Four Branches Bourbon, a Veteran-Owned Distiller, Named One of Three Winners in Fox Business 'Made in America' Contest

Four Branches Bourbon was named one of three winners in the “Made in America” contest hosted by Fox Business, earning a $25,000 prize and a featured spotlight on FOX Nation. The contest recognized American excellence in honor of America’s 250th anniversary this summer.

U.S. Military: Mike Franco, a Marine Corps veteran; Harold Underdown, a Navy veteran; RJ Casey, an Army veteran; and Mike Trott, an Air Force veteran. ” Mike Franco created the brand to honor a very close friend who died in the line of duty. His friend, Gregory R.

Was a contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency. Wright was honored with a star on the CIA Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters. “I wanted to create originally just a tribute barrel to those men on that wall,” Franco said.

Franco said their military experience helped them stand out in the competition. “I think what resonated was the truth of our story, the background of why we started it,” he said. ” Mike Trott said, “We always say, bourbon is a reflective spirit.

Four Branches Bourbon plans to use the $25,000 prize to expand its production line, continue barreling, and go toward the next run of its flagship product, Founders Reserve bourbon. The Founders Reserve is a four-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged a minimum of five years in charred new American white oak barrels.

The company also announced the release of its Liberty Reserve, a limited-edition commemorative bourbon made to honor America’s 250th this July.

Only 1,776 bottles were made. It delivers rich notes of dark caramel, honey, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, dark fruit, and warm oak. “The eyes almost rolled back in our head, and we’re like, ‘This is phenomenal, phenomenal bourbon,’” Trott said of the Liberty Reserve.

Through the Giveback program “Beyond the Branches,” which started in 2023, every bottle sold helps support veterans and first-responder organizations. Four Branches Bourbon has raised $650,000 in donations so far. The company’s goal is to raise $1 million for veteran charities including Folds of Honor and Face the Fight by May 2027.

Bottles of Four Branches Bourbon have been auctioned off for as high as $26,500 for one bottle for the charities. ” Four Branches Bourbon contributed to the production of the feature-length documentary Tame the Kraken by Storybones Media produced by Heidi Collins.

The film tells the true story of Royal Marine special operations veteran Tim Crockett and his 19-year-old son Harrison who completed a 48-day rowing expedition across the Pacific Ocean.

The other two winners of the “Made in America” competition are Marilyn’s in Lakeside, Ohio, and TGU Home Solutions in Aberdeen, North Carolina. TGU Home Solutions is a veteran-owned business. FOX Nation’s small business special will air on Monday, June 8.