BARDSTOWN, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evan Williams Bourbon announced today the 2024 class of veterans selected as American-Made Heroes, recognized for their dedication to making a difference in their communities and across the country. New this year, Evan Williams is proud to honor the six veterans, and the veteran-focused nonprofit organizations that they represent, on limited-edition bottlings of both Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch.
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, named for the year that Evan Williams founded Kentucky’s first distillery, is an award-winning, extra-aged small batch Bourbon. This year’s American Hero Edition was thoughtfully selected by the 2024 Evan Williams American-Made Heroes straight from the barrels. Each limited-edition bottle features a hang tag highlighting the six inspiring veterans. Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch American Hero Edition is bottled at 90 proof. The suggested retail price is $23.99 for the 750ml and $37.99 for the 1.75L.
Additionally, every star-spangled bottle of Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon highlights one of the six nonprofit organizations represented by the 2024 class of American-Made Heroes. The suggested retail price of the limited-edition bottle is $24.99.
Evan Williams embodies the American spirit as an American-owned and made brand, and values the leadership and sacrifice of all veterans who protect that spirit. Each of the six selected veterans are affiliated with organizations that were recipients of the 2023 Veteran Community Action Grants awarded by the Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. First established in 2020, the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund continues the brand’s support of veteran communities via its Evan Williams American-Made Heroes program, established in 2015. To date, Evan Williams has recognized 57 veteran heroes through the American Hero Edition bottles and has donated $600,000 to nonprofits supporting the veteran community across the country.
"This year marks a special milestone as we introduce two distinct bottlings of Evan Williams, each dedicated to the valor and stories of our American-Made Heroes," said Molly Vincent, senior brand manager at Evan Williams Bourbon. "With these unique editions, we aim to magnify our foundation's mission—providing a platform for veteran stories, raising awareness for issues they face and directly supporting the nonprofits that offer crucial help. As an American-made and American-owned brand, these releases symbolize our unwavering commitment to celebrating and aiding our nation’s heroes.”
The 2024 Evan Williams American-Made Heroes are:
Jamie Paxton
Ottawa Lake, Mich.
Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Jamie served 25 years with five overseas tours, including Iraq. She founded Little Blessings in 2018, using equine-based programs to help veterans and their families transition successfully to civilian life.
Michael Caimona
Bowie, Md.
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
As a Naval Intelligence Officer deploying globally post-911, Michael received four Navy Commendation medals. He later founded the Warrior Music Foundation to provide free music therapy and music lessons to veterans and their families.
Jas Boothe
Winchester, Va.
Major, U.S. Army
During her military career, Jas was awarded for outstanding service and taught Officer Candidate School, training future military leaders. While serving, she founded Final Salute Inc., which provides safe housing to homeless women veterans and their families.
Brooke Jackson Kahn
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Captain, U.S. Army
As a combat medic, Brooke provided emergency battlefield care to troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom and taught over 500 soldiers lifesaving medical skills for deployment. She later founded She’s the Veteran, an organization dedicated to improving the mental health of female veterans.
Steven Jones
Russell, Mass.
Sergeant E-5, U.S. Marines
Steven was sworn in the day after 9/11 and later deployed to Iraq, where he was responsible for processing emergency air support requests. He’s the founder of Warrior’s Art Room, a space for veterans and their families to heal through creative self-expression.
Thomas McNamara
Spanaway, Wash.
Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
During his 30-year Air Force career, Thomas was responsible for 700 personnel as well as the maintenance of 44 aircrafts. Now, he volunteers for Heroes On The Water, a nonprofit providing outdoor wellness programs for veterans, first responders and their families.
To learn more about each of the 2024 American-Made Heroes and the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, visit https