Garrison Brothers Gives Back With 3,000 Bottles of Rare Bourbon Honoring a Famous Lagoon

Garrison Brothers unveiled its popular expression, Laguna Madre. (Photos: Garrison Brothers/Facebook)

Garrison Brothers announced on Tuesday that the Texas Hill Country whiskey brand was releasing what it referred to as its “rarest, oldest and most coveted expression.” The brand unveiled its fifth consecutive release of Laguna Madre, a bourbon meant to honor Texas’ rare lagoon. It possesses a suggested retail price of $349 and proceeds are going to environmental conservation efforts for Texas’ coasts.

“This year’s release, enjoyed correctly and respected, is as spectacular and unique as the Laguna Madre bay,” Master Distiller of Garrison Brothers Donnis Todd said in a statement.

For the 2024 release, 3,000 bottles were made and 1,000 sold at an event on Saturday, leaving just 2,000 available. Garrison Brothers shared that hundreds of people showed up hoping to snag a bottle of the coveted release.

Vehicles lined up to purchase a bottle of Laguna Madre.

The whiskey spent eight years maturing before it was released at 101 proof. For the first four years it rested in white American oak, then it was transferred to Limousin oak casks. The brand shared that Limousin oak is harvested when the trees are 120 years old, and not that many casks are available due to its rarity.

Garrison Brothers claimed 2024’s Laguna Madre possessed aromas of “root beer, vanilla bean, hazelnut, saltwater taffy, chocolate gems and an ‘adults only’ candy bar finish.” Garrison Brothers shared that the oak imbued the spirit with a “creamy mouthfeel.”

Laguna Madre’s inaugural launch took place in 2020, and the proceeds from the launch went to Team Rubicon and Hill Country’s “Operation Crush COVID-19.” The whiskey brand raised more than $400,000 for those in need.

The brand intends to offer amplify the message and offer support for events for the non-profit FlatsWorthy for this year’s release, and Master Distiller Donnis Todd and his son are involved with the organization of fishermen that promotes habitat restoration, education and awareness for Texas coasts and preserving rare natural environments like the Laguna Madre lagoon.

The National Parks Service shared that the Laguna Madre Lagoon is one out of six lagoons that are saltier than the ocean and described it as one of the most “overlooked natural wonders in America”

The whiskey will be available at specific bars, restaurants and shops starting August.

Garrison Brothers: A Texas Whiskey Brand With a History of Giving Back

Garrison Brothers is no stranger to supporting its community and in early July, the brand raised over $100,000 for communities within the Texas panhandle that were destroyed by wildfires.

1.5 million square acres of land burned and 15,000 cattle died. Yet the brand praised the resilient nature of residents living in the area.

“Panhandle residents are as tough as nails,” Garrison Brothers Distillery and Panhandle Proud Founder Dan Garrison said in a statement. “They keep coming back after semi-annual fires, tornadoes and drought. Bless them for their resilience, faith and determination, and let’s help them rebuild.”

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