WINE+SPIRITS

Brother’s Bond:

Bourbon Line Launched by ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Stars

By Alexis George

Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, stars of The Vampire Diaries, have come together once again to create a brother’s bond with their line of bourbon. The two actors have been close friends since filming the show, which ended nearly 6 years ago, and now they’re honoring that friendship by sharing a piece of it with the world in their bourbon.

Brother’s Bond is inspired by the strength and resiliency of their relationship. The craftsmanship behind each bottle is an embodiment of the deep connection they share—and it tastes good too! The smooth flavor profile has hints of vanilla, caramel and oak that make for a delightful sip any time you feel like having some quality time with your friends. It’s all about bringing people together.

“We started drinking bourbon on the show on screen. We bonded on screen over bourbon, and we bonded off screen over bourbon which is why we went into the bourbon business together,” Wesley says.

He adds that the magic that is Brother’s Bond was curated in Somerhalder’s kitchen. According to their website, Brother’s Bond is a blend of three distinctive mash bills to create a four-grain staright bourbon whsikey (corn, rye, wheat, and barley).

The brothers take great care to ensure that their bourbon is of the highest quality. Every batch of Brother’s Bond is hand-selected to ensure it meets the original batch gold standard before bottling.

This focus on branding goes a step further as Wesley and Somerhalder work to make Brother’s Bond Bourbon, an agricultural company, a carbon negative company.

“Consumers, especially the new consumers right, Gen Z and Millennials want to know the companies they are spending their hard-earned money with are doing something good with that money and Brother’s Bond is no exception,” Somerhalder says. “In fact, we are leading the charge. We have a give back to regenerative agriculture.”

Somerhalder recommends watching the film Kiss the Ground, which explains how by regenerating the world’s soils, “we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies.”

With Brother’s Bond Wesley and Somerhalder are showing the world that even after all these years they still share an unbreakable bond and that they still want to make their fans proud! We can all relate to having an unbreakable bond with someone in our life or at least wanting to make someone proud.

So, whether you’re a fan of The Vampire Diaries or just love a good sipping whiskey, Brother’s Bond is sure to be your go-to. With its unique flavor profile and inspiring story behind it, you’ll be sure to savor this special bond between two great friends.

As we enter the holiday season, the next time you have some quality time with your friends, family or loved one, pour yourself a glass of Brother’s Bond Bourbon as an ode to Wesley and Somerhalder’s friendship—you won’t regret it! Cheers!

Fun Fact: If you are a resident of Orlando, or visiting the wonderful city, Brother’s Bond Bourbon can be found at Walt Disney World properties.

Did you know there are over 40 recipes you can try using Brother’s Bond throughout the holiday season? Here’s a few of their favorite recipes, and ours, courtesy of the company’s website.

BOND FIRE

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 0.25 oz Mezcal 4 oz Hot Chocolate 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters

METHOD

Measure all ingredients into a coffee mug and stir. Garnish with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

BROTHER’S OAT NOG

INGREDIENTS

4 oz Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 4 cups full fat oat milk 1/2 cup maple syrup 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp ground cloves 4 Tbsp unsalted almond butter

METHOD

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with nutmeg. Note: Chill for 1-2 hours in fridge if you prefer your nog colder. Brother’s Fashioned

INGREDIENTS FOR 2 COCKTAILS

2 oz Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1 oz Amaro 0.5 oz Simple Syrup 4 Dashes Angostura Bitters

METHOD

Measure all ingredients with jigger and pour into a lowball glass. Add ice and stir. Garnish with orange twist

BOURBON CORNBREAD

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Brother’s Bond or Cask Strength (for a richer taste) 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup coconut sugar 1 cup medium-coarse ground corn meal 2 tbsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 cup oat milk or other non-dairy milk 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1/2 lb salted plant-based butter, melted and cooled 1/4 unsweetened apple sauce

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 10″ loaf pan with parchment paper or grease the pan with plant-based butter. Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, corn meal, baking powder, and salt). Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl (bourbon, oat milk, lemon juice, melted butter, and apple sauce). Pour wet into dry and stir just until moist. Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake for 45 min until the top is crisp and the toothpick comes out clean.

MYSTIC CHARMER

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 0.5 oz Lemon Juice 0.5 oz Honey Syrup Top with Ginger Ale

METHOD

Measure all ingredients except for ginger ale with jigger and pour into shaker. Add ice to shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain into glass over fresh ice. Top off with ginger ale. Stir and garnish with lemon wheel.

BOURBON BALSAMIC FIG COMPOTE

INGREDIENTS

10 oz Fresh Mission Figs 1/4 cup Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1 tbsp. lemon juice

METHOD

Dice the figs and put in a small saucepan. Add Brother’s Bond, balsamic vinegar, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid reduces by half, about 40 minutes. Cool before serving. Great on your favorite soft cheese and crackers.

To view more recipes or learn more about Brother’s Bond Bourbon, visit Brothersbondbourbon.com.