As a fellow entrepreneur, I can truly appreciate the passion and drive you both have for your ventures. It’s clear that you’re not just building a business, but creating a legacy that will stand the test of time – something you can pass down to future generations, be it human or canine!
When COVID-19 swept across the globe, I, like countless others, found myself in self-isolation with an unexpected surplus of time. It was during this downtime that I joined forces with my former Vampire Diaries co-star, Ian Somerhalder, on a unique venture: crafting a fresh bourbon blend to share with the world.
The attempt by them to pass the time ultimately resulted in the establishment of their currently thriving alcohol brand: Brother’s Bond Bourbon. Since its debut in 2021, the company has gained rapid growth and recognition, being acknowledged as one of the swiftest expanding whiskey brands by Whisky Advocate. In fact, they have reportedly distributed over 100,000 cases of their product throughout the U.S. in just the last three years.
Wesley and Somerhalder played the endearing on-screen brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore in the popular TV series on The CW. They strengthened their real-life bond by collaborating on Brother’s Bond Bourbon.
For the actors-turned-businessmen, authenticity was crucial when establishing their whiskey label. They didn’t want to merely share a name; they wanted their product to genuinely reflect them. Not only do they personally mix the bourbon, but they also actively participate in every aspect of the company, making it a significant part of their lives, almost like a full-time occupation. Meanwhile, acting has become more of a freelance endeavor for them.
The actor from “Star Trek” attributes the swift expansion of the company to the enthusiasm of “The Vampire Diaries” fans, remarking that he underestimated the show’s popularity until they introduced their bourbon.
Wesley shares with The Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive chat that we’re essentially capitalizing on the show’s nostalgia since it’s astounding how much people still love it. He adds, “We started this project and it felt like everyone said, ‘Wow, it’s the two brothers!’ There was an immediate emotional bond, and I believe that’s what made it successful. However, I underestimated just how powerful that connection was.
Though the multitalented individual appreciates the supporters’ dedication to Brother’s Bond Bourbon, he aspires that this spirit will grow and attract a new fanbase among experienced whiskey enthusiasts who, for nearly two decades, have trusted brands like Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, or others.
The aim is to strongly emphasize and highlight Brother’s Bond’s identity and core values in our marketing approach. Currently, many of our consumers are followers of me and Ian. Our goal is to address the bourbon enthusiast specifically. As for the future, we intend to focus on attracting male consumers, demonstrating that this isn’t just about celebrity hype or quick money-making, but rather a genuine commitment to the project.
Here’s my take on paraphrasing the given text from the perspective of a gamer:
Hey there! I’m thrilled to share some insights about our passion project, Brother’s Bond Bourbon. You might be wondering what drove us to venture into the world of crafting whiskey. Well, it all boils down to a shared love for quality spirits and a desire to create something unique that reflects our bond as brothers.
Ian Somerhalder and I spent eight years working on a series together, during which we were often portrayed as feuding brothers who shared a love for bourbon when not fighting over the same woman. Since then, bourbon has remained a significant part of our minds for those eight years. The show was filmed in Georgia. After work, I found solace in drinking bourbon. I developed this affection because, while filming, I longed for real bourbon instead of the iced tea we were served on set. Once home, I experimented with various bourbons to cultivate my palate and discover my preferences. Over time, I grew deeply fond of the process and the idea that bourbon is truly America’s spirit. Bourbon must be produced in the United States. As COVID-19 spread, Ian and I found ourselves at home, like everyone else. When we realized we lived nearby each other, we decided to collaborate on a shared project: creating our own bourbon. This became an unexpected COVID endeavor that turned out to be more popular and time-consuming than we initially anticipated.
You touched on this a bit, but how did you and Ian come up with the idea?
