Out in the West Texas desert, where the wind kicks up the dust and the horizon stretches forever, there’s a place that doesn’t make a lick of sense. It’s an oasis—cool, clear water bubbling up from underground, feeding the largest spring-fed pool in the world.

We call it Balmorhea State Park.

If you grew up in West Texas, you probably have a story about it. Maybe you were one of the lucky kids who learned to swim there. Maybe you’ve done a cannonball off the high dive that the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s. Maybe you’ve just sat on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water, wondering how in the hell something this beautiful ended up in the middle of the desert.

We sure as hell have stories about it.

And one of those stories? Well, it led to one of the finest bourbons we’ve ever made.

Why Balmorhea Matters

When we first started making bourbon, we had this little tradition. We’d shut the distillery down every August. Not because the bourbon wasn’t aging—hell, it was aging just fine at 101 degrees—but because we needed to get the hell out of that heat.

And where did we go?

Balmorhea.

For years, we’d take a detour out west, jump into that spring-fed pool, and let the water cool us down. The kids loved it because there were fish swimming in the water. We loved it because it felt like Texas magic—this impossibly perfect little place, untouched by time.

That’s what makes Balmorhea special. It’s not just a swimming hole. It’s been a gathering place for over 11,000 years. Native Americans, Spanish explorers, cowboys, families—it’s always been a place where people come to find relief from the Texas sun. And today, more than 650 people a day still come to experience it.

So when the pool’s walls started collapsing in 2018, and the state said they didn’t have the funds to fix it, we knew we weren’t about to sit back and watch it disappear.

A Bourbon Named for a Park

If you’ve ever wondered how Balmorhea Bourbon got its name, you’ll get a different answer depending on who you ask.

Maybe it’s because we spent so many summers cooling off in that pool. Maybe it’s because Nancy and I had a few fun swims there after dark. Maybe it’s because our kids, Sam and Tucker, learned to swim there. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s because we wanted to show the world what Texas bourbon could be.

When we started making Balmorhea Bourbon, we weren’t trying to follow anyone else’s rules. We wanted to make the best damn bourbon ever made. Texas heat does something special to whiskey—it pulls every ounce of flavor out of the barrel, yielding a richer, bolder bourbon that’s hard to achieve in Kentucky.

But we didn’t stop there.

After aging in a brand-new white American oak barrel for four to six years, we transfer the liquid into a second, smaller barrel, one that’s heavily toasted and lightly charred, to bring out even more depth. The result? A candy bar in a glass—chocolate, caramel, toasted marshmallow, with just the right amount of heat.

And just like that, Balmorhea Bourbon was born.

But we weren’t just making bourbon. We were making a difference.

Good Bourbon Can Change the World

That’s not just a slogan—it’s embossed on the back of every single bottle we make.

When we heard that Balmorhea State Park was in trouble, we knew we had to do something. So we did what we do best—we put good bourbon to work.

We committed to donating $5 from every bottle of Balmorhea Bourbon to help fund the pool’s restoration. We hosted bourbon dinners and fundraisers, telling the story of this Texas treasure and why it mattered.

And guess what? It worked.

With the help of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, we raised the money needed to restore the pool. Not only that, but we helped create a permanent endowment to ensure that Balmorhea stays protected for generations to come.

Today, the pool is better than ever, still welcoming Texans from all over the state, still serving as an oasis in the desert.

And Balmorhea Bourbon?

Well, it’s become one of the most sought-after bourbons we’ve ever released.

It’s won Double Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Awards. It was named Best Texas Bourbon. People drive from all over just to get their hands on a bottle. It’s 115 proof, packed with frozen fudgesicle bars, amaretto coffee, sticky buns, and pecan brittle.

A Texas treasure, just like the place we named it after.

We’re Not Just Making Bourbon. We’re Making a Difference.

That’s what this is all about.

When we started Garrison Brothers, we knew we weren’t just in the business of making whiskey. We were in the business of leaving something behind—something bigger than us.

So whether it’s helping restore Balmorhea, raising funds for wildfire relief, or supporting Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, we’re here to do more than just make bourbon.

We’re here to make an impact.

Good bourbon brings good people together. And when good people come together, they do good things.

So next time you raise a glass of Balmorhea Bourbon, know this—you’re not just drinking a damn fine bourbon.

You’re helping keep Texas wild.

And that’s worth raising a glass to.