Currently available in eight states and District of Columbia
(New York, NY, May 22, 2020) – Since its launch late last year in New York City, Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey has continued to attract lovers of fine spirits across a growing portion of the United States. The whiskey is currently available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Colorado and Washington, DC.
Fighting 69th Irish Whisky is named for New York’s famed 69th Infantry Regiment. Since 1851 the officers of the regiment have kicked off their responsibilities as lead unit in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade by raising a glass of Irish whiskey in a traditional toast. When they do it next time it will be with a special Irish whiskey named after their own storied U.S. Army unit.
The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey is being produced by Florida-based Espiritus Group, a spirits development and marketing company, in conjunction with the 69th Infantry Regiment Historical Trust, which is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) entity. A portion of the sale of each bottle sold benefits the trust and supports its historic preservation mission as well as philanthropic activities on behalf of the Regiment’s veterans and their families.
Scott Reid, chief marketing officer for Espiritus Group said that Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey has been remarkably well-received since its introduction and expects that success to continue as it spreads to other markets.
“The first shipment of Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey sold out shortly after it was launched in November and subsequent shipments have moved just as fast. For example, in the first three states to receive the whiskey – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – over 400 accounts have it listed in their inventory, he said.
Reid attributes the success to the growing popularity of Irish Whiskies and the fact that Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey “is a very fine whiskey.”
Sourced from Ireland’s finest distilleries, The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills and cask-aged in once-used bourbon and sherry barrels on Ireland’s southern coast.
Describing the taste of the whiskey, Reid noted that it is medium-bodied and bright and lively on the palate with a smooth and complex finish that allows for a delightful experience.
“I would describe the whiskey as being very much like the motto of the Fighting 69th Regiment: Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked,” Reid said.
He noted that there has been a real surge in interest in a cocktail called “The Fighting Mule” which is a mix of Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey and ginger beer.
The 69th Infantry Regiment has a long and storied history. Its wartime exploits have been memorialized in books and popular culture including the 1940 Warner Brothers movie “The Fighting 69th” starring James Cagney and Pat O’Brien. The regiment has seen combat in five wars: the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Iraq War and in Afghanistan. The 69th self-activated on 9/11 2001 and was the first military unit to reach the World Trade Center.
The suggested retail price of Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey is $29.99 – $34.99.
About the 69th Infantry Regiment:
The 69th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Army. It is from New York City, part of the New York Army National Guard. It is known as the “Fighting Sixty-Ninth,” a name said to have been given by Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. An Irish heritage unit, as the citation from poet Joyce Kilmer illustrates, this unit is also nicknamed the “Fighting Irish,” immortalized in Joyce Kilmer’s poem When the 69th Comes Home. Between 1917 and 1992, it was also designated as the 165th Infantry Regiment. It is headquartered at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.
The regiment currently consists of a single light infantry battalion (1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment) and is part of the 27th Infantry Brigade of the 42nd Infantry Division. The Regiments’ history dates back to 1849 when it was created as the 9th Regiment New York State Militia. Company “A”, 1/69 traces lineage back to the American Revolution. The regiment has seen combat in five wars: the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Iraq War and in Afghanistan. It was also activated in 1898 for the Spanish American War and in 1916 for the Mexican Border Campaign. It has received so many Unit Citations, once recognized with silver rings that the staff of its regimental colors is authorized to be one foot longer than normal to accommodate them all. The regiment has seen combat in five wars: the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Iraq War and in Afghanistan. It was eventually put on official orders. October 29, 2019, marked the 15th anniversary of the 69th “going over the berm” as Task Force Wolfhound from Kuwait into Iraq for a year-long deployment in the country.
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