Previously, we had discussed the idea of embarking on a project together. However, when COVID-19 struck, it seems Ian may have been considering launching a wine brand that ultimately didn’t take off. I’m not sure why it didn’t work out. It never materialized. Then, he contacted me and said, “Hey, I actually have an excellent CEO of a liquor company, and we can raise some funds, plus we found some barrels to blend.” That was the start. I took the liberty of naming it Brother’s Bond, and I believe I did a commendable job as the name truly encapsulates the essence of our company. For us, drinking our bourbon is about creating a bond. Therefore, Brother’s Bond symbolizes my relationship with Ian, both on-screen and off-screen. Additionally, we aim to make this a communal experience. We want to introduce people to bourbon and for them to share it, fostering connections between friends, family, or even on dates. We aspire for that shared experience to be as connective for others as it is for us.
How is Brother’s Bond different from other bourbons on the market?
I personally, along with Ian, take great care to craft each batch of our Brother’s Bond blend. It’s not just a pre-made blend slapped with our names and an endorsement. Instead, we meticulously select and combine the ingredients to suit our unique palate. This means that every sip of Brother’s Bond is a testament to our personal touch, setting it apart from the many celebrity-owned brands where the product is often just mass-produced. We take immense pride in this hands-on approach, ensuring that each bottle truly reflects our passion and creativity.
Our whiskey is among the pioneers in offering a completely regenerative variety. This means that approximately 85% of the grains used in our regenerative whiskey are sourced from regenerative farming, which has a carbon-negative impact as it absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. We take pride in using modern farming techniques like no-till cultivation, which is beneficial for both the environment and bourbon production. Furthermore, we were one of the initial brands to produce a bottle of bourbon with a carbon footprint that’s negative, making us quite unique. It may not be common knowledge, but our brand specializes in using four grains instead of the typical three, even extending this practice to our rye whiskey. In essence, we’re a four-grain company and that’s rather unusual in the world of bourbon production.
No, that’s OK. That was actually one of my questions. How would you describe Brother’s Bond to someone who doesn’t know a lot about whiskey? I just started drinking it, so I don’t know much.
In simpler terms, we create bourbon by storing grains like corn, rye, wheat, and barley in fresh oak barrels for at least four years. These barrels are initially charred to impart a woody flavor and smokiness. After aging, the bourbons are blended to achieve our ideal mix, known as the mash bill. When you drink it, you’re essentially enjoying grains that have been carefully aged in oak barrels over time. It’s similar to wine but with a different alcohol content and production process. Making bourbon requires patience, capital investment, and careful storage of the barrels. Each bourbon has its unique flavor profile due to the specific mash bill used during production.
Why was it important to you and Ian that your bourbon be made from regenerative agriculture?
Ian claims sole responsibility for the project, admitting he was unaware of its details earlier. Ian is deeply invested in regenerative agriculture, having produced a movie titled “Kiss the Ground” available on Netflix, which promotes this environmental movement. The aim is to minimize or eliminate the ecological damage caused by carbon emissions into the atmosphere. I believe it was Woody Harrelson who narrated the film, with Ian also appearing in it. Upon viewing the documentary, I felt compelled. Our shared sentiment was, “We want to contribute back. We’re establishing this company. We require a charitable cause.” It then seemed perfectly fitting that our company, being a grains and agricultural business, should align itself with regenerative agriculture, rather than something unrelated.
You all launched in 2021. How have you evolved as a company as a bourbon since then?
It’s been quite an educational journey! I’ve never embarked on starting a company before, and this experience has been unlike anything I’ve encountered before. Looking back, I believe there are approximately 40 things I might have approached differently, but we’ve managed to navigate through it all. We’re now entering a new stage, expanding our team, and establishing ourselves more firmly. Although we already have an identity, we aim to emphasize our core values even more and market them effectively. At present, many of our customers are drawn to us because of Ian and me, but our objective is to captivate the bourbon enthusiast who has been a devoted drinker for the last 20 years, whether they’ve favored brands like Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve. Our goal is to encourage them to try our product, to show them that we’re serious about what we do and not just riding on celebrity popularity or cashing in.
How do you sort of take your creativity as an actor and a director and apply it to Brother’s Bond?
