The News
The Texas Whiskey Festival, based in Austin, Texas, has announced the 2026 list of must-try Texas whiskeys. The selection was made through an annual blind tasting event involving judges. Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon was named the best bourbon for 2026, aged at least six years and bottled at 146.4 proof.
The Texas Whiskey Festival announced its 2026 winners, revealing how the state’s rapidly growing whiskey scene is shaping buying decisions and cocktail trends for trade buyers.
Key takeaways
- Garrison Brothers’ Cowboy Bourbon was named both Best Bourbon and the overall must‑try whiskey. The 146.4‑proof expression is now available in every major market, reflecting Texas’s position as the nation’s second‑largest whiskey consumer by volume.
- Koopers Family Barrel Reserve Rye earned top honors for rye. The blend of straight ryes aged four to seven years and finished with toasted oak staves is bottled at barrel proof, offering a distinct flavor profile that can be highlighted in rye‑based cocktails.
- Andalusia Whiskey Co. received dual recognition: Cigar Malt (a peated, wine‑cask finished single malt) and Madeira Stryker (a smoked‑grain single malt finished in ex‑Madeira casks). The 35 % compound annual growth rate for the American single‑malt category from 2020 to 2025 underscores the growing appeal of these specialty finishes.
- Milam & Green Whiskey captured the People’s Choice Award after an initial announcement error was corrected, reminding buyers that event buzz should be verified before making inventory decisions.
What this means for trade
- Garrison Brothers’ distribution network spans 40 U.S. states and six countries, giving it a broad reach that can support steady depletions in both off‑premise retail and on‑premise cocktail programs.
- The high proof of Cowboy Bourbon positions it as a premium option that can command higher pricing tiers, while its wide availability ensures it remains a staple on many bars’ shelves.
- Koopers Family’s barrel‑proof rye offers an opportunity for bars to showcase a “straight” rye experience or incorporate it into classic sour or old‑fashioned variations. Its variable proof requires menu pricing to reflect the natural range of pours.
- Andalusia’s award‑winning single malts, while more limited in availability and often sold through specialty channels or tasting‑room exclusives, can serve as showpieces that elevate a bar’s signature menu without diluting core product focus.
- The growing consumer interest in cask‑finished whiskeys—illustrated by Andalusia’s dual wins and the 35 % CAGR for the single‑malt category—suggests distributors should monitor how these offerings perform across channel mixes, especially within premium or niche portfolios.
Bottom line
The festival’s results highlight Texas whiskey’s evolution from a handful of pioneers to a vibrant industry with strong national reach. For buyers, stocking Garrison Brothers’ high‑proof bourbon and Andalusia’s specialty single malts aligns inventory with local demand for premium spirits while offering diverse cocktail options that resonate with contemporary flavor preferences.
Original Press Release
An annual blind tasting event tied to the festival and conducted by judges reveals the bottles that are the cream of the crop of the Texas whiskey scene.
AUSTIN, Texas - When you think Texas, think Texas whiskey. Once again, the Texas Whiskey Festival, the signature brown spirits event in the Lone Star State, brought together the best of the best, highlighting through its coveted awards program the must-try Texas whiskeys of the moment.
One thing that quickly emerged in 2026 is a snapshot of Texas whiskey in motion. The evolution of flavor—working with the grains, climate, and individual styles—creates remarkable whiskey that is a reflection of the state and the people who make it.
“Texas whiskey reflects where it’s made and who’s making it—the heat, the grain, the independence,” said Jake Clements, founder of the Texas Whiskey Festival. “What we’re seeing now is a category coming into its own, with distillers writing their own playbook. That’s what makes it so compelling.”
The whiskey type Texas is best known for is bourbon. High-quality Texan grains, hot Texan summers, and fierce Texan pride all combine to bring to the world stage bourbons that can easily rival those coming out of Kentucky. For the 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival Best Bourbon, the must-try bottle is Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon. A monster of an expression aged at least six years and bottled at a staggering 146.4 proof, it is a testament to the pioneering Texan bourbon distillery behind it—crafting such a high ABV offering that is so loved by so many and highly sought after each year it is released.
This exceptional bourbon also got the coveted nod as the overall must-try of all the whiskeys submitted for judging.
Another well-known whiskey category out of Texas is rye. The top 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival choice here, Koopers Family Barrel Reserve Rye, is a masterfully crafted blend of straight rye whiskeys, each aged between four and seven years, from a mix of first- and second-fill barrels. As if this wasn’t enough, the team at Koopers Family then finishes the blend with toasted oak staves before bottling it at barrel proof.
Malt whiskeys, particularly American single malts, are another whiskey category that’s put Texas on the map. For 2026, the Festival must-try bottle is the Andalusia Whiskey Co. Cigar Malt. A joint venture between master blender Irene Tan and one of the best “grain-to-glass” distilleries in all of Texas, this very limited edition American single malt release is a peated, wine cask-finished bottling meant to pair with the finest cigars. Delivering rich notes of dark fruit and tobacco, it is a perfect whiskey for any time of the year.
Light whiskey and cask-finished whiskeys are also big must-haves in Texas. Judges from the Texas Whiskey Festival sampled a number of well-produced offerings in these categories. For light whiskey, a type of whiskey developed in the late 1960s to help brands at that time compete against white spirits in a changing market, the must-have is from light whiskey specialists Austin Craft Spirits. Their Austin 121 is a cask-strength release that varies in high proof barrel by barrel.
Cask-finished whiskeys in Texas build upon the already high-quality spirits put forth by local distilleries. A range of cask-finishing types showcase the diversity of possibilities in this category. For the must-have choice from the 2026 Festival, Andalusia Whiskey Co. is again on the list with its Madeira Cask Stryker. This bold American single malt, distilled from grains smoked with oak, mesquite, and apple woods, is finished for six months in ex-Madeira casks, resulting in flavors of BBQ, campfire, leather, and dark chocolate.
In addition to the judge awards, the night of the Festival revealed the People’s Choice Award winner. Milam & Green Whiskey was this year’s winner. An error during the event resulted in an incorrect initial announcement of the People’s Choice Award. Final results have since been verified, and we apologize for any confusion.
“This tasting is about what people actually enjoy drinking, not just what checks technical boxes,” noted Clements. “Each of these bottles earned its place in the glass and reflects where Texas whiskey is today—bold, diverse, and continuing to evolve.”
Judging for the Texas Whiskey Festival occurs annually, with all entries being put through a blind tasting process, grouped by style. Judges focus on tasting criteria that prioritize what people actually want to drink.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Texas Whiskey Festival Announces The Musthave 2026 Texas Whiskeys
- Texas Whisky Witness The Making Of A New American Category
- 9th Annual Texas Whiskey Festival April 18 2026 At Star Hill Ranch
Source: BevNET