Garrison Brothers 2026 Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Laguna Madre is Garrison Brothers' oldest bourbon to date, and the 2026 release marks its seventh annual chapter — eight full years of maturation, split deliberately between four years in American oak and a further four years in rare French Limousin oak, a combination Master Distiller Donnis Todd credits with deepening "the conversation around Texas terroir, shaped by rare French oak casks and the powerful heat that makes aging whiskey in the Hill Country so distinctive." Only 3,000 bottles exist this year, with the first 1,000 sold directly at the distillery gates in Hye, Texas, when they open at 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 8, 2026 — the remainder arriving at select retail accounts nationwide beginning that September.

Laguna Madre carries a genuine philanthropic thread that runs through its entire history. The name and mission tie directly to FlatsWorthy, a coalition of Texas anglers focused on protecting the state's coastal waters, formed in 2015 in Aransas County — a cause Todd and his son are personally involved with. The very first Laguna Madre release, back in 2020, raised more than $400,000 for people affected during the pandemic, and every release since has continued raising both funds and awareness for the coastal cause. This year's launch also introduces something entirely new to the lineup: a limited Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre, bottled uncut at a genuinely massive 135.4 proof, available exclusively on-site at the distillery for collectors seeking the bourbon at its most powerful and unaltered.

The standard 101-proof release delivers a genuinely distinctive, dessert-like profile that multiple retailers describe in strikingly specific, memorable terms: white chocolate, root beer, candied almond, vanilla bean, and sweet cacao on the nose, closing with a rich, creamy finish that several tasters directly compare to an Almond Joy candy bar — hazelnut, saltwater taffy, Hershey's kisses, and frosty white chocolate, closing with what one retailer vividly describes as "intense A&W Root Beer meets Dublin Dr. Pepper." A more detailed account adds dark caramel, toasted oak, dried fruit, leather, and warm baking spice to the nose, with the full-bodied palate carrying dark cherry, oak spice, cocoa, toasted grain, and cinnamon, closing long, warming, and polished. Presented in a wax-dipped bottle with the brand's signature star emblem, in a wooden display case, this is genuinely collector-grade Texas bourbon — the distillery's oldest and most anticipated release, backed by more than 800 total awards to the Garrison Brothers name.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Garrison Brothers Distillery, located in Hye, Texas, is the first and oldest legal whiskey distillery in the state of Texas, and remains active in the surrounding communities of Blanco, Fredericksburg, Hye, Johnson City, and Stonewall. Laguna Madre is now in its seventh annual release under Master Distiller Donnis Todd, representing the distillery's oldest bourbon to date at eight full years of age. The whiskey spends its first four years maturing in American oak before a further four years in rare French Limousin oak casks, developing the bourbon's signature creamy, velvety texture.

The Laguna Madre series carries a direct philanthropic mission, supporting FlatsWorthy, a coalition of anglers dedicated to protecting Texas's coastal waters, formed in 2015 in Aransas County — a cause both Todd and his son are personally involved with. The inaugural 2020 release alone raised more than $400,000 for individuals affected during the pandemic. The 2026 release yielded 3,000 total bottles, with the first 1,000 sold directly at the distillery on release day, August 8, 2026, and the remainder distributed to select retail accounts nationwide beginning that September. This year's launch also introduced a first for the lineup: a Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre, bottled uncut at 135.4 proof, sold exclusively on-site at the distillery. The standard release is bottled at 50.5% ABV / 101 proof, presented in a wax-dipped bottle with the Garrison Brothers star emblem, in a wooden display case.

Critics Reviews

No numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time — a brand-new 2026 release.

Donnis Todd, Master Distiller, Garrison Brothers:
"As we celebrate the seventh release of Laguna Madre, I'm thrilled to share the 2026 expression alongside a limited number of Cask Strength Single Barrel Laguna Madre bottles. This eight-year-aged bourbon continues to deepen the conversation around Texas terroir, shaped by rare French oak casks and the powerful heat that makes aging whiskey in the Hill Country so distinctive."

Bourbon Lens (extended tasting note):
"The Profile: Notes of rich vanilla bean, toasted hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and milk chocolate. Mouthfeel: A creamy, full texture reminiscent of an Almond Joy candy bar."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Dark caramel and vanilla lead, joined by toasted oak, dried fruit, leather, brown sugar, and warm baking spice. White chocolate, root beer, and candied almond add distinctive sweetness, with woody vanilla and sweet candy cacao from the French Limousin oak.

Palate
Full-bodied and rich, with caramel, vanilla bean, and dark cherry carrying the entry, joined by oak spice, cocoa, toasted grain, and cinnamon. Deep barrel sweetness builds throughout, echoing hazelnut, saltwater taffy, and frosty white chocolate.

Finish
Long, warming, and polished, closing with lingering oak, caramel, spice, leather, and chocolate. A genuinely creamy, Almond Joy-like close, with hints some tasters compare to root beer and cream soda.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Sip neat in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the Limousin oak finish and 101-proof structure. A few drops of water can help open the vanilla, fruit, oak, and spice notes; it also holds up well over a large ice cube, though this bottle is best reserved for premium tastings and special occasions.