Texas’s Award-Winning, Super Strong Bourbon Is Getting a Special Anniversary Release

Most bourbons tend to hover somewhere between 80 proof and 100 proof. Hazmat is a term whiskey nerds use to describe a unique class of potent bourbons bottled at 140 proof or higher. 

If the slang is unfamiliar to you, that’s likely because hazmat-grade bourbons are rare, mainly because they’re costly to make but also because of their divisive flavor characteristics.

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon was first released in 2014 and, over the years, has slowly developed a strong cult following in the process of stacking up an impressive set of industry accolades. 

To celebrate the distinctive bourbon’s first decade of success, the Texas-based distillery has now shared details about a special 10th-anniversary edition launching in September 2024. 

Here’s everything you need to know about it, plus some additional context on the unique class of bourbons it sits in.

Why high-proof bourbons are known as Hazmats.

Garrison Brothers

The slang term hazmat started gaining traction among bourbon enthusiasts in the early 2010s.

The descriptor mostly acknowledges the dangerous, highly flammable nature of high-proof alcohol and, in particular, the fact that the TSA prohibits travelers from flying with alcohol over 140 proof in their checked bag or carry-on.

But it’s also a cheeky nod to the intense experience anyone is bound to feel when sipping a whiskey with such a high alcohol content.

To some, such bottlings are a cherished opportunity to sample bourbon in its purist (re: least watered down) form, while others who try it might wish their tongue was equipped with a hermetically sealed protective suit before tasting.

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon has been building momentum for years.

Garrison Brothers

According to the distillery’s lore, the unique bourbon is the result of an annual barrel selection process by led Master Distiller Donnis Todd, who sets aside what he deems to be particularly sweet-tasting barrels that are capable of balancing the intense heat of alcohol associated with higher proof spirits. The barrels are then subjected to further aging in the extreme Texas climate of hot days and cool nights, which the brand touts as accelerating and intensifying the bourbon aging process. 

Presumably, this increases evaporation of the barrel’s water content, increasing the proof and flavor intensity of the aging bourbon inside over time. The finished bourbon is eventually bottled at cask strength, uncut, and unfiltered.

The approach has clearly worked for the brand, especially in recent years. The 2023 edition of Cowboy Bourbon was called the best bourbon in the world by the American Craft Spirits Association, as well as the best overall American Whiskey among all categories. Additionally, the bourbon’s earned Platinum standing at the 2024 TAG Global Spirits Awards and 2024 SIP Awards.

Now the brand is celebrating Cowboy Bourbon’s 10th anniversary with a special release.

Garrison Brothers

Garrison Brothers 10th anniversary Cowboy Bourbon clocks in at 140.2 proof and is made from bourbon aged at least eight years.

The special limited edition will ship in a custom case, complete with a gold-lined interior and an embossed limited production number to further distinguish it from previous releases. A 2024 edition medallion will also hang around the bottleneck.

The first 1000 bottles of Garrison Brothers 10th anniversary Cowboy Bourbon will be available to fortunate bourbon fans attending a special release event at the Garrison Brothers distillery in Hye, Texas, on Saturday, September 21st.

In October, the remaining 9,000 bottles will become available to limited bars, restaurants, and retailers.

The suggested retail price is $279.99.

As for tasting notes, the brand states the 10th anniversary release features hints of “fried fruit, warm pecan wood, brown sugar, hot Saigon Cinnamon, raisins, licorice, vanilla, melted chocolate fudge, and white chocolate dipped strawberries.”

Related Topics