2 local veterans launch ‘Freedom Whiskey Co.’ small-batch bourbon

The idea for the "Have a Shot of Freedom Whiskey Co." started with military veterans Zach Hollingsworth and Scott Brown enjoying a late-night splash of bourbon.

“We do some back-porch whiskey-sipping,” Hollingsworth said of Brown, his neighbor in Springboro. “And one night, the conversation turned to, ‘Why don’t we start our own company?’”

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From that conversation two years ago, Have a Shot of Freedom Whiskey Co., and its signature Small-Batch Bourbon, were born. The company “is dedicated to creating whiskey that honors the heritage of our country while providing employment opportunities to veterans who have served or are currently serving, their family members, and those who seek to make a difference in general,” the founders said on their web site.

The new bourbon has crossed some significant milestones in recent weeks, and is poised to hit the shelves of Ohio retailers and beyond. It will be sold online in some states, although Ohio does not allow online sales of liquor.

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“In the past month, we’ve gotten approval to sell in Ohio, Tennessee, California and Nevada,” Hollingsworth said in a phone interview. “By mid-October, you’ll see it in bars and restaurants in Ohio. We hope to be in 10 different states by the new year.”

The price will be $39.99 per fifth (750 ml).

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Plans call for marketing the bourbon to exchanges on military bases, and Hollingsworth said veterans organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars posts will likely have an interest in the product.

Hollingsworth, a Wilmington, Ohio native who now works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said he and his wife had their first child, Jaxton Lee Hollingsworth, on Sept. 11. Their son was born at 9:11 p.m. on 9-11. “I told the nurse, ‘He’s going to be in the military for sure.’”

For more information, check out haveashotoffreedom.com.

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