On 22 June 2024, Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas, hosted its annual fundraiser, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. This year, the sold-out event benefitted Panhandle Proud, an organization providing urgent relief and sustained support for farmers and ranchers affected by this year’s wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.

With more than $100,000 raised at the event, a new record was set for the most amount raised by a Garrison Brothers Distillery fundraiser to date. Garrison Brothers then extended their fundraising efforts for the entire month post-event with special limited-edition bourbon bottles for sale. Those additional funds are now being added to the final total. 

Hosted in Hye, Texas at Garrison Brothers Distillery, the fundraiser attracted more than 500 attendees to partake in a fried chicken dinner and auction. Additionally, the occasion featured guest speaker State representative and chairman of licensing and administrative committee, Ken King.

Guests also enjoyed live music from local musician Noah Kurtis and auction items that included painted barrels donated by local Austin artists along with over 70 items donated by local Hill Country businesses. US Foods donated more than 1,000 pounds of chicken for the fried chicken dinner while Alstadt Brewery donated dozens of beer cases.

“The Texas Panhandle is the great breadbasket of American agriculture,” said Dan Garrison, founder of Garrison Brothers Distillery and Panhandle Proud. “Garrison Brothers and authentic Texas whiskey producers purchase their grain from producers, coops and malting houses located there. Panhandle residents are tough as nails. 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.”

The distillery will continue to raise money for Panhandle Proud at The Whiskey Shack restaurant and Garrison Brothers gift shop with a month-long campaign featuring special cocktails, menu items and promotional items with all proceeds benefitting the cause.