Milam & Greene Launches Bluebonnet Bourbon, a Texas-Aged Release Honoring Lady Bird Johnson’s Legacy

A Personal Tribute from Milam & Greene Whiskey Celebrating the Woman Who Transformed Texas Highways into Fields of Wildflowers

Blanco, TX – Milam & Greene Whiskey unveils something deeply personal: Bluebonnet, the first 2026 release in the brand’s Wildlife Collection. The release is a tribute to Texas, to its wild places, and to the woman whose vision forever transformed the landscape of the state the brand calls home.

Named for the flower that signals spring across the Hill Country, Bluebonnet honors Lady Bird Johnson, whose highway beautification efforts in the 1960s transformed Texas roadsides into sweeping fields of native wildflowers. At a time when highways were cluttered with billboards and neglect, Mrs. Johnson championed preservation, restoration, and the simple but powerful idea that natural beauty matters. Due to her leadership and landmark legislation that restricted roadside advertising and protected native landscapes, generations of Texans now drive through seasons painted in blue.

“Lady Bird Johnson believed that beauty belongs to everyone,” said Marsha Milam, Founder of Milam & Greene Whiskey. “She saw what Texas could be—and she worked to protect it. I had the privilege of knowing her years ago, and her quiet strength and conviction left an impression on me that never faded. This release is our personal way of saying thank you.”

A portion of proceeds from every bottle of Bluebonnet will benefit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the organization founded to preserve and restore native plants and sustainable landscapes. The partnership reflects Milam & Greene’s continued commitment to conservation through its Wildlife Collection.

Bluebonnet also marks something new for the distillery. Distilled in Kentucky using Milam & Greene’s proprietary mashbill, the whiskey was brought to Blanco as white dog and filled into barrels to age entirely in Texas. For five years and seven months, four barrels rested on the north side of Rickhouse 1, enduring some of the most punishing climate extremes the Hill Country has recorded—relentless heat, prolonged drought, and historic winter freezes. From the moment the barrels were sealed, Texas took over.

Each season pushed the spirit deeper into the oak, intensifying flavor and building complexity that can only come from time and environment. While not designated a Texas whiskey by origin, Bluebonnet is unmistakably shaped by Texas by nature and a reflection of the land, the climate, and the resilience that defines both.

Tasting Notes:

• Color: Mahogany

• Nose: Wildflower honey, ripe melon, charred oak, and chocolate cake

• Palate: Baking spice and grain up front, opening to honey, marzipan, and chocolate malt balls

• Finish: Lingering and elegant, with honey, cardamom, and a gentle menthol lift

Product Details:

• Proof: 113.5 (56.75% ABV)

• Mashbill: 70% Corn, 22% Malted Rye, 8% Malted Barley

• Casks: 20-0284, 20-0285, 20-0310, 20-0311

Every spring in Texas, the bluebonnets return, and they are a reminder that stewardship matters. That vision endures, and that beauty, once protected, multiplies.

“With Bluebonnet, we wanted to create something worthy of her name,” Milam added. “This is our way of honoring our beloved Lady Bird Johnson, not with words alone but with action.”

Bluebonnet opens the 2026 Wildlife Collection, where each release is produced in extremely small quantities and celebrates Texas Hill Country flora. Access is reserved first for those on the Milam & Greene e-mailing list, and first cases will be available at the distillery beginning March 7, with additional cases released for online purchase March 18 at noon. For more information, visit milamandgreenewhiskey.com and follow @milamandgreenewhiskey on Instagram.

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ABOUT MILAM & GREENE WHISKEY

Milam & Greene crafts bold whiskeys transformed by the extremes of Texas Hill Country weather, where scorching summers and limestone-filtered water create spirits that could only come from this place. The portfolio includes whiskeys distilled and matured on site, as well as carefully sourced barrels finished under the Texas sun in a process known as “Texification.” With decades of experience in blending, distilling, and brand building, Milam & Greene is dedicated to craftsmanship, authenticity, and sharing Texas whiskey with the world—bolder by the moment.