Last month, Hye, Texas-based Garrison Brothers Distillery hosted Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, an annual fundraiser that takes places after the Stonewall Peach Parade. This year, the sold-out, bourbon-fueled event benefitted Panhandle Proud, an organization uniting Texans to provide urgent relief and sustained support for farmers and ranchers devastated by this year’s wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. Over $100,000 in much-needed funds were raised. This was a record-setting amount raised for any 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 at Garrison Brothers Distillery, the fundraiser attracted over 500 attendees to partake in a fried chicken dinner and auction. The occasion also featured guest speaker, Ken King, a state representative and chairman of licensing and administrative committee.
Guests enjoyed live music from local musician Noah Kurtis Band and auction items included 16 beautiful 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 cases of beer.
“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.