Brother’s Bond Bourbon has officially launched in the UK, introducing a four-grain American whiskey portfolio that has earned significant critical recognition in the United States. Founded in 2020, the house style favours approachability without sacrificing complexity, shaped through hands-on blending and barrel selection, as well as a long-term focus on regenerative grain sourcing and soil health.
Brother’s Bond Bourbon was created by actors and longtime friends Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, whose shared interest in whiskey developed over nearly two decades working together on set. What began as an informal ritual – sharing drams after filming – evolved into sustained immersion in the craft of American whiskey making.
The brand is founder-led in both liquid development and blending, with Somerhalder serving as Blending Master, overseeing mash bill development, barrel selection and final blends, while Wesley works alongside him on flavour direction, brand creative voice and long-term portfolio strategy. Their hands-on approach has been recognised within the industry, most notably by respected American whiskey critic Fred Minnick, who has awarded Somerhalder an ASCOT award for having “the best celebrity palate in whiskey.”
At the core of Brother’s Bond Bourbon is a four-grain mash bill: corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. The result is a whiskey profile with equal sensory proportion across the palate. The resulting profile is balanced and layered, appealing both to experienced whiskey drinkers and to those exploring American whiskey for the first time.
From grain to bottle, sustainability sits at the heart of Brother’s Bond Bourbon. With every bottle sold, the brand raises money to support regenerative farming initiatives and is actively working to expand the use of regenerative grain across its whiskey-making process over the long term, following the launch of its Regenerative Grain Bourbon in September 2024. This approach extends to a recent portfolio-wide packaging redesign, which delivers stronger shelf visibility and more refined luxury cues, while also reducing the brand’s overall carbon footprint.
The Brother’s Bond Bourbon Portfolio:
All Brother’s Bond Bourbon expressions are built around hand-selected mash bills and bottled as small-batch barrel blends, matured in new American oak barrels using a combination of custom char and toast profiles. Production uses hammer-milled grains cooked with naturally limestone-filtered water drawn from deep glacial aquifers, followed by copper-column and copper-doubler distillation to refine flavour. Maturation takes place in Indiana or North Carolina, depending on the expression. Across the range, the flavour profile moves from structured and approachable to richer, full-bodied styles. This allows the portfolio to appeal to established connoisseurs while supporting the brand’s aim of bringing new drinkers into the category. Across the portfolio, Brother’s Bond expressions have received multiple Double Gold and 93 to 100 point awards at leading international spirits competitions
Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon (70cl/40% ABV/£50.95)
Designed for immediate approachability, this core four-grain expression uses 65% Corn, 22% Rye, 13% Wheat & Barley. Balanced and rounded, with notes of baked banana bread, honeysuckle, black tea spice and toasted cereal. Named Best Tasting Straight Bourbon in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition with a 98-point score.
Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey (70cl/47.5%/£54.95)
A high-rye expression (16% Corn, 77% Rye, 7% Wheat & Barley) bottled at 95 proof, combining multiple rye mash bills for depth and aromatic lift. Rich and full-bodied, showing caramel cream, ripe pineapple, delicate mint and rose petals and warm cinnamon through a long, expressive finish.
Brother’s Bond Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old Straight Bourbon (70cl/50%/£61.50)
Bottled under the strict requirements of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, this expression has been aged for a minimum of seven years and bottled at 100 proof. Structured and authoritative, it has a harmonious aroma of vanilla, toasted oak and sweet caramel and butterscotch, maple syrup and gentle spiciness on the palate.
Brother’s Bond Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon (70cl/46%/£54.50)
Crafted using regenerative grain sourced from farms located within 5–20 miles of the North Carolina distillery and aged using a proprietary low-char, custom toast barrel profile to allow the grain character to speak more clearly. Textural and expressive, offering honeyed cornbread, warming vanilla, light florals and a warming finish.
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