Star Trek and Stellum Spirits Join Forces for Two New Releases

Did you know that “Star Trek” has its own liquor label? It’s true! Since 2022, the popular science-fiction franchise has been releasing spirits inspired by some of the drinks and props featured throughout the films and shows. The list includes an Earl Grey-infused gin influenced by the favorite tea of captain Jean Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart), a lightning-blue vodka that’s made to look like the highly addictive Romulan Ale, and a line of vintage-dated bourbons that bear the mark of the Starfleet Command, among others. The franchise has just announced its two newest whiskeys, which were made in partnership with the Barrell Craft Spirits label Stellum Spirits.

Out of This World

The first is a blended rye that includes liquid ranging in age from 5 years and 5 months to 7 years old. The provenance of the whiskey is undisclosed, but the blend has a derived mashbill of 82% rye, 14% corn, and 4% malted barley. The final product was bottled at cask strength, coming in at 59.046% ABV. We haven’t tasted the whiskey yet, but it’s said to have aromas of brown sugar and toasted almonds, with a buttery palate of star anise, sesame seeds, dill, and apricot.

The second expression is a blended whiskey with a mashbill of 79% corn, 18% rye, and 3% malted barley. It taps notably older liquid than its counterpart, including components that are 5–11 years old. The proof is also slightly higher, at 60.335% ABV. Naturally, with its corn-dominant mashbill, this one will likely be sweeter than the rye whiskey. The brand says it has notes of vanilla, orange peel, caramel corn, mixed peppercorns, cedar, and oak.

The whiskeys are packaged in a way that some “Star Trek” fans may appreciate. Like the brand’s vodka, these expressions are presented in ridged-glass bottles to replicate the original Romulan Ale prop used in the “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” movie. The inspiration also extends to the front label, which follows the same pattern as the movie prop and is written in an alien language. (Though, of course, the new whiskeys are missing the signature blue color of the ale, and all of the info on each expression can be found in English on the back labels.)

Both whiskeys can be purchased online at the Star Trek Spirits website, each at a suggested retail price of $79. The releases are fairly limited, each having been blended from three barrels and each accounting for 600 bottles. Given the popularity of Star Trek, interested parties might have to engage warp speed if they want to get their hands on a bottle before they sell out.

Romulan Stellum Cask Strength Rye

ABV: 59.046%
SRP: $79
Availability: Online

Romulan Stellum Cask Strength Blend

ABV: 60.335%
SRP: $79
Availability: Online

Stellum's "Starring " Role

The Stellum label is an appropriate choice for this lead role in the Star Trek series, not least because its name is derived from the Latin word "stella" which means star. Stellum was launched in April 2021 as a national, permanent go-to brand from Barrell to serve what it called "the modern-day whiskey drinker." It was designed to be a counterpoint to the main Barrell business model of doing limited releases and one-off batches. While it seemed like a solid concept, Stellum has not generated much noise. In 2023, Barrell rolled out its Foundation series, a collection of ongoing releases that seems to fill the same role as Stellum: Offering relatively stable flavor profiles at much friendlier prices than most of the portfolio.

But Stellum is still a fairly active component of Barrell Craft Spirits, even if not a mainstream brand. Today, Stellum exclusively makes single barrels and custom blends, like the ones in this release, for individual customers and accounts. Barrell says it has no plans to discontinue the Stellum name.