This spring, Eric LeGrand Spirits, a New Jersey-based bourbon brand, announced expansions to New York and Massachusetts. The news comes after the brand launched in March 2023, originally sold in-stores in New Jersey and Kentucky. It’s now available in select liquor stores, bars, restaurants in all four states for everyone to enjoy.
In May, Eric LeGrand Bourbon expanded to New York in a distribution partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), one of the nation’s leading wholesale beverage alcohol distributors. This July, the brand is expanding to Massachusetts in a distribution partnership with Martignetti Companies, the leading distributor of wines, spirits and beer in New England and the sixth largest wine and spirits distributor in the country. The back to back expansions will help the brand reach a new audience through key retailers.
Eric LeGrand Bourbon was co-founded by Eric LeGrand, the former college football defensive tackle-turned-businessman and spirits entrepreneur Brian Axelrod. Eric’s inspiring story has served as a foundation for the NJ-based brand’s story. His life changed in 2010 when he became paralyzed after a tackle while playing football for Rutgers University. He’s paralyzed from the chest down and this injury inspired him to launch his first spirits brand. He launched the brand to end the stigma that those with disabilities aren’t able to enjoy the finer things in life. The purpose-driven brand is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky, and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. It was created with quality heartland grown corn, limestone purified water, the freshest rye and barley available.
The brand promises to donate $5.20 of every case sold of Eric LeGrand Bourbon to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The foundation supports those living with and are impacted by paralysis by finding the cure for spinal cord injuries. The amount represents Eric’s number (52) while he played football at Rutgers University. In March 2024, the brand celebrated its one-year anniversary and presented a check of $9,064.00 to the foundation.
Through this expansion, the brand is now available in New Jersey, Kentucky, New York, Massachusetts and is available DTC on ericlegrandwhiskey.com with a suggested retail price of $39.99 for a 750ML bottle.
