Texas First Legal Bourbon · Hye, Texas · Est. 2006 · 18 Expressions
Garrison Brothers Bourbon:
The Complete Guide to Texas's Most Legendary Distillery
From the $75 Small Batch that started it all to the $420 Laguna Madre and 71% Hazmat Hye Heat series, here's every Garrison Brothers expression, what makes it worth drinking, and where each one fits in your collection.
Small Batch · Single Barrel · Cowboy · Hazmat · Lady Bird · Laguna Madre · And More
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Texas First. Still the Best.
When Dan Garrison founded Garrison Brothers Distillery in 2006 in Hye, Texas, population: not many, he wasn't entering an established Texas whiskey industry. He was creating one. Garrison Brothers earned the distinction of being the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas, operating before the state's whiskey scene existed as a category.
The mission was clear and unapologetically ambitious: make world-class bourbon in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, using locally sourced organic corn, wheat, and barley, limestone-filtered Hill Country spring water, and new American white oak barrels and let the relentless Texas climate do the rest.
Today, Master Distiller Donnis Todd oversees a lineup that has grown from a single Small Batch expression into one of the most comprehensive and celebrated bourbon portfolios in America, stretching from the accessible 47% ABV Small Batch to the eye-watering 71%+ Hazmat Hye Heat series that has become a collector's obsession.
Texas First
First legal bourbon distillery in Texas. Est. 2006, Hye, TX.
Texas Organic
Local organic corn, wheat, barley. Limestone Hill Country water.
Texas Heat Aging
Extreme summer heat accelerates barrel maturation — more character, faster.
Family Owned
Dan Garrison's family operation — small-batch, hands-on, never corporate.
18 Expressions
From Small Batch to 71% ABV Hazmat. Something for every bourbon drinker.
Why Texas Heat Changes Everything About Bourbon
Kentucky bourbon ages in a relatively temperate climate, summers are warm, winters are cold, and the barrel expands and contracts predictably over years. Texas is an entirely different story. Hye, Texas sees summer temperatures that routinely hit 100°F+ in the barrel warehouses, which creates dramatically accelerated barrel interaction.
When the barrel heats up, it expands and drives the spirit deep into the wood. When it cools (including the dramatic temperature swings Texas nights create), it pulls the spirit back out, now laden with vanillin, tannins, caramel, and the charred oak compounds that define aged bourbon character. This cycle happens more intensely and more often in Texas than anywhere else in the country.
The result: Garrison Brothers bourbons achieve a depth and richness at 2–4 years of Texas aging that can take Kentucky bourbon twice as long to develop. The same climate that makes Texas unpleasant in August makes its bourbon exceptional.
The Complete Garrison Brothers Lineup
Every expression, from the accessible entry point to the collector tier.
| Expression | ABV | Style | Price | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Batch | 47% | Entry · Organic TX grain | $74.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Single Barrel | 47% | Single cask · Hand-selected | $89.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Bottled in Bond | 50% | 100 proof · Federal BIB standard | $93.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Red White and Bourbon | 47% | Patriotic limited · Small Batch profile | $74.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| HoneyDew | 40% | Honey sweetness · Approachable | $78.99 | Notify Me | View |
| Guadalupe (Port Cask) | 53.5% | Port cask finish · Dark fruit | $144.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Balmorhea 'Texas Brittle' | 64.75% | Single barrel · Cask strength | $167.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Lady Bird (2025) | 57% | Honey infusion + Cognac cask finish | $179.99 | In Stock | Buy |
| Balmorhea 'Bourbon Candy' | 64.6% | Single barrel · Cask strength · Limited | $209.99 | Notify Me | View |
| Hazmat Hye Heat (I–V) | ~71% | Single barrel · Extreme cask strength · Series | $209.99 | Notify Me | Details |
| Cowboy Bourbon | 66.95% | Annual limited release · Iconic | $262.99 | Notify Me | View |
| Laguna Madre (2025) | 50.5% | Ultra-limited · Annual prestige release | $419.99 | Notify Me | View |
Foundation Line · In Stock
The Core Expressions — Where to Start
Small Batch
47% ABV · 750ml · $74.99
The flagship. Texas-grown organic corn, wheat, and barley. Hill Country spring water. Bottled at 47% ABV, enough proof to carry the big Texas bourbon character without being aggressive. Balanced caramel, vanilla, toasted oak with a touch of Texas wildflower honey. The bourbon that launched the entire Texas craft whiskey scene.
