Wanted to let ya’ll know about a few Garrison Brothers bourbon tastings and events happening around our great state this June. Hope you can come out and have a drink with me.
Bourbon Pairing Dinner at the Fredericksburg Herb Farm
Thursday evening, June 13, Fredericksburg
Chef Taylor Fraser has taken over the kitchen at the gorgeous Herb Farm and is making a name for himself. He’s starting dinner off with an amuse bouche that will be his little surprise. Then on to Wagyu beef carpaccio and heirloom tomato. Then an heirloom melon gazpacho with lump crab. Next we dive into a buttery entrée of surf ‘n turf pork belly and prawns. As we sit back and glow in the banter and the bourbon, he’ll present fried banana croquettes, or as he describes dessert: cornflake-crusted fried nanners, with salted caramel ice cream and local honey bourbon syrup. Of course, multiple vintages of our bourbon will be tasted and discussed between courses.
Nimitz Golf Classic at Boot Ranch
Friday morning, June 14, Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg
Somehow, after the exquisite dinner the night before, my crew and I will be up before sunrise loading coolers with bourbon, ice tea, and lemonade for the John Daly’s we’ll be serving to golfers at a beautiful par three on the legendary Hal Sutton-designed Boot Ranch golf course. This is a member-guest tournament, so it’s not open to everyone. But I know more than a few Boot Ranch members are readers of this newsletter, so I felt obliged to mention that we’re excited being out there amidst the WWII fly-overs, the skeet shooting and the mortar blasts. Only in Texas, and only at Boot Ranch, can you actually play 18 holes in a live war zone with a 12-guage in your golf bag.
Bourbon Tasting and Bourbon 101 at Sienna Wine and Spirits
Saturday, June 15 at 2:00, Sienna Wine and Spirits in Missouri City
Sunrise on Saturday morning, our master distiller Donnis Todd and I will be heading south for a bourbon tasting and mini-bourbon 101 class at Sienna Wine and Spirits in Missouri City. This little store is exceptional. They run the business the old-fashioned way, where the staff knows their customers by name and their customers’ liquor preferences by name. It’s one of those rare, warm places where you can walk in and say “I’m looking for a bottle of Chardonnay but can’t remember the name. I think it starts with the letter S.” Mysteriously, they will somehow identify what you’re talking about and find you that bottle.
Bourbon Tasting and Bourbon 101 Talk at Premier Fine Wine and Spirits
Saturday, June 15 at 5:30, Premier Fine Wine and Spirits in The Heights
If you’re opening a restaurant or bar, you’re justifiably selective about the wine and spirits you’re going to serve. In The Heights, you’ll want to come to Premier Fine Wine and Spirits. They have an excellent bourbon selection and knowledgeable, helpful people working there who will help you find what you need and help design your beverage menus. Donnis and I will be pouring a variety of our bourbons there. We’ll also talk about the history of bourbon in American, America’s “prohibition hangover”, how bourbon’s made, and how we make it at Garrison Brothers.
WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
Saturday, June 22 at 12:30, Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye
Hye’s sister city Stonewall, Texas puts on a red, white and blue extravaganza the third weekend in June. A small town, family-friendly rodeo, peach eating contests, washer pitching tournaments, and an enormous morning parade. Visualize rodeo cowgirls in daisy dukes or satiny, flowing peach queen dresses; Wranglered-up, belt-buckle-adorned cowboys trying to impress; painted antique tractors that run like tops; and hilarious redneck-engineered parade floats meandering through the side streets of one of the prettiest and friendliest towns in Texas. (Did I mention that the Garrison Brothers parade float has earned a blue ribbon two years running.)
After Saturday’s parade, everyone is invited back to the Barrel Barn at Garrison Brothers for bourbon and fried chicken. Tickets are $20 and only 250 will be sold, and the proceeds go to the Hye Preservation Society. “Locals only” and “friends and family” tickets are on sale now at the cabin at the distillery during tour days (Wednesday thru Sunday). If we have tickets remaining next week, we’ll announce here how you can get a hold of them.
Precision Camera Photography Seminar
Sunday, June 23 at noon, Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye
Join hosts Gregg Burger of Precision Camera and photographer Scott Sitkiewitz at Garrison Brothers Distillery. We’ll provide a fried chicken dinner, bourbon samples and a tour of the distillery for the photographers in attendance. Participation is $49 per person and reservations can be made through Precision Camera at this link: http://precisioncamerauniversity.com/garrison-brothers/
Guest Bartender at Local Pour in Houston
Wednesday, June 26 at 6pm, Local Pour in River Oaks
After all these fancy dinners and hoity toity events, it’ll be nice to kick back with a bottle, Jamie and some friends at Local Pour in River Oaks.
Guest Bartender at Scotty’s Pub in Houston
Wednesday, June 26 at 9pm, Scotty’s Pub in downtown Houston
Later that evening, we’ll pour ourselves into a cab and head south of Houston to Scotty’s Pub for a little more bourbon and bullshitting with Scotty Sexton and his whiskey drinkers. I’ll be the guest bartender that night.
Hope to see you guys at a couple of these events. Thanks so much for your support!
