Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon 750ML

Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon 750ML is a 94-proof (47% ABV) Texas straight bourbon distilled and barrel-aged in Hye, Texas. Named 2014 Micro Whiskey of the Year and recipient of multiple gold medals at major international competitions, this expression draws its distinctive intensity from a sweet mash process and punishing Hill Country heat that concentrates flavor at rates impossible to replicate in cooler climates.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 proof)  |  Origin: Hye, Texas, USA  |  Style: Texas Straight Bourbon  |  Distillery: Garrison Brothers Distillery

Production & Heritage

Garrison Brothers Distillery sits in the Texas Hill Country, where summer temperatures routinely exceed 100°F. The bourbon is built on a mashbill of 74% Texas-grown corn, 15% red winter wheat, and 11% malted barley, processed using a sweet mash method — a deliberate departure from the sour mash technique standard across Kentucky. The distillery employs barrels as large as 59 gallons, six gallons larger than the industry-standard 53-gallon American barrel, to help manage an angel's share of 13–15%. That evaporation rate is roughly double the 5–7% typical of Kentucky rickhouses, meaning each surviving bottle carries a far more concentrated extraction of oak, char, and caramelized sugars.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet corn leaps from the glass immediately, joined by butterscotch and a subtle thread of baking spice. Deeper inhalation reveals Golden Delicious apple, drizzled honey, fresh-cut grass, and faint saddle leather undertones.

Taste: The entry is corn-forward — sweet, ripe, and remarkably clean — before developing into layers of yellow pound cake and sugar cookies at mid-palate. Tart orange hard candy and lemon gumdrop brightness emerge alongside smoky baking spices, adding welcome complexity to an otherwise rich, dessert-like profile.

Finish: Long and complex, beginning with smoky tobacco before transitioning into sweet caramel apple sprinkled with walnuts and cinnamon. Brown sugar and molasses linger well after each sip, rewarding patience.

How to Drink Garrison Brothers

Neat or with a few drops of water is the best way to appreciate the full spectrum of caramel, baking spice, and concentrated corn sweetness that defines this bourbon. The 94-proof strength carries flavor without excessive heat, though a single ice cube softens it further for warm-weather sipping. An Old Fashioned lets the butterscotch and corn sweetness play beautifully against aromatic bitters. A Bourbon Smash highlights the apple and citrus notes with fresh mint and lemon. In a Paper Plane, the bold proof and smoky character hold their own against amaro and Aperol.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who wants to explore beyond Kentucky
• Introducing friends to the emerging Texas whiskey category
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich desserts
• Building a regionally diverse American bourbon collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Garrison Brothers taste like? Garrison Brothers delivers a sweet, corn-forward profile dominated by butterscotch, brown sugar, and yellow pound cake, balanced by smoky baking spices and a long caramel apple finish with lingering molasses.

How does Garrison Brothers compare to Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat? Both expressions feature wheat-influenced mashbills that yield a softer, sweeter bourbon profile, and they have been noted as comparable in direct tastings. Garrison Brothers differentiates itself through its sweet mash process and extreme Texas heat aging, which produces a more concentrated, barrel-intense character with significantly higher evaporation losses.

Is Garrison Brothers good for sipping neat? At 47% ABV, Garrison Brothers hits an accessible sweet spot for neat sipping — enough proof to carry robust flavors without excessive burn. A few drops of water can further unlock its butterscotch and baking spice aromatics.

Where is Garrison Brothers made? Garrison Brothers is distilled and aged at the Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, a small town in the Hill Country region west of Austin. All corn used in the mashbill is sourced from Texas farms.

What foods pair well with Garrison Brothers? Smoked brisket complements the bourbon's smoky tobacco notes. Pecan pie echoes its brown sugar and caramel sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the corn-forward richness. Dark chocolate amplifies the baking spice and molasses character. Grilled peaches bring out the apple and honey aromatics.

What sizes does Garrison Brothers come in? The standard Texas Straight Bourbon bottling is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Garrison Brothers worth the price? Garrison Brothers positions as a premium craft bourbon, priced above most mainstream Kentucky expressions. The intensive Texas aging process — with angel's share losses more than double the industry norm — drives higher production costs per bottle, making the pricing consistent with its category and a justified step up for drinkers seeking a climate-driven bourbon with genuine regional character.

Why Garrison Brothers?

The extreme Texas climate is not a marketing footnote — it fundamentally reshapes what happens inside each barrel. With angel's share losses of 13–15%, every surviving bottle of Garrison Brothers represents a significantly more concentrated interaction between spirit and wood than a typical Kentucky bourbon. The combination of oversized 59-gallon barrels, a sweet mash process that preserves grain sweetness, and a wheat-forward mashbill creates a flavor profile that has no direct analog among traditional bourbon producers. Multiple gold medals — including 2014 Micro Whiskey of the Year and wins at the Denver International Spirits Competition and LA International Spirits Competition — confirm this approach produces results that earn respect well beyond state lines.