A five-day culinary event featuring 50+ chefs/mixologists, a statewide bartender competition, and a bourbon-fueled day party overlooking a parade
AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 12, 2019) — Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, announced today its plans to celebrate Texas Independence Day in three big ways: The Bourbon Takeover of Texas – a five-day culinary event leading up to March 2 (Texas Independence Day); The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl – a statewide bartender contest; and Liberations & Libations – an authentically Texan day party at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel.
The Bourbon Takeover of Texas, now in its second year, quickly became an annual tradition for the Garrison Brothers team. A treat for whiskey lovers, the event consists of five days of more than 50 distinguished bars and restaurants across the state featuring culinary and mixological specials that include Garrison Brothers’ Small Batch Bourbon. These limited-time offerings will be available at select establishments in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio from Sunday, February 24 through Saturday, March 2.
Participating restaurants and cocktail bars include:
Austin
Better Half
Central Standard
Fairmont
Fixe Southern House
Here Nor There
Hyatt Regency
JW Marriott
The Eleanor
Sonesta Bee Caves
The Switch
Dallas
ABV Establishment
Bourbon & Banter at The Statler
Cool River Café
Happiest Hour
Haywire
HIDE
The Standard Pour
Up on Knox
Whiskey Cake | Las Colinas
Fort Worth
Bird Café
City Works
Fixe Southern House
Proper
Silver Leaf Cigar Lounge
Heim BBQ
Thompson’s Bookstore
Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar
Waters Restaurant
Whiskey & Rye at Omni Hotel
Houston
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
Goodnight Charlie’s
Whiskey Cake | Baybrook
Worcester’s Annex at Heights Bier Garten
Morton’s Steakhouse (Downtown)
Pinkerton’s BBQ
Ready Room
Whiskey Cake | Katy
Wicklow Heights
Willie G’s Seafood
San Antonio
Bar 1919
Biga on the Banks
Sternewirth at Hotel Emma
Ocho at Hotel Havana
Paramour
Playland Pizza
Rebelle at Hotel St. Anthony
Supper at Hotel Emma
The Edison Experiment
Hotel Havana
Whiskey Cake
From February 24 through Saturday, March 2, 2019, the Garrison Brothers team will visit every participating location to taste, critique, examine, and enjoy each cocktail, considering its potential for advancement to the second round of The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl, a statewide, high-stakes bartender competition with a $10,000 cash prize.
“Our original intention was to cap participating locations at 50, but the interest from bartenders across the state was so overwhelming, we decided to open it up to a few more select individuals,” said Rob Cordes, director of marketing for Garrison Brothers Distillery.
The contest will unfold in three stages across these five major Texas cities from March through May. Participating in The Bourbon Takeover of Texas is a prerequisite to compete in The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl.
“Good bourbon has the power to change the world, and that’s exactly what we want to do with this competition. We want to permanently and positively change someone’s world,” said Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery. To this end, the $10,000 cash prize will be paid out by Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)3 public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018.
Liberations & Libations will be a more localized celebration of Texas Independence. Taking place in the heart of downtown Austin at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, the day party is scheduled to take place from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The annual Texas Independence Day Parade will makes its way down Congress Avenue to the capitol building from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m and Stephen F.’s iconic terrace is the perfect place to watch the festivities. Inside, Texas-born businesses will showcase their hand-crafted products, while Texas chefs and beverage-makers serve bourbon-infused brunch bites in the spacious ballroom. Tasting wristbands will be available for $25 and will include eight food and drink tickets. Only 500 of these wristbands are available and can be purchased → HERE. Participating businesses include:
Garrison Brothers Distillery
Independence Brewing Co.
Fairweather Cidery
Republic Boot Co.
InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel
Central Standard
Trudy’s
Salado Glassworks
Weige Knives
Bearded Buffalo Company
Texas Whiskey Trail
Parker Chapin Music
Old Enfield Supply Co.
Patrons are encouraged to come right at 7:30 a.m. to get a prime spot for the annual Texas Independence Day parade, scheduled to make its way up Congress Avenue at 9:30 a.m. The party will take a brief recess from noon until 3.p.m. and will kick off again with a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Afternoon attractions include passed bourbon-infused bites by Chef Bryan Gibson, a roaming “redneck mariachi” duo, and a silent auction benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. A live auction will also be held at 5 p.m.for an entire barrel of the award-winning Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon.
“Texas Independence Day has always been a very special time here at Garrison Brothers Distillery,” said Garrison. “Not only does it mark it a significant milestone in the history of our great state but it also commemorates the day we released our very first batch of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon back in 2010. In keeping with tradition, we’ve released the current year’s vintage on this holiday every year since. This year we’re going all out, and we hope you celebrate with us at one of our three major events throughout Texas. Salud.”
Anyone interested in learning more about Garrison Brothers Bourbon or in taking a tour of the distillery should visit garrisonbros.com or follow @garrisonbros on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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ABOUT GARRISON BROTHERS DISTILLERY
Garrison Brothers Distillery is a small farm and ranch located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country that authentically produces 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 15,000 people just to volunteer on bottling days, and their Cowboy Bourbon™ normally sells out within hours of its release. Garrison Brothers is the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas history and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, made-from-scratch bourbon whiskey and only bourbon whiskey. The business was founded in 2006.
Every expression of Garrison Brothers bourbon is made from a sweet mash bill and barrel aged in the intense Texas climate. The extreme heat creates multiple aging seasons in a year, resulting in a darker, richer, and fuller bourbon; bolder than almost any other bourbon on the market.
At the American Craft Spirit Awards in 2018, the Garrison Brothers team was awarded a gold medal for its Single Barrel Bourbon, a silver medal for its 2016 Small Batch Bourbon, and another silver for its Balmorhea Double Barrel Bourbon. Garrison Brothers was voted Best Craft Whiskey Distillery in America by readers of USA Today in 2017.
Garrison Brothers 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 in taking a tour of the distillery should visit garrisonbros.com or follow @garrisonbros on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
ABOUT GOOD BOURBON FOR A GOOD CAUSE
In association with the distilled spirits community, GOOD BOURBON FOR A GOOD CAUSE is the beneficiary of marketing and promotional events conducted for philanthropic purposes. Funds of GOOD BOURBON FOR A GOOD CAUSE are distributed to charitable organizations primarily, but not exclusively, in Blanco and Gillespie counties of Texas and also to charitable organizations that serve current and former American military personnel. The types of charitable causes that are supported include, but are not limited to:
● Organizations that help current or former American military veterans and their families
● Organizations that help former American military personnel get back to leading a rewarding life
● Organizations that help American veterans recover from debilitating medical, mental health or psychological challenges such as coping with memories of torture, lost friends and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
● Organizations dedicated to conserving and preserving nature, wildlife, green spaces, or historical landmarks and historical sites.
● Other charitable organizations that the board of directors determines to be within the intent and spirit of the formation of this corporation.
To date, the organization has raised and contributed close to $200,000.
MEDIA CONTACT
Bryan Gonzales | 512-797-8579 | bryan@giantnoise.com | garrisonbros@giantnoise.com
