News Notes: Win Your Own Backyard Bar, Buffalo Trace Has a New Restaurant & More

Garrison Brothers is offering a chance to win your own backyard bar, while Buffalo Trace has opened the new John G. Carlisle Café on the distillery campus, and tequila maker Clase Azule has plans for a new visitor center in its home base of Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico. In other tequila news, brands Mijenta and Tres Tribus have expanded their presence in Texas. Also on the distribution front, UK-based Elixir Distillers has a new distribution agreement to have its whiskies sold in all 50 U.S. states, up from 10 states at present.

You Can Win This Bourbon Shed

Do you dream of having a bourbon bar in your backyard? Texas bourbon distiller Garrison Brothers and Colorado-based Tuff Shed have partnered to offer one lucky winner a custom backyard bourbon barn. Tuff Shed’s PRO Tall Ranch shed exterior features a clerestory, metal roof, and double doors. Inside, the six-foot bar, finished flooring, barn-wood siding, shelving unit, leather seating, and other custom accessories create a Texas Hill Country oasis. Add whisky, and you’re bound to have the most popular address in the neighborhood.

One entry per person can be submitted online now through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner will be selected on or around October 1^st. Site requirements, permits, fees, etc., are the winner’s responsibility. Any additions or upgrades must be approved by the sponsors and must be paid for by the winner. Whiskey is not included.

Garrison Brothers visitors can check out the Garrison Brothers x Tuff Shed bourbon barn at the distillery in Hye, Texas from mid-May through the end of September.

Buffalo Trace’s Inaugural Daytime Café Is Open

Buffalo Trace Distillery has opened its first permanent dining destination—the John G. Carlisle Cafe—this past Monday, May 11th. Located on the distillery grounds inside the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse, visitors can enjoy sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and desserts, alongside an array of cocktails. From now through the end of May, the distillery is celebrating with limited-time offers such as complimentary meals, tastings, and specialty cocktails, along with archival exhibits and the chance to mingle with Buffalo Trace staff. The cafe is open daily from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Elixir Distillers Goes Nationwide With New Distributor

Elixir Distillers—whose portfolio includes Karuizawa, Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, Single Malts of Scotland, Black Tot rum, and other labels—has inked a new distribution deal with the Dallas-headquartered MISA Imports to expand its U.S. availability. The arrangement will see MISA supplement Elixir’s existing 10-state distribution, expanding its footprint to all 50 states. In addition, MISA will assist in brand-building and storytelling efforts.

The deal comes at an exciting time for Elixir, which has some whisky projects that are nearing completion. The company’s Islay distillery Portintruan, which has been under construction since 2020, is finally set to open its doors this summer. Its Speyside distillery Tormore, which it purchased from Pernod Ricard in 2022, is getting ready to release its revamped core range very soon. We recently reviewed Tormore’s Blueprint series—a trio of single malts meant to tease those upcoming core whiskies—which we found to be superb.

Mijenta and Tres Tribus Taps RNDC to Expand Reach in Texas

Altos Planos, producer of Mijenta tequila and Tres Tribus mezcal, has named Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) as its exclusive distributor for Texas. The arrangement aims to expand both brands’ visibility and availability across the states—Altos Planos identifies Texas as a key area, given that it’s the second-largest market for tequila in the country—with the ultimate goal of gaining momentum nationwide.

The deal comes at a very difficult time for RNDC, which has been rapidly shrinking its national footprint recently. It all started last summer when RNDC pulled out of California, having lost key brands like Tito’s vodka, High Noon RTDs, and the entire Brown-Forman portfolio to rival Reyes Beverage Group. Since then, RNDC has sold 11 of its markets to Reyes, confirmed it was in talks to hand over its control state operations across 17 markets to Martignetti Cos., and worked with Breakthru and Quality Brands to offload an additional 5 markets. Though Texas remains a strong market for RNDC, which is headquartered in Grand Prairie, its presence has been affected by the recent downsizing—with 1,903 jobs cuts reportedly planned across 5 of its locations in the state.

Clase Azul’s Second Visitor Center, La Hacienda, Is Opening This Spring

On May 22nd, luxury tequila label Clase Azul will open La Hacienda, a reservation-only visitor destination in the Los Altos de Jalisco region in the eastern part of the state of Jalisco. The 50-acre estate will showcase the label’s production process, from agave cooking to distilling and aging, to the making of Clas Azul’s hand-painted ceramic decanters. The facility will also include a boutique restaurant, OYA. Other amenities include the Bottle Nave and Icon Cellar for tastings.

La Hacienda follows the opening of the brand’s Mexico City visitor center–Casa De Los Leones–in February. La Hacienda offers two bookable experiences, Discover (4 hours, $280) and Journey (7 hours, $600, including a 6-course pairing experience at OYA).

Other Spirits

Casa Maestri is tapping into something that has long been bourbon’s turf: cream liqueurs. Dubai Chocolate Pistachio cream liqueur is a blanco tequila and dairy cream-based expression billed as the first of its kind, enhanced with natural pistachio and chocolate flavors inspired by the luxurious Dubai chocolate, the chocolate bar traditionally filled with phyllo and pistachio-tahini cream. Crafted for the tequila drinker and dessert enthusiast, it sits at a low 15% ABV. It joins its Piña Colada tequila cream and a Vanilla Chai flavor in the works. It’s available at retailers globally and online.

Tequila Partida, the brand produced by master distiller José Valdez at Auténtica Tequilera S.A. de C.V. in Amitatán, Jalisco, has unveiled a new custom reposado single barrel program aimed at select on and off-premise operators. The program quietly rolled out in March ahead of the announcement, and it accounts for a total allocation of 20 barrels nationwide. Select accounts will be invited down to Mexico to pick barrels after a full production tour, or remotely, via three-sample tasting kits. Each barrel yields an average of 240–282 bottles, which each have a minimum suggested price of $49. The bottles have customizable labels bearing the account’s name and selection date, and proof points between 45%—55% ABV.

Tennessee-based craft producer Chattanooga Whiskey is out with a new Experimental Single Batch. This one is a strawberry-infused gin liqueur, which takes inspiration from the Dutch genever style by distilling at a low proof with select botanicals. It uses a whiskey base rather than neutral grain spirit, which was infused with whole strawberries and rhubarb. It was designed by head distiller Tiana Saul in partnership with Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit that focuses on championing women in the alcohol industry. Bottles can be purchased at the distillery and select retailers for $50.

For the first time since its 2017 founding, Canadian gin brand Empress 1908 is launching its Original gin in the States. The clear Original is the brand's flagship product in most other markets around the world, but the focus in the U.S. has always been on its colorful counterparts like Indigo (butterfly pea flower infused) and pink-hued Elderflower. The newcomer retails for $40 a bottle.