The Flaming Lips to launch rye whiskey

American alt rock group The Flaming Lips will become the latest band to branch out into spirits with the release of Brainville Rye Whiskey this October.

The Flaming Lips will become the latest brand to release a spirit when Brainville Rye Whiskey goes live in October

Developed with Chicago-based Few Spirits, Brainville Rye Whiskey is made from a combination of rye, corn and malted barley grown within 150 miles of the distillery.

The mash is fermented using a French wine yeast, said to give the whiskey a stone-fruit, apple and pear flavour profile. The liquid is subsequently aged in new, charred American oak barrels custom-made in Minnesota.

Presented in Few Spirits’ signature rectangular bottle, Brainville Rye Whiskey will carry a psychedelic label designed by Justin Helton from Knoxville-based studio Status Serigraph. Helton has designed for some of the biggest musical acts, festival and entertainment brands, including The Black Keys and Austin City Limits.

“Music has always been an important part of my life, and when Justin Helton’s manager called me about a collaboration with The Flaming Lips and Warner Bros. Records to create a custom spirit, it was a no-brainer; they knew exactly which distillery they wanted to work with,” said Few Spirits founder and master distiller Paul Hletko, who played lead guitar in band BerBer before founding the distillery.

Brainville Rye will be bottled at 80-proof and a limited run of 5,000 units will roll out to retailers in key Few Spirits markets this October. The suggested retail price will be US$124.99 for a 750ml bottle.

Last month, rock band AC/DC announced it had partnered with Fabrica de Tequilas Finos to launch Thunderstruck Tequila.