Bonding over Bourbon: a Q&A with Ian Somerhalder
An undeniable highlight at The Spirits Business Hub was an exclusive Q&A and whiskey tasting with actor and co-founder of Brother’s Bond Bourbon Ian Somerhalder.
In a packed room of eager listeners, Somerhalder took to the stage with editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business Melita Kiely for an exclusive Q&A and whiskey tasting of his Brother’s Bond Bourbon portfolio.
“Obviously, I was on that little show called The Vampire Diaries. It’s only been seen by like 1.2 billion people,” Somerhalder quipped. “But these characters, these two vampire brothers bonded on-screen over Bourbon.
“And then Paul [Wesley, The Vampire Diaries actor and Brother’s Bond Bourbon co-founder] and I bonded off-screen over Bourbon. So this was the most authentic thing we could have ever done.”
He continued: “‘Time to bond’ is not just a phrase; it’s something we live by and it’s also a phrase that we own.
“We trademarked it because it meant so much to us. I think we could all argue, or not argue, that we need bonding and togetherness now in the world more than ever – and this is the brand to do it.”
The Brother’s Bond Bourbon portfolio comprises a range of small batch Bourbons and rye whiskeys.
The brand recently launched its Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon, in keeping with its sustainable duties – something Somerhalder is extremely passionate about.
“We built this company to not just bring people together but to bring together the art and science and nature and agriculture. That is where we win. When we heal soil and when we build massive carbon-capturing regenerative food systems – like making grain for whiskey – the whole world wins,” Somerhalder stressed.
He also noted how the brand is committed to competing with the best whiskeys on the market. For Somerhalder, Brother’s Bond Bourbon has always aimed to be both an approachable whiskey for newcomers to the category, with the ability to simultaneously satisfy connoisseurs.
“We built this brand on two very distinct pillars,” Somerhalder explained. “We knew we needed immediate approachability. Whether you’re a legal-drinking-age Gen Z, you’re 21, or you’re 51 – it’s approachable.
“But it had to have nuance and complexity, so that even the snootiest, bitchiest, bearded Bourbon drinkers – I just shaved my beard – can sip this and say, ‘Wait, this is a well-crafted spirit.’ That’s what we went for.”
The full conversation with Somerhalder is now available to watch online via the link below and on The Spirits Business YouTube channel.
For additional video content and talks from The Spirits Business Hub at ProWein, visit The Spirits Business YouTube channel.
Somerhalder and Wesley were also the inaugural guests on episode one of The Spirits Business Podcast, which is available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.
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