First, I want to let you know that almost all the bottles of Garrison Brothers bourbon we’ve ever introduced are now completely sold out. All 2010, 2011 and 2012 vintages are completely gone. Only 200 cases of the Spring 2013 Vintage remain in our distributor’s warehouses. If you see one of these bottles in your local liquor store, you have found a rarity, and I’d love to share it with you. Call me.
To that end, we owe a great big thank you to our fellow Texans. We truly appreciate your support. The next release, the Fall 2013 Vintage, will start hitting stores around October 1 of this year. Between now and then, it’ll be slim pickins.
However, we are putting on a few dog and pony shows around Texas in August, and at some of these, we’ll be sampling the precious bottles we’ve been hording at Garrison Brothers Distillery.
Fireside Chat at Reserve 101 in Houston on Tuesday, August 13 at 6:30
Owners Mike Raymond and Steve Long might need to change the name of their establishment to Whiskey 101. There are few bars in America with such an extensive selection of exotic bourbons and whiskeys. I’ll be sitting by the fireplace talking bourbon with Mike this evening and we’ll have plenty of bourbon for you to taste, including Garrison Brothers vintages-gone-by. As knowledgeable as Mike is about whiskey, and as un-politically correct as I can be about brown vodkas, it should make for an interesting little “sit and sip.”
Reservations are recommended and can be made at www.reserve101.com/whiskey-tastings-houston. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds benefit Lucky Dog Rescue.
Dallas Entrepreneurs Center Happy Hour on August 21 from 5 to 7:30
If your interest leans more toward business than bourbon, please join me and the Dallas Entrepreneurial Center for a discussion and happy hour at The Softlayer Building on Stemmons Expressway. We’ll be pouring bourbon for guests and I’ll discuss what’s involved with starting your own liquor business.
We’ll talk about the regulatory environment, capitalization requirements, and the business and personal planning and sacrifices that are required. You have my word that I will answer the hard questions too. For me, business is personal, so this should be fun.
Reservations can be made at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7124982013. Attendance is limited to the first 80 who RSVP.
Bourbon 101 at Specs on Central in Dallas on August 22 from 6 to 8
Join me at the enormous Specs on Central Expressway in Dallas for Bourbon 101. In addition to sampling a delicious appetizer plate from Spec’s kitchens, we’ll taste three different vintages of Garrison Brothers bourbon. Discussion topics will include:
- Proper Nosing and Tasting of Fine Whiskey
- My story: Hill Country Moonshiner to Glorified Whiskey Peddler
- Prohibition and its Lasting Effect on Whiskey in America
- Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Japanese, Blended Whiskeys and Brown Vodkas
- How We Make Fine Bourbon at Garrison Brothers Distillery
- The Strange Fringe Benefits of The Whiskey Business
We’ll also have a little bag of door prizes for each attendee. To register, and this will sell out soon, call 214-369-2800 and ask to speak with the manager on duty. Email me at dan@garrisonbros.com if you have any trouble making this reservation.
So gang, summer’s over! Time to throw out the skinny margaritas and the light beer and get back to the more serious business of drinking great bourbon. Hope you can join me.
