Milam & Greene Whiskey Unveils Exceptionally Rare, Entirely Texas-Born Bourbon: Wildlife Desert Marigold

Distilled and aged exclusively in Texas, the seven-year-old bourbon celebrates the resilience of its namesake wildflower and the transformative power of the Texas Hill Country climate

Milam & Greene Whiskey introduces Wildlife Desert Marigold, an exceptionally rare bourbon distilled and aged entirely at its Blanco, Texas distillery. The final release in the brand’s 2026 Wildlife Collection, this seven-year, eight-month-old whiskey is a departure from Milam & Greene’s signature approach of blending whiskeys distilled in Texas and Kentucky. Instead, Desert Marigold showcases the character of its own Texas pot-distilled bourbon, with just three selected barrels yielding 288 bottles.

Named for the golden wildflower native to western Texas, Desert Marigold celebrates the resilience of the state’s natural landscape. The flower thrives in rocky soil, extreme heat and drought, while providing nectar and pollen for pollinators. Like its namesake, this bourbon is shaped by the place it comes from. The release extends the Wildlife Collection’s celebration of Texas nature through an entirely Texas-born expression of “Texification”, Milam & Greene’s term for the way the state’s intense heat and dramatic shifts in temperature and humidity transform whiskey as it matures. Here, that influence is present from beginning to end. The whiskey was both distilled and aged in Texas, rather than blended with bourbon from another state.

Distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 22% malted rye and 8% malted barley, Desert Marigold draws from three barrels filled in December 2018 and January 2019. Each matured in Independent Stave barrels with medium toast and No. 3 char on the south side of Rickhouse No. 1. Nearly eight years of Texas Hill Country maturation, including an especially warm September before harvest, helped build its deep oak character and layered sweetness. Harvested October 5, 2026, and bottled the following day at 124.2 proof (62.1% ABV), the mahogany-colored bourbon offers aromas of cinnamon rolls, butterscotch, maple syrup and spiced apple cider, followed by caramel, crème brûlée, almond and cocoa on the palate and a finish of lingering maple sweetness and cooling mint.

“We created Desert Marigold to show what our Texas-distilled bourbon can become when we let the Hill Country climate shape it over time,” said Rikk Munroe, Master Whiskey Maker at Milam & Greene. “We typically bring together whiskeys from different places to create our blends, but these three barrels gave us an opportunity to tell a distinctly Texas story. Like the flower, this bourbon has developed its character in demanding conditions.”

Only 288 bottles of Wildlife Desert Marigold were produced. The bourbon will be available online through the Milam & Greene website and Flaviar, as well as in person at the Milam & Greene Tasting Room in Blanco, Texas, for a suggested retail price of $149.99.

For more information, please visit the Milam & Greene website and follow Milam & Greene on Instagram @milamandgreenewhiskey.

Notes to Editors:

Tasting Notes

• Color: Mahogany

• Nose: Warm cinnamon rolls, butterscotch candy, maple syrup, spiced apple cider and flaky pie crust. With time in the glass, additional oak, grain and cocoa powder emerge.

• Palate: Full and viscous, with maple and caramel flavors, crème brûlée, sweet almond, cocoa and rye bread.

• Finish: Medium-length, with lingering caramel and maple confectionary notes and cooling spearmint or wintergreen.

Production and Barrel Details

Mashbill

70% corn, 22% malted rye, 8% malted barley

Barrels

18-47, 19-03, 19-04

Barreled

18-47: December 21, 2018; 19-03 and 19-04: January 24, 2019

Barrel specification

Independent Stave; medium toast, No. 3 char

Age

7 years, 8 months

Maturation location

South side of Rickhouse No. 1; bottom middle row

Harvested

October 5, 2026

Bottled

October 6, 2026

Proof / ABV

124.2 proof / 62.1% ABV

Yield

288 bottles

About Milam & Greene Whiskey

Milam & Greene Whiskey distills and ages whiskey in both Texas and Kentucky, and also sources select barrels, bringing together whiskeys shaped by distinct climates and the expertise of its distilling and blending team. The dramatic heat and temperature swings of the Texas Hill Country are central to the brand’s signature “Texification” process, which develops distinctive character through maturation in Texas. By combining whiskeys from different origins and environments, Milam & Greene creates layered, expressive blends, while select releases showcase the individuality of a single place. Dedicated to craftsmanship, authenticity and innovation, Milam & Greene shares its bold approach to American whiskey with the world.

Press Contact:

CURICH WEISS AMPLIFY