The Brother’s Bond Bourbon JetBlue partnership means that since 1 October 2026, JetBlue has served Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon onboard in 50ml miniatures. It is the flagship of the American whiskey brand founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. The bourbon is made from four grains (65% corn, 22% rye, 13% wheat and malted barley), aged for at least four years in new charred American oak and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). The deal was announced on 5 October 2026. A 750ml bottle sells for around $40 in the US, and the range is also sold in the UK through Master of Malt and in several European and Asian markets.
The next time you order a whiskey on a JetBlue flight, the miniature on your tray table may come with a four-grain mash bill. As of 1 October, Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon is part of the airline’s onboard spirits list, served in 50ml bottles.
The partnership was announced from Plano, Texas, on 5 October 2026. For the brand founded by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, it is the latest step in a run of expansion that has taken it from US shelves into airport duty free, the UK and a growing list of export markets.
The key facts at a glance
- Whiskey: Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon
- Format onboard: 50ml miniature
- Available from: 1 October 2026
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Mash bill: 65% corn, 22% rye, 13% wheat and malted barley
- Maturation: minimum four years, new charred American oak
- Retail price: around $40 (750ml, US)
What is Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon?
Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon is the core expression of a range that also includes an Original Cask Strength, an American Blended Rye, a Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon and a Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon.
The four-grain recipe is what sets it apart. Most bourbons use corn plus either rye or wheat as the secondary “flavour grain”, alongside a little malted barley. Brother’s Bond uses both. At 22%, the rye gives it a spicier edge, while the wheat is there to round out the texture.
According to US distributor Banfi, the brand achieves this by small-batch blending three different mash bills, roughly 135 barrels per batch. The whiskey is distilled and aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then chill-filtered and bottled at 80 proof.
For readers outside the US: “straight bourbon” is a legal term. It means the whiskey has spent at least two years in new charred oak, has no added colouring or flavouring, and must carry an age statement if it is under four years old. Brother’s Bond goes beyond that minimum with at least four years in wood.
Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon tasting notes (brand-supplied)
We have not tasted this whiskey. The notes below are the brand’s and distributor’s own.
Nose: baked banana bread, jammy ripe fruit, walnut, orange blossom honey
Palate: rich honey, black tea spice, dried fruit, toasted cereal, honeysuckle
Finish: not published by the brand
ABV: 40% | Cask: new charred American oak, minimum 4 years | Price: ~$40 (750ml, US)
Why the Brother’s Bond Bourbon JetBlue deal matters
Airline drinks lists tend to favour a small number of large, established brands. Landing a spot on a major US carrier puts a relatively young bourbon in front of a huge number of travellers, many of whom would never seek it out on a liquor store shelf.
The 50ml format suits that kind of discovery well. It is a single serve and a low-risk first taste. The brand says it was designed to be enjoyed neat, over ice or with a mixer, and at 40% ABV it is pitched at exactly that flexibility.
The JetBlue deal also fits a clear pattern. Brother’s Bond entered global travel retail with Gebr. Heinemann in August 2025 and launched in the UK in February 2026 through Maverick Drinks. It is now also sold in Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan.
Who is behind Brother’s Bond Bourbon?
Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley played the Salvatore brothers in The Vampire Diaries. The friendship that began on set, and their shared taste for bourbon, is where the brand’s name comes from. Somerhalder has since stepped away from acting to focus on the whiskey full time.
The brand reports more than 57 awards and accolades from international spirits competitions, with scores from 93 to 100 points. Part of the proceeds from every bottle goes to regenerative agriculture, the same idea behind the Regenerative Grain expression.
Where to buy Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon
On board: JetBlue flights from 1 October 2026 (50ml).
Our take
This is a news story, not a review, so there is no score from us. But the logic of the deal is easy to see. A four-grain bourbon at 80 proof, served in a 50ml miniature, is a sensible way for a curious traveller to try a style that is less common than standard rye-led or wheated bourbon.
If you fly JetBlue and like bourbon with a bit of rye spice and a softer body, it is worth ordering on your next flight. If you want the fuller version, the Original Cask Strength (around 115 proof) and the Bottled-in-Bond are the bottles to look for on the ground.
FAQ
What is the Brother’s Bond Bourbon JetBlue partnership?
Since 1 October 2026, JetBlue has served Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon onboard in 50ml miniatures. The partnership was announced on 5 October 2026. Brother’s Bond is the American whiskey brand founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, and this is the brand’s first move into in-flight service with a major US airline.
What does Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon taste like?
According to the brand, the nose shows baked banana bread, jammy ripe fruit, walnut and orange blossom honey. On the palate it offers rich honey, black tea spice, dried fruit, toasted cereal and honeysuckle. The 22% rye adds spice, while wheat softens the texture. It is bottled at 40% ABV, or 80 proof.
What is the mash bill of Brother’s Bond Bourbon?
Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon is a four-grain bourbon made from 65% corn, 22% rye, and 13% wheat and malted barley combined. It is created by blending three mash bills in small batches of around 135 barrels, then aged for at least four years in new charred American oak before chill-filtering.
How much does Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon cost?
A 750ml bottle of Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon costs around $40 in the US, and a 375ml bottle is also available. The onboard price of the 50ml JetBlue serve has not been published. In the UK the range is sold through Master of Malt, where the Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year Old lists at £61.50.
Where can I buy Brother’s Bond Bourbon outside the US?
Brother’s Bond is sold in the UK through Master of Malt, and in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Japan and Taiwan. It is also stocked in selected airport duty-free stores through Gebr. Heinemann. There is no confirmed distribution in Denmark or the other Nordic countries yet.
Who owns Brother’s Bond Bourbon?
Brother’s Bond Bourbon was founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, who played the Salvatore brothers in The Vampire Diaries. The brand is headquartered in Plano, Texas. According to its US distributor, the whiskey is distilled and aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, before being blended in small batches and bottled.
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