That’s the most rewarding aspect. My whole life, I’ve never done anything other than acting and directing and producing, and I’m always in the entertainment industry. Consumer goods and products, it’s a totally different thing. But I think if you can kind of find moments of creativity in that, whether it’s, “Well, what’s our identity, how do we market it?” Even design, we’re redesigning some of our labels. It’s just like, what’s the emotion associated with the product, which is very much like, what you sort of put into a character. You’re like, “Well, what’s the emotion? What’s my arc? What am I? How is the audience connecting with me onscreen?” You have to kind of think in a similar way. It’s like, how is that consumer connecting with this bottle when they have it in their hand? That’s an experiential thing.
How are you prioritizing and balancing your business ventures with your entertainment career?
Absolutely, for me, both aspects aren’t particularly top priority. Instead, consider this a scenario where acting is essentially freelance work. For instance, I’m heading to film season four of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in February, and they are aware of it. Consequently, I’ve scheduled that period and am fully dedicated to the project. Ian will handle some of my tasks, and I have other team members who can step in as well. Essentially, I need to be in front of the camera, and finding characters is something I find deeply fulfilling. This has been a passion of mine since childhood; I’ve been involved in theater since the third grade. Therefore, it’s crucial that I continue this pursuit. Additionally, my success contributes to the company’s prosperity as well. When more people watch me, it means the company is thriving because of increased visibility.
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What are some brands you’re taking inspiration from when it comes to Brother’s Bond?
In simpler terms, when starting my brand, I was inspired by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul who had a mezcal. Since we’re friends, I reached out to Aaron about launching a bourbon brand. He advised me that my brand should always be something personal and close to my heart, not just another addition to my portfolio. So, I aimed to follow his advice and make my brand an extension of myself, like they have with their mezcal.
What about creative inspirations? I know you’ve partnered with Lovesac before.
The collaboration between KidSuper and Lovesac amusingly resembles the idea of merging an ordinary liquor brand with a unique twist, such as incorporating ourselves and Ian. This fusion provides a distinct viewpoint that might not be initially considered by traditional liquor makers or otherwise. Established for ages, Lovesac has its solid fundamentals, and then unexpectedly, a non-furniture designer enters the scene, transforming and innovating their products. I appreciate collaborations like these, as they symbolize art seamlessly intertwining with commerce in numerous ways. That’s what I find captivating about their partnership.
Whisky Advocate has pointed out that Brother’s Bond is currently one of the rapidly expanding whisky brands. Given that you started it three years back, were you anticipating its growth to be so significant?
I hadn’t fully grasped the immense popularity of “The Vampire Diaries” before, but I believe much of the sentiment and bonding comes from this being our first joint project since the series ended. In a sense, we’re rekindling that brotherly dynamic, even though we’re not working on a show together anymore. We seem to be capitalizing on the nostalgia for the series that people still yearn for because it’s astonishing how beloved the show remains.
To this very moment, I find myself unable to stroll down a street without someone approaching me to discuss it, or even when I’m in an airport. It seems everyone, regardless of age – be it a young girl, a man in his 40s, or even professional basketball players – approach me. This was during a very unique period, the COVID-19 pandemic, where people were spending most of their time at home, perhaps taking stock of things, and then suddenly we introduced this project. I believe that’s when people thought, “Wow, it’s those two brothers!” They quickly formed an emotional bond with it, and I didn’t fully grasp how powerful that could be until later.
Indeed, I’m rather behind on joining the hype for “The Vampire Diaries,” but having finally dived in, I completely understand its appeal.
You’re late. You’re a decade late. (Laughs.)
I know. (Laughs.) But I made it. How does it feel to see people support it in this way?
It’s incredibly exciting! When something becomes a regular part of your life and you encounter it, that’s when it truly feels amazing. I still recall the first time I watched Vampire Diaries on an airplane’s TV screens, and I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, that’s so cool!” It’s moments like these that make me feel a thrill, discovering something unexpected in an ordinary setting. For instance, walking into your favorite restaurant or bar, and suddenly realizing it’s there – you created it – is a feeling of awe and pride that never gets old. Spotting it at an airport or some other place, those are the kinds of instances that I find myself getting excited about being me, the one who stumbled upon it out of nowhere.
So, when you see it at a bar, do you always go for it, or do you try other things too?
Indeed, you need to back the account. To put it simply, regardless of whether I choose to consume it or not, or if I’m not in the mood for a drink, I will still order multiple bottles of Brother’s Bond, generously tip the staff, and express my gratitude for their efforts in promoting the brand.