Single Barrel
47% ABV · 750ml · $89.99
Where Small Batch is a blend of barrels selected for consistency, the Single Barrel is exactly what it says: one hand-selected barrel, bottled individually. Each bottling will vary slightly barrel to barrel, which is the point, Single Barrel is about character, not consistency. Expect more intensity and an individual personality from the Texas heat aging.
Bottled in Bond
50% ABV · 750ml · $93.99
Bottled in Bond is a federally regulated designation requiring the bourbon be aged at least 4 years, produced in a single distillation season, at a single distillery, and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV). It's a transparency standard, legally guaranteed to be what it says it is. Garrison's BIB is fuller-bodied and more robust than the Small Batch. For drinkers who want the extra proof and the guarantee of provenance.
Red White & Bourbon
47% ABV · 750ml · $74.99 · Limited
A limited patriotic release that matches the Small Batch ABV and shares its accessible profile, the same Texas-grain bourbon with Garrison's signature Hill Country character. Arrives in distinctive patriotic packaging that makes it a strong Independence Day or Veterans Day gift while the label fits the season.
Bourbon & American Whiskey
334 Bourbon Expressions
Collector Tier · Currently Out of Stock — Notify Me
Cowboy & Laguna Madre — The Annual Icons
Cowboy Bourbon
66.95% ABV · 750ml · $262.99 · Annual Limited
The Cowboy Bourbon is Garrison's most famous annual limited release — a cask-strength, uncut, unfiltered Texas Straight Bourbon aged longer and selected specifically for maximum intensity. At nearly 67% ABV, it's not for the timid. Dark chocolate, maple syrup, brown sugar, oak, and a sustained fiery warmth that defines what Texas's extreme climate does to bourbon over extended aging. Releases sell out quickly every year, this is the bottle for serious Garrison collectors.
Laguna Madre (2025)
50.5% ABV · 750ml · $419.99 · Ultra-Limited Annual
Named for the remote, hypersaline lagoon along the Texas Gulf Coast, one of only a handful in the world, Laguna Madre is Garrison's prestige annual expression. Small-batch selected from Garrison's most exceptional barrels, aged to a maturity that Donnis Todd considers pinnacle for the distillery's profile. Sweet caramel, honey, toasted pecans, and warm baking spices with a long, elegant finish. At $419.99, it's a significant investment and for the right collector, worth every dollar.
🔥 Extreme Series · ~71% ABV · Currently Unavailable
Hazmat 'Hye Heat' Series — Not for the Faint of Heart
The Hazmat Hye Heat series carries its name because federal law classifies liquids above 24% ABV as hazardous material for shipping and at 71%+ ABV, these expressions comfortably clear that threshold. Each edition is a single barrel, cask strength release hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd for exceptional character. These are not daily drinkers. They are collector pieces and serious bourbon experiences, best approached neat in small pours or with a few drops of water to open the complexity.
Edition I — 71% ABV
$209.99 · Currently Unavailable
Dark brown sugar, scorched caramel, seasoned oak, peppered leather. Molasses and roasted pecans on the palate. Slow-building warmth that grips the chest. Smoky vanilla and lingering spice on the finish.
View Edition IEdition II — 70.95% ABV
$209.99 · Currently Unavailable
Scorched caramel, dark cherry compote, cinnamon bark and burnt sugar mid-palate. Dark chocolate and a hint of mesquite smoke. Long, fiery finish without sacrificing complexity.
