Garrison Brothers Lady Bird Bourbon Returns in 2026
Garrison Brothers Distillery is bringing back its Lady Bird Texas Straight Bourbon for 2026, a honey-infused, cognac-finished expression that's spent seven years transforming from raw distillate into one of the most distinctive bourbons coming out of Texas. The Hye, Texas distillery will release 7,000 bottles nationwide this spring, with the first 2,000 available at the distillery gates on April 4. Beyond the standard 114-proof release, Garrison Brothers is also offering a limited run of Lady Bird Cask Strength Single Barrel bottlings for those who want this bourbon straight from the barrel, uncut and untamed.
The Barrel Story Behind Lady Bird
What sets Lady Bird apart isn't just the honey or the cognac casks—it's the patience required to bring those elements together. Master Distiller Donnis Todd starts with four-year-old Small Batch bourbon that's already seen its time in charred new American oak. That whiskey gets a secondary rest with Burleson's Texas Wildflower Honey for eight to nine months, creating what the distillery calls HoneyDew at cask strength. Then comes the cognac influence: the bourbon moves into French XO cognac barrels for an additional three years of maturation. By the time it reaches the bottling line at 114 proof, each barrel of Lady Bird has logged seven total years between oak and honey, picking up layers that you won't find in standard bourbon.
The 2026 release continues the distillery's partnership with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. Garrison Brothers commits five dollars from every bottle sold to the nonprofit, which has already received over $100,000 since the bourbon's debut in 2023. Co-founder Nancy Garrison, a former board member at the Wildflower Center, designed this bourbon as a tribute to Lady Bird Johnson's environmental legacy and her work championing Texas native wildflowers.
Release Calendar and Where to Find It
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 4, when the distillery in Hye opens its doors at 8 AM for the first-come, first-served release of 2,000 bottles. Both the standard Lady Bird and the Cask Strength Single Barrel will be available that day. If you can't make the trek to the Texas Hill Country, Garrison Brothers' online store will drop a limited allocation on Monday, April 13. The remaining inventory hits select retail, restaurant, and bar accounts nationwide starting in May 2026.
Pricing lands at $179.99 for the 114-proof standard bottling and $189.99 for the Cask Strength Single Barrel. Each bottle is hand-sealed with Prairie Purple wax, a nod to the Texas wildflowers that inspired the whole project. This isn't a shelf staple—once the 7,000 bottles are gone, you'll be waiting for the next vintage.
What the Warehouse Conditions Delivered
Texas heat does serious work on aging bourbon, and three years in cognac casks after honey infusion creates a profile that veers well outside traditional bourbon territory. The interplay between wildflower honey sweetness and cognac's grape-based richness gives Lady Bird a character that reads more like a finished whiskey than a flavored spirit. Those French oak casks bring tannin structure and dried fruit notes that balance the honey's floral intensity, while the original bourbon backbone—corn-forward and charred oak—keeps it grounded as Texas whiskey. The 114-proof bottling strength ensures the flavors carry weight without the burn overwhelming the nuance that seven years of barrel time developed.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Freshly cut grass, Texas wildflower honey, black cocoa waffle cone, honey wafers
- Palate: Warm buckwheat pancakes, dark chocolate-covered cherries, malted milk balls
- Finish: Cognac-soaked cherries, dried figs, plums
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Lady Bird bourbon different from regular Garrison Brothers bourbon?
Lady Bird starts as four-year-old Garrison Brothers Small Batch bourbon, then undergoes two additional finishing stages that standard releases skip entirely. The whiskey spends eight to nine months with Texas wildflower honey before moving into French cognac XO casks for three more years. That seven-year total aging process, combined with honey infusion and cognac barrel influence, creates a flavor profile with fruit, floral, and chocolate notes you won't find in the distillery's core lineup. Regular Garrison Brothers bourbon stays in new charred oak for its entire maturation without secondary finishes.
How much does a bottle of 2026 Lady Bird bourbon cost?
The standard 114-proof Lady Bird retails for $179.99, while the Cask Strength Single Barrel version is priced at $189.99. Both are limited releases with only 7,000 bottles of the standard expression produced for nationwide distribution. The distillery donates five dollars from every bottle sold to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which supports native plant conservation programs in Texas.
Where can I buy Garrison Brothers Lady Bird bourbon?
The first 2,000 bottles release at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas on April 4, 2026 starting at 8 AM on a first-come, first-served basis. The distillery's online store will offer a limited allocation on April 13, 2026. Remaining bottles arrive at select retail stores, restaurants, and bars nationwide beginning in May 2026. Due to limited production and high demand, availability varies by market and sells out quickly each year.
Is Lady Bird bourbon actually infused with honey or just honey-flavored?
Lady Bird contains real Texas wildflower honey from Burleson's, not artificial flavoring or honey essence. After the bourbon completes its initial four-year aging in new American oak, the distillery adds actual honey and lets it integrate for eight to nine months before the cognac cask finishing begins. This creates what Garrison Brothers calls HoneyDew at cask strength—bourbon with genuine honey infusion that then picks up additional complexity during its three-year rest in French cognac barrels.
What proof is Lady Bird bourbon bottled at?
The 2026 Lady Bird standard release is bottled at 114 proof (57% ABV), which provides substantial body and flavor intensity while remaining approachable for most bourbon drinkers. The Cask Strength Single Barrel version is bottled at barrel proof without dilution, so the proof varies by individual barrel but typically runs higher than 114. Both versions deliver enough proof to carry the honey and cognac influences without getting lost in dilution.