Every now and then, something comes along that reminds you how special this journey really is, and how proud you are of the people who share it with you. For me, that something is Sonora.
Seven years in the making, Sonora is more than a bourbon. She’s a reflection of the rugged beauty of Texas, the spirit of collaboration, and the quiet strength of the women who help make Garrison Brothers what it is today. While this is a bourbon created by the women of Garrison Brothers, it is a product for all bourbon lovers.
When we first started talking about finishing our bourbon in rye whiskey barrels, I knew it would be a challenge, but I also knew we had the right hands on deck. In 2022, we filled thirty 53-gallon rye barrels with our four-year-old straight bourbon. For the next three years, those barrels sat in the Texas Hill Country heat, maturing into something extraordinary: a bourbon layered with spice, depth, and a touch of sweetness that could only come from patience.
Leading the charge was our own Samantha Olvera, the first female Latina in Texas to craft bourbon from grain to glass. She worked alongside Master Distiller Donnis Todd during the distillation process as well as deciding on what barrels to finish this expression in and what proof would create the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
And as those barrels quietly worked their magic, our Director of Trade Marketing, Ciara Knee-Chavez, took the creative reins, leading the charge on Sonora’s name, wax color, and bottle art, and crafting the story and promotion behind this special release. Her vision brought the bourbon’s natural beauty and Texas roots to life in a way that felt both authentic and deeply personal. Working alongside her were so many other incredible women who pour their heart and soul into every step of what we do here – from production to bottling, marketing to sales, and hospitality and events. Together, they’ve created something I believe captures not just the flavor of Texas, but its spirit.
We named her Sonora after one of my favorite places in Texas, the Caverns of Sonora. Hidden deep beneath the limestone, those caverns are a breathtaking sight, filled with shimmering crystal formations that have been growing for millions of years. When you stand in that cave and look around, you can’t help but feel a deep respect for time, nature, and the beauty that comes from slow, deliberate creation.
That’s what Sonora represents to me. Time, patience, and care, the same values that built our distillery and continue to guide it today.
To honor that inspiration, $5 from every bottle of Sonora will be donated to the Texas Cave Management Association to help preserve the Caverns of Sonora for future generations.
When you pour a glass of Sonora, you’ll notice rich aromas of sweet corn, oak, and rye spice, followed by vanilla, butterscotch, and a whisper of wildflower honey. The first sip greets you with black pepper and cinnamon, then softens into notes of brown sugar and crème brûlée. She’s bold but balanced, complex yet comforting. In other words, she’s Texas through and through.
I hope when you raise a glass of Sonora, you feel the pride I do. Pride in Texas craftsmanship. Pride in a team that pours heart and grit into everything we do. Pride in mentoring the next generation of leaders at Garrison Brothers. And pride in knowing that some things—like beauty, strength, and great bourbon—simply take time.
Salud to Sonora, and to every woman who helped bring her to life.
— Nancy Garrison
Co-Founder, Garrison Brothers Distillery