View Edition IIEdition III — 71.45% ABV
$209.99 · Currently Unavailable
Charred oak, dark chocolate, molasses. Burnt caramel, black pepper, roasted pecans on the palate. Surprising roundness at full proof. Peppery finish with tobacco and Texas heat.
View Edition IIIEdition IV — 71.25% ABV
$209.99 · Currently Unavailable
Caramelized sugar, toasted oak, dark fruit preserves. Dense, oily texture with burnt toffee, pecan pie, pipe tobacco. Finishing long with deep smoky warmth.
View Edition IVEdition V — 71.8% ABV
$209.99 · Currently Unavailable
The most recent Hazmat edition. Highest proof in the series at 71.8% ABV. Hand-selected by Donnis Todd for its concentration and complexity. Full Texas barrel-strength experience in every pour.
View Edition VGifts & Bundles
The Texas Sunset Sampler Bundle
$367.99 · Multiple Expressions
The official Garrison Brothers sampler bundle, multiple expressions together in one package. For the bourbon enthusiast who wants to explore the range rather than committing to a single bottle, or for gifting occasions where you want to make an impression. One of the strongest Garrison gift options available.
Buy Texas Sunset Sampler →Small Batch 375ml — Boot Flask
$36.99 · 375ml · 47% ABV · Boot-Shaped Flask
The same Small Batch bourbon in Garrison's distinctive Texas boot-shaped flask. A great introduction gift, stocking stuffer, or party favor for bourbon lovers. The bottle itself is a conversation piece. Priced right for a casual but thoughtful gift.
Buy Boot Flask $36.99Garrison Brothers FAQ
Which Garrison Brothers expression should I start with?
The Small Batch at $74.99 is the right entry point, it's the expression that defines Garrison's Texas bourbon profile and is the most accessible in terms of both price and approachability. If you want more proof and body immediately, the Bottled in Bond at $93.99 is a strong step up without jumping into the premium tier.
Why does Texas bourbon taste different from Kentucky bourbon?
The Texas climate creates dramatically more intense barrel interaction than Kentucky's temperate conditions. Summer temperatures in Hye can hit 100°F+ inside barrel warehouses, which forces the spirit deep into the wood through repeated expansion-and-contraction cycles. This accelerated aging creates more concentrated flavors, more caramel, more vanilla, more charred wood and in less time. Garrison Brothers' bourbons achieve the depth of older Kentucky expressions at comparatively younger ages.
What makes Garrison Brothers' Hazmat bourbon so special?
The Hazmat series earns its name from federal hazardous material shipping regulations, any liquid above 24% ABV is classified as hazmat, and at 71%+ ABV, these expressions clear that threshold by a significant margin. Beyond the proof, each Hazmat is a single barrel, cask strength release hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd for exceptional character. No blending, no dilution. Pure Texas barrel-strength bourbon. For serious collectors and drinkers who want the unfiltered character of the barrel.
How should I drink Garrison Brothers high-proof expressions?
For anything above 60% ABV (Balmorhea, Hazmat, Cowboy), the standard advice is: neat in small pours first to assess, then add 2–4 drops of still water. The water dilutes the alcohol just enough to suppress the heat and let the aromatic and flavor compounds bloom, the difference between a 71% ABV neat and the same spirit with a few drops of water is dramatic. A single large ice cube works as an alternative; avoid crushed ice which dilutes too quickly.
Where can I buy all Garrison Brothers expressions online?
All Garrison Brothers expressions are available here on LoveScotch.com. Currently in stock: Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bottled in Bond, Red White & Bourbon, Guadalupe, Balmorhea Texas Brittle, and Lady Bird 2025. Browse the full American Whiskey and Single Barrel collections for more.
LoveScotch.com
The Complete Garrison Brothers Collection
From the $37 Boot Flask to the $419 Laguna Madre, every Garrison Brothers expression, shipped nationwide.
