Garrison Brothers, Texas’s first legal bourbon distillery, has officially slated September 12 for the release of its 12th annual Cowboy Bourbon. The highly sought-after, hand-crafted spirit will ride again when it launches at the distillery’s Hye, Texas location that morning, where the first 1,000 bottles will be available to early-bird buyers.
Hand-selected by Master Distiller Donnis Todd, the covetable whiskey drop was aged for at least eight years in the extremely hot and dry Texas Hill Country climate. Bottled uncut, unfiltered, and at an intensely powerful 141 proof, this year’s batch yielded just 16,000 bottles.
The 2026 expression opens with “distinctive aromas of burnt wood and gunsmoke” before maturing into a complex profile of “dried stone fruit, toasted marshmallows, and caramelized sugar,” according to the Texas whiskey brand.
“It comes on strong at first, but the depth of flavor quickly draws you in,” said Todd in a statement shared by the whiskey maker. “A lasting flood of warmth gives way to layers of dried fruit and toasted marshmallows, creating a bold Texas finish that keeps you coming back for another sip.”
The Cowboy Bourbon launch event at the distillery will feature live music, food, specialty cocktails, and bottle signings. Following the initial Hye release, a limited online run of 279 bottles will go live on September 18, followed by nationwide retail distribution on October 1 at a suggested retail price of $249.99.