Dan Garrison founded Texas’ first legal bourbon distillery, Garrison Brothers Distillery, in 2004 after learning to distill bourbon from Kentucky’s finest craftsmen during multiple trips to the birthplace of America’s national spirit. Garrison Brothers Distillery was also the first distillery outside of Kentucky to produce from scratch authentic, handcrafted bourbon whiskey.

In 2006, Dan set up shop on his small ranch in the Texas Hill Country and began tinkering with equipment, tanks, pumps, plumbing, steam, barrels, grain, and yeast. After a few years of trial and error, Dan found that aging bourbon in the extreme Texas climate was not only precarious but also resulted in outstanding straight bourbon whiskey. Eventually, Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey was born, introducing the first bottle to bourbon drinkers in 2010.

Since then, Garrison Brothers Distillery has grown from a single antique pot still named The Copper Cowgirl to a 68-acre ranch and distillery that welcomes over 50,000 visitors a year. It currently is home to six massive barrel barns, a restaurant and bar, a visitor’s center, and much more. As of 2025, Garrison Brothers bourbon is sold in 50 states and a handful of foreign countries across the globe.

In 2023, Garrison Brothers Distillery was named Distillery of the Year and Dan and Nancy Garrison were presented with the prestigious Bubble Cap award by the American Distilling Institute. That same year, Garrison’s Cowboy Bourbon was named Best in Show at the American Craft Spirits Association awards.

Dan is also the co-founder of Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501c3 non-profit, established in 2017 that helps raise funds for Texas communities and veteran’s causes. Dan has personally spearheaded and created multiple fundraising campaigns including Red, White & Bourbon, Balmorhea Blue, Operation Hurricane Tough, Operation Crush COVID, and Panhandle Proud. To date, his efforts have raised over $1.5 million for worthy causes.

Dan is a Texas entrepreneur and a proud graduate of UT Austin. He is the founder of the Trail Foundation, the Hye Preservation Society, and Texas On The Rocks. He is also a co-founder of the American Craft Spirits Association, the Texas Distilled Spirits

Association, and the Texas Whiskey Association.

Dan resides in the Texas Hill Country near the distillery and can normally be found educating drinkers and inspiring entrepreneurs, frequenting bars and restaurants across the nation, and treating guests to expensive Garrison Brothers’ bourbon. When he isn’t sharing stories over a glass of bourbon, he enjoys trail running in the country and spending quality time with his amazing wife and wonderful children.