Melissa McCarthy backs Big Nose Kate whiskey

American whiskey brand Big Nose Kate has gained investment from Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy.

The Gilmore Girls actor and her husband, American actor Ben Falcone, have joined forces with the whiskey brand.

Big Nose Kate was founded in September 2021 by Eastside Distilling’s Melissa Heim, who is thought to be one of the first female head distillers west of the Mississippi River.

Produced in Santa Fe, Mexico, Big Nose Kate is a blend of straight rye whiskey and American single malt. The whiskey was also produced by Altar Spirits’ head distiller Caley Shoemaker.

“Big Nose Kate breaks the mould in so many ways, and in turn, we earned the opportunity to collaborate with two very cool and visionary talents in Melissa and Ben,” said Heim. “I could not have dreamt up a better partnership than this to propel our vision.”

The whiskey pays tribute to Maria Izabella Magdolna Horony, also known as Catherine Elder, who was later known as ‘Big Nose Kate’, an American historical figure known to be a longtime companion of Wild West gunfighter Doc Holliday.

“What can we say, it was love at first sip,” said McCarthy and Falcone in a joint statement. “BNK [Big Nose Kate] drinks are as bold and badass as Kate was herself.”

In addition to the investment from the couple, Big Nose Kate has secured funding from Springdale Ventures and Goat Rodeo Capital, two US-based early-stage funds with ‘deep spirits expertise’.

Big Nose Kate has notes of dry Sherry, stone fruit, cocoa, malt cereal and green apple, with a finish of butterscotch and candied lemon.

The 45% ABV expression is distributed by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in the US. The brand is now available to buy at select stores, bars and restaurants in New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and Washington, with more states to follow.

McCarthy is the latest Hollywood star to enter the American whiskey category, following Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s recent investment in single malt Bear Fight.