![]() Come to find out, most bourbon does come from Kentucky, and all the major brand distillers are there. We’ve been to several large bourbon distilleries in Kentucky, and I just assumed all bourbon came from Kentucky. It is a requirement for bourbon to age in these oak barrels for at least two years. When it gets hot, the bourbon will soak deep into the wood and extract the chemical compounds from the oak. The char inside the barrels softens the wood, allowing the bourbon to expand into the wood. The barrels are not allowed to be re-used, according to bourbon industry standards. After the bourbon has been distilled, it is aged in charred, American oak barrels. They’ve also added two more 500-gallon custom-made stills. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled through an antique copper pot still, nicknamed the “Copper Cowgirl”, an experimental 100-gallon still, from the Wild Turkey Distillery. Once the grains arrive at the distillery, they are milled and mashed before being fermented for four days. They get about 30,000 pounds of corn, wheat and barley delivered a month. Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from organic corn, wheat and barley. One thing is certain: Life is simply too short to waste on inferior whiskey, and Garrison Brothers is at the very least one of the best bourbons ever made. I’m not sure it is the best bourbon ever made, but it is the best I’ve ever tasted. Dan also believes the Texas heat produces a better bourbon than one made in the Kentucky climate…and I tend to agree. He didn't want to make just any bourbon, he wanted to make the best bourbon ever made. According to owner, Dan Garrison, his dreams were big from the start. When Garrison Brothers received their federal permit in 2007, they were the only distillery in America successfully producing their own authentic grain for bourbon, outside the state of Kentucky. The distillery is the oldest legal whiskey distillery in Texas. Situated on a rolling ranch in Texas Hill Country, just outside Fredericksburg, Garrison Brothers Distillery was founded in 2005. They use a sweet mash, rather than a sour mash, as most distillers do. It was a very informative tour, and I still remember tasting the mash. ![]() ![]() In September 2015, while on vacation, we went through a tour of the Garrison Brothers Bourbon Distillery. According to Jim Murray, author of the Whiskey Bible, when talking about Garrison Brothers aging bourbon, “Four years in Texas evidently equate to 23 in Kentucky”. It is regarded by many bourbon aficionados as the highest quality, finest tasting bourbon in the world. But, for me, the best is Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey in Hye, Texas. I’ve at least tried about every affordable name brand Kentucky bourbon ever made…and a few Tennessee whiskeys. I love the taste of bourbon, and am amazed at the art and science behind the bottles of bourbon on the shelf. Let me preface this article by saying, I love bourbon…always have. ![]()
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