Brian Axelrod and Eric LeGrand
Former football player Eric LeGrand is not like most whiskey makers. LeGrand was a successful defensive tackle at Rutgers University when, during a game in his junior year in 2010, he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. LeGrand had aspired to be in the NFL and eventually become a sports broadcaster, and the injury changed the trajectory of his life. But his resilience is astounding, and in the years since the injury, he’s become an inspirational public speaker. He’s also a bourbon maker, with an eye toward increasing awareness and acceptance of people living with paralysis disabilities.
LeGrand launched his first whiskey, Eric LeGrand Kentucky straight bourbon, in 2023 with Brian Axelrod and Green River Distillery, which is now owned by Bardstown Bourbon Co. Axelrod has a traditional spirits background, having previously helped launch Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey with MMA fighter and boxer Conor McGregor, and he has also worked with cognac and champagne. After the initial Eric LeGrand bourbon release, this duo has now teamed up again for an Eric LeGrand Single Barrel expression, just in time for the holiday season.
Eric LeGrand Single Barrel bourbon, also made at Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Green River Distillery, is the first new iteration from Eric LeGrand Spirits since the original rollout. The limited-edition bottling launches November 1 at 52% ABV, a nod to LeGrand’s No. 52 jersey number while at Rutgers. The single barrel label ($60) has a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% barley, and aged for 4 years in toasted and charred new oak barrels. Only 1,920 bottles are available, sold online at ericlegrandwhiskey.com and select New Jersey retail stores.
The single barrel offering complements LeGrand’s flagship bourbon ($40), which has a similar mashbill but was aged for 2½ years in charred oak and is bottled at 44% ABV. The Kentucky straight bourbon also has a wider distribution, made available in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and online. The labels on both bottlings tell LeGrand’s story, and for every case sold—of both the flagship and single barrel offerings—LeGrand is donating $5.20 to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to support people living with and impacted by paralysis and to help fund a cure for spinal cord injuries.
“The goal is to be national, and one day international,” LeGrand says of his whiskeys’ reach. He also notes that more than 5 million Americans live with paralysis, and he hopes that his whiskey project increases awareness for that community, and changes misconceptions about what people with disabilities can accomplish. “I’m sharing my story and my message to make people aware of the paralysis community through this bourbon,” he adds. “My story is on the label. It tells about myself, the injury, and the foundation. I want to make sure people who don’t know can learn about me and paralysis. And it helps the bourbon stand out on the shelf.”
LeGrand visited Green River Distillery this fall to sample whiskeys, watch the bottling process, and tour a rickhouse. He says that while Axelrod is heavily involved in the whiskey-making with Green River, he’s a bourbon fan himself and looks forward to future whiskey projects. LeGrand first gained exposure to whiskey by drinking Jack Daniel’s and Jameson in his 20s and has developed an affinity for higher-end labels like Blanton’s more recently, which led to an interest in pursuing his own label.
Going forward, LeGrand expects to release additional offerings under the Eric LeGrand Spirits umbrella. While no firm plans are available yet, he notes that after the single barrel launch in early November, he’ll continue working on new ideas. He adds that he’s enjoyed tasting and experiencing the differences between his flagship 2½ year old bourbon and the single barrel 4 year old expression, including the higher alcohol content. LeGrand says his bourbon is intended to be an “everyday bourbon” and very versatile for entry-level whiskey drinkers and those who enjoy whiskey cocktails while noting that the Single Barrel offering is higher-end, smoother, and aims to attract a more sophisticated drinker.
With characteristic optimism, LeGrand is excited about his whiskey future. “If we open our own distillery, that’s when you’ll know the brand has really made it. I would love that one day,” he says. LeGrand notes that the craftsmanship and talents required to make good whiskey parallel the character traits he embodies for his recovery and physical rehabilitation. Both paths require precision, patience, trust, and strength. “After a long, hard day, I deserve a glass of bourbon,” he says. “It’s something I enjoy. Bourbon is who I am—it’s tough, gritty, and takes patience to make, but it’s also smooth. That’s me.”
The new Eric LeGrand Single Barrel Bourbon can be purchased here.