How is the best way to drink it? Would you say straight? As a cocktail?
Every individual has their unique preference when it comes to bourbon, from the way they savor it to their level of experience. My mom, for instance, isn’t fond of drinking it straight. Instead, she adores a cocktail we concocted named the Mystic Charmer [consisting of Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey, lemon juice, honey syrup, and Ginger Ale]. Recently, my parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, and they served this drink to everyone, which was quite amusing. I, on the other hand, prefer it either on the rocks or straight up. However, preferences can vary greatly. At our establishment, we offer different versions. Our standard 80 proof variant is ideal for those who like to savor it over ice, while my girlfriend, who isn’t typically a bourbon drinker, prefers this version. For those who enjoy a stronger taste, we offer cask strength, which clocks in at 115 proof. This can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but for those new to such strong liquors, it might be best to dilute it slightly with water or incorporate it into a cocktail. For example, Wally’s, a well-known bar in L.A., offers a cask strength old fashioned that pairs wonderfully with Brother’s Bond. In essence, there are numerous ways to appreciate bourbon, and everyone has their own style.
For approximately a year, Old Fashioneds have been my preferred choice of cocktail, but not every establishment manages to prepare them well.
That’s true. That’s an art within itself.
How would you like to continue to expand this brand moving forward?
My primary goal is to establish a strong connection with my dedicated consumers, the ones who repeatedly choose my bourbon as their preferred brand, saying things like “This is my go-to whiskey, I’ll always buy it for my bar.” To achieve this, I aim to foster long-term relationships, similar to a courtship on a dating app. My ultimate goal is to win over these bourbon enthusiasts and create a community that shares our values, whether it’s our social responsibility efforts like donating a portion of sales to Kiss the Ground, our unique taste profile, or simply the joy of connecting with others. Once this community is established, I want to cultivate and expand it, starting with online sales in Europe, followed by aggressive marketing in retailers and on-premise locations across Europe. Eventually, I aim to make Brother’s Bond a legacy brand that I can pass down, whether to my future child or beloved pet.
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Are you certain that your canine friend would be delighted? Can you tell me about any other entrepreneurial pursuits you might consider – if there are any?
I hadn’t given it much thought before, but I’ve been pondering over the idea… My love for my dog is immense, and we’ve been discussing potential ventures involving a distinctive dog brand or treats. It’s something that truly captivates me, considering my deep affection for dogs, and I believe in pursuing what you’re passionate about. I think this could be an engaging niche for me. Apart from that, my primary focus remains on the entertainment industry.
Ian seems to have hinted at his dwindling interest in acting, focusing more on a business venture now – The Absorption Company, a product he highly praises due to its effectiveness. In fact, he’s invested in this company and hopes for its success. Maintaining good health is crucial, and everything requires balance. Overindulging in alcohol isn’t beneficial, as we all know. Balance is key, and that’s why he values health. However, he feels there are individuals more capable than him to excel in certain areas, so he won’t pursue those options.
You mentioned earlier that you and Ian hand-blended the bourbon. How did you learn to do that?
I must acknowledge that Ian played a significant role in teaching me the technique. I’m not sure how he managed to crack the code, whether it was through tutorials or his own insights. However, observing him work is truly enlightening. He has these intricate measuring cylinders, meticulously pouring the mash bills into different containers and adjusting the ratios – “Just a bit more rye, a bit more corn.” He’s got close to 40 samples! He tastes them at various times throughout the day. His passion for this craft is evident, he truly enjoys blending and experimenting with flavors.
Could you tell me more about the part of your earnings that supports Kiss the Ground? Could you explain what motivates you to make this contribution at the present time and why it’s particularly significant in today’s context?
Again, it’s a cause that Ian brought to us. I think every company should have some form of a charitable element. I think just pure profit… Also, it has to be organic to that company, and this was just organic to us. We’re literally making bourbon out of grains, and regenerative agriculture is literally grains. And so for us, it’s just like, why wouldn’t we get involved in that?
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2024-09-21 18:26