Texas distillery, Garrison Brothers, will release its ninth bourbon expression on October 18th. The new Garrison Brothers Sonora Texas Straight Bourbon was finished in rye whiskey barrels.
Garrison Brothers Sonora Features Unique Double-Barrel Process
The Hye, Texas-based distillery developed Sonora through an extensive aging process that begins with four years in new white American oak barrels. The bourbon then undergoes an additional three years of finishing in rye whiskey barrels before bottling at 108 proof.
Master Distiller Donnis Todd worked alongside Samantha Olvera to create the expression. Olvera, who has spent seven years with the distilling team, represents a significant achievement as the first female Latina in Texas to craft bourbon from grain to glass.
“Garrison Brothers Sonora Bourbon is a testament to the power of female leadership, collaboration and true craftsmanship,” said Nancy Garrison, co-founder of Garrison Brothers Distillery. ” Since starting in 2006, we have had the privilege of working with many female leaders as part of our family business including Samantha Olvera on our distilling team. It’s nice to share their stories through bourbon.”
The project also included contributions from marketing director Ciara Knee-Chavez.
The bourbon takes its name from the Caverns of Sonora, a geological formation in Texas. Each bottle features the distillery’s signature ruby red wax seal.
Tasting Notes and Availability for Garrison Brothers Sonora
Official tasting notes describe Sonora as deep amber in color with aromas of sweet corn, oak, and rye spices combined with vanilla and butterscotch. Additional notes include citrus zest, almond tea, and wildflower honey. The palate presents black pepper and cinnamon before transitioning to brown sugar and crème brûlée on the finish.
The distillery will make 1,000 bottles available at the October 18th release event at their Hye facility. The remaining 5,000 bottles from the limited production run will reach the company’s e-commerce platform and select retailers nationwide in early November.
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Sonora has a suggested retail price of $159.99. The distillery plans to donate $5 from each bottle sold to the Texas Cave Management Association for conservation efforts at the Caverns of Sonora.
Garrison Brothers operates as Texas’s first legal whiskey distillery and holds the distinction of being the first distillery outside Kentucky to produce bourbon whiskey using traditional corn-to-cork methods. The company established operations in 2006 and has since built a portfolio of eight bourbon expressions.
Sonora joins other expressions in demonstrating the company’s focus on extended aging periods and experimental finishing techniques.
