Brother’s Bond Just Dropped a New Regenerative Grain Bourbon
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When actors, friends, and whiskey fans Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley started Brother’s Bond Bourbon in 2021, they were hoping to get involved in the spirits business and perhaps be a part of producing something that fans of brown spirits might enjoy. Turns out their brand has become very successful over the past few years, thanks to the quality of the juice and their drive to innovate. Case in point is the latest expression, a regenerative grain bourbon released in collaboration with luxury resort brand 1 Hotels.
The term “regenerative grain” refers to grain that is grown using methods that are supposed to enhance the soil instead of depleting or harming it. That means not using pesticides or fertilizer, planting an array of crops to encourage biodiversity, and planting cover crops in between harvests to enrich the earth. This is not the first regenerative grain whiskey that Brother’s Bond has released: The brand collaborated with WhistlePig last fall on a pair of regenerative whiskeys. This new release differs in that it is a single-barrel expression that was distilled at Southern Distilling in North Carolina and selected by 1 Hotels’ beverage directors Steven Minor and Harrison Deakin.
“At 1 Hotels, we’re always looking for innovative ways to elevate the guest experience while prioritizing sustainability,” said Minor in a statement. “Working with Brother’s Bond Bourbon for this Regenerative Grain micro-batch release is a perfect example. It’s not just about exceptional flavor; it’s about supporting the future of agriculture and the planet with every sip.”
According to a rep for the brand, this is a completely different mashbill than the original regenerative grain whiskey—60 percent corn, 11 percent rye, 21 percent wheat, 8 percent malted barley—and it was produced in partnership with North Carolina distiller Pete Barger. The bourbon was aged for seven years and bottled at 95 proof. We did not get a sample of this new whiskey, but official tasting notes describe caramelized toasted oak and dark cherry on the nose, followed by ripe fruit, spice, and charred oaky tannins on the palate, culminating in a leather and spice finish.
There’s a catch, however, although it’s not the worst thing in the world: You will have to visit a 1 Hotels location to try this new whiskey. There, it will be available in full size 750 ml bottles at the bar, and in small 375 ml bottles in the minibar if you prefer to sip in the comfort of your own room. If you’d like to try the other expressions from Brother’s Bond, including the Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon, you can find them available to purchase at websites like ReserveBar now.
