Robert Hicks, battlefield preservationist and New York Times bestselling author announced today the launch of Battlefield Bourbon, a very small batch bourbon distilled, aged and hand bottled in Tennessee.  It is now available to the public and a portion of all proceeds from the sale benefits Civil War battlefield reclamation and preservation.

In making the announcement, Hicks said, “Something important happened on the hallowed ground of Civil War battlefields that should never be forgotten.  Whether it was ‘home’ or ‘country,’ ‘honor’ or ‘union,’ that drove them forward, they fought and suffered, even unto death, for their cause.  As a lover of fine bourbon, I wondered if there was a way to offer fine, very small batch bourbon and to raise funds for the battlefield reclamation.  May we raise a glass in honor of those who came before us, Lest We Forget.”

These words are on printed on the bottle along with “Lest We Forget” engraved into the wooden stopper cap of the 750 ml grandeur bottle.

Hicks has been described by the New York Times as “at the heart of the battlefield reclamation in Franklin.”  In founding Franklin’s Charge in 2003, he revived battlefield preservation in Franklin, after its battlefield had been removed from the “Ten Most Endangered Battlefields in America” to the “list of lost battlefields.”

Under his leadership, Franklin’s Charge was able to bring the Franklin Battlefield back to life — taking it from “lost” to an example of a community’s efforts that are, according to Jim Lighthizer, president of The Civil War Trust, “second to none in the nation.”

Battlefield Bourbon is produced in association with and bottled by SPEAKeasy Spirits, LLC in Nashville and Best Brands is the distributor. SPEAKeasy Spirits is an artisan distillery nestled in the Historic West Town neighborhood of Nashville.  SPEAKeasy Spirits’ Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream is the distillery’s flagship brand.

The source from the water used in making Battlefield Bourbon is taken from a spring on the Franklin battlefield.  By using water from the battlefield, Hicks is providing an opportunity to actually taste part of this hallowed ground.

Battlefield Bourbon is being released this week exclusively at spirits retailers and restaurants in Middle Tennessee.  For more information visit www.battlefield-bourbon.com.

Hicks added, “To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Franklin, our initial run is limited to1,864 bottles signifying the year of the Battle of Franklin held November 30, 1864. I have personally sign and numbered each bottle, as this will be treated no differently from any other limited edition in any other medium of the fine arts.”

Using the ‘allotment model,’ perfected by the highly praised Pappy Van Winkle, Battlefield Bourbon is very small batch with 91.2 proof.  The front label of the bottle depicts a late 19^th century illustration of the Battle of Franklin.

Named last year by Nashville Lifestyles Magazine as the #2 in the top 100 Reasons to Love Nashville, Robert Hicks was described as Nashville’s “Master of Ceremonies.” They went on to say that “being a New York Times best-selling author should be enough – but not for Robert Hicks, award-winning author of The Widow of the South and A Separate Country. His passion for words is equaled by one for preservation, saving the history-steeped places associated with the Battle of Franklin.  Writer, speaker, leader, world-traveler, preservationist – one person really can make a difference.” Maybe now we can add, “Whiskey preservationist” to his list of accolades.

Battlefield Bourbon is a very small batch bourbon whiskey created with fresh spring water taken directly from the battlefield in Franklin, Tenn.  It is a bourbon with a cause, as a portion of all proceeds from the sale benefits Civil War battlefield reclamation and preservation.