Grain-to-glass Texas bourbon poured in four hotel restaurants & featured in chef pairing dinner on May 30
Austin, Texas -May 16, 2018- Fairmont Austin andGarrison Brothers Distillery are proud to announce a forthcoming partnership. With 1,048 richly appointed guest rooms and picturesque vistas of Lady Bird Lake, the newly opened 37-story luxury hotel is located amid the lush greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek and directly connected to the Austin Convention Center. Fairmont Austin is home to five restaurants and bars, four of which are pouring a custom blend of Texas-made bourbon whiskey from Hill Country-based Garrison Brothers Distillery.
What began as a simple R&D inquiry in October of 2017 has blossomed into a creative connection to bourbon makers and bourbon drinkers. Fairmont Austin Beverage ManagerAndrew Grenz recently visited Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas, to tour the grounds, learn how the bourbon is made, taste through select barrels to create a custom blend for the hotel, and take part in the bottling process.“It is such a privilege to work with a team like the Garrison Brothers family”, said Andrew Grenz, beverage manager at Fairmont Austin. “Dan and Charles have created something truly unique to the Texas culture and we couldn’t be happier to work with such passionate and storied individuals.”Grenz’s offering of Garrison Brothers Bourbon at the hotel speaks to his penchant for using locally sourced ingredients from Austin-based companies whenever possible. “I loved the idea of using a high-quality bourbon that was Texan from grain to glass.”
Every step —from cooking the mash to bottling —takes place right there on site at the Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas. They make bourbon in a range of ages and finishes, but it’s the scorching Texas climate that has an intense impact on the bourbon’s flavor. Once the charred oak barrels have been filled with the distillate (white dog), the constant fluctuation in temperature from hot to cool causes the bourbon in the barrels to swell and shrink, forcing the aging bourbon to cycle through the wood’s crevices. As it moves in and out, the liquid extracts sugars from the sap in the wood’s pores, yielding a bourbon with a distinct, rich caramel color and bold flavor.
For spring, Grenz created a cocktail featuring the 2018 vintage of Garrison Brothers’ signature Small Batch Bourbon. He named it Farrah’s Watching after some memorable decor at the distillery. “Those who have visited the distillery in Hye, Texas, will understand the name of this cocktail,” said Grenz. “She is always keeping her eye on us, and we appreciate her making sure we shoot straight.” The cocktail uses some unconventional ingredients and incorporatesGarrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon, Lustau “Los Arcos” Amontillado Sherry, corn syrup, hand-squeezed lemon juice, and Bitterman’s Orchard Street celery shrub. It’s garnished with dried corn kernels and a dehydrated lemon wheel.
In celebration of the newly forged partnership, Fairmont Austin and Garrison Brothers will host a bourbon-pairing chef dinner at Garrison Grillon Wednesday, May 30, at 5 p.m. Garrison Grill is a Modern American Grill House dedicated to open flame, wafting smoke, quality meats, seafood, and local produce.“This dinner is our way of honoring the Garrison Brothers’ commitment to quality by creating a menu and selection of paired cocktails that embraces their dedication to the industry and hopefully doing their Texas bourbon justice,” said Grenz. Garrison Grill Chef de Cuisine Jason Purcell created a six-course pairing menu complete with several expressions of Garrison Brothers Bourbon and bourbon cocktails.
Whiskey enthusiasts are invited to join Chef Jason, Garrison Brothers Owner/Distiller Dan Garrison, and Master Distiller Donnis Todd for an evening of fine dining and damn good bourbon. Tickets are $150 each and include six courses, six pairings, tax, and gratuity. They are available for purchase here. “We are excited to partner with one of Austin’s finest chefs and to support one of the city’s top bar programs,” said Dan Garrison. “Damn good bourbon deserves to be paired with good food, and good people and Garrison Grill’s forward-thinking mindset is making a mark on the bar world.”
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ABOUT FAIRMONT AUSTIN
At the heart of the vibrant Central Business District, Fairmont Austin is uniquely situated alongside the lush greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek, with exclusive and direct access to the Austin Convention Center via the Red River Canopy Walk. Officially opened March 5, 2018, the 37-story luxury hotel will feature 1,048 richly appointed guest rooms and suites, including exclusive Fairmont Gold rooms and lounge, with picturesque vistas of Lady Bird Lake, the State Capitol, and the dramatic cityscape. Boasting a level of service and amenities unrivaled by Austin hotels, guests will indulge in an array of dining experiences, seasonally heated swimming pool on the 7th-floor terrace, full-service salon and spa, state-of-the-art fitness center and nearly 140,000 square feet of total meeting space. The hotel’s towering architectural design embraces Austin’s Green Energy program, while interior elements will showcase the breathtaking Hill Country landscape and rich traditions of Austin’s cultural heritage. Fairmont Austin will engage guests with the city’s famed music scene as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” as well as the area’s celebrated cuisine and diverse artistic lifestyle. Become a fan of Fairmont Austin and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, please call 512-600-2000 or visit us at fairmont.com/austin.
Media enquiries and further information:
Casey Barks
Director of Communications, Fairmont Austin
512-701-8595
casey.barks@fairmont.com
ABOUT GARRISON GRILL
Dedicated to open flame, wafting smoke and the highest quality meats, seafood, and local produce available, this Modern American Grill House is an ideal place for culinary exploration. Served by the truly passionate and prepared by the most skilled, flavors start with superior ingredients and are defined by unique preparations. Expectations are exceeded, provisions are complex, experiences are extraordinary. Meant to pair with wines from an impressive selection, dishes redefine dining in the heart of Austin.
ABOUT GARRISON BROTHERS BOURBON
Garrison Brothers Distillery™ is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, which happens to also authentically produce straight bourbon whiskey. Garrison Brothers introduced the first bourbon whiskey legally made in Texas in 2010 and has since developed a rabid fan base. They currently have a waiting list of more than 10,000 just to volunteer on bottling days, and their Cowboy Bourbon normally sells out within hours of its release.Garrison Brothers is the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas history and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey and only bourbon whiskey. The business was founded in 2006. At the American Craft Spirit Awards in 2018, they were awarded a gold medal for their Single Barrel Bourbon, silver medal for their 2016 Vintage Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey and another silver for their Balmorhea Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. Jim Murray’s Whiskey Biblehas named Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon™ “the American Micro Whiskey of the Year” in 2014 and again in 2017. Last year, the distillery was voted the Best Craft Whiskey Distillery in America by readers of USA Today.The business is a proud and active member of the communities of Blanco, Fredericksburg, Hye, Johnson City, and Stonewall. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas. Anyone interested in learning more about Garrison Brothers bourbon or tours of the distillery should visit garrisonbros.com or follow @garrisonbros on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT
Bryan Gonzales | 512-797-8579 | bryan@giantnoise.com| garrisonbros@giantnoise.com