WRITTEN BY RICH MANNING
At Garrison Brothers, nothing beats the magic of bourbon
TRULY EPIC PHOTO BY BRENT BAXTER
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W W W . ARTISANSPIRITMAG . C O M
he first thing that strikes you when you step onto Garrison Brothers’ property in Hye, Texas, is its size. Dubbed The Ranch, it’s a property of epic proportions: sweeping landscapes dotted with patchy grass fields and gnarled shady trees, dusty trails leading to slightly creaky wooden buildings and metal-encased distilling structures, and ranch-themed artwork affirming its Lone Star state locale. The “everything is bigger in Texas” sprawl drips with the sweeping romanticism befitting of a classic Hollywood western. The environment jibes rather well with the influence the Texas craft brand has had since namesake owner Dan Garrison launched the brand in 2005. Garrison Brothers did more than become the first legal distillery in Texas — their award-winning juice helped lay the groundwork that allowed the Lone Star State to earn respect as a legitimate whiskey producing region. Bring up the notion of Texas bourbon, and there’s an excellent chance their distillery will be the first one mentioned. 61