Well-known brandy aficionado John Wayne now has his own limited-release spirit.
Ethan Wayne, president of John Wayne Enterprises, teamed up with Jayson Woodbridge and Chris Radomski of the Hundred Acre winery to produce a fine brandy bearing his father’s name. The fruit of their labor: The Duke Special Reserve Brandy ($350), a Monument Valley Distillers blend aged a minimum of 24 years.
Wayne knows his father, a well-known brandy aficionado, would approve of this particular tipple. The Duke is a sincere drink with straightforward notes, pours golden hued, is clean on the nose, and hits the palate like a 50-year-old scotch — minus the peat and smoke. It’s as singular as the elder Wayne.
“When you saw John Wayne come on the screen, you knew you were seeing something special,” says the actor’s proud son. “When you have a sip of this brandy, you know immediately that it’s something special too.” In keeping with being a rare find, the release is only available online, and once the stock is depleted, another batch will not be distilled.
For more on Duke Spirits and to order their small-batch bourbon, visit the producer’s website.