison Brothers’ commitment to place extends beyond their barrels. Every grain in their mash bill is sourced within Texas, including #1 Panhandle White Corn and Red Winter Wheat grown on their own farm.
“We’re proud that all the grains that we use to produce Garrison Brothers bourbon are from Texas,” says Todd. “We are fully aware of the challenges local Texan farmers have faced. You could say, we’re willed to do amazing things with those raw ingredients to ensure we don’t waste all their hard work.”
The same relentless sun that shapes their bourbons also nurtures their grains, creating a full-circle flavor journey from Texas soil to Texas bottle.
Garrison Brothers’ Portfolio of Texan Character
The distillery’s range showcases different facets of their bourbon philosophy, each expression shaped by their unique environment and practices.
“Garrison Brothers Small Batch is crafted with a vintage strategy,” says Todd. “Year to year, there are subtle profile differences. The distilling team at Garrison Brothers works hard to ensure each 50–55-barrel batch within a given year all taste the same.”
For those barrels that refuse to blend, individuality is celebrated. “When I find barrels that won’t play well with others and are better by themselves, they become Single Barrel,” Todd explains.
And then there’s the Cowboy Bourbon—a legend born from what others might see as loss. “When we are tasting our way through the next 50 Garrison Brothers barrels, sometimes we find ‘piggy bank’ barrels. These are almost completely empty. We marry piggy banks together to create Garrison Brothers Cowboy.”
Each release offers a unique perspective on how the Texas climate, sweet mash fermentation, and careful grain selection express themselves over time.
The Texas Advantage
Rather than resisting the challenges of their environment, Garrison Brothers embraces them. The punishing heat, the dramatic evaporation, and the stubborn Texas grains—all combine to produce whiskey with a character that could never be replicated elsewhere.
Through their distinctive approach, Garrison Brothers offers whiskey enthusiasts a compelling alternative to traditional Kentucky profiles: bourbon with a sense of place, purpose, and passion.
Garrison Brothers Bourbon with a Purpose
Beyond crafting world-class whiskey, Garrison Brothers remains deeply rooted in the community through their “Good Bourbon for a Good Cause” initiative.
“The beautiful part about Garrison Brothers Bourbon is the Garrison’s,” Todd reflects. “Dan, Nancy & brother Charlie care more about the folks who make their bourbon and the areas around them than they ever care about how much bourbon we make.”
Their efforts are substantial. “Last year alone, Garrison Brothers fundraising efforts raised over $480,000,” he says. “We do believe good bourbon can change the world. Our efforts focus on our local community needs, the hospitality industry, environmental causes, and anything to support veterans and their families.”
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Such charitable endeavors include raising $75,000 for the National Museum of the Pacific War, $200,000 for wildfire-affected communities alongside other companies in Texas, and partnering with Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation for the launch of a limited edition Balmorhea Cask Strength Bourbon.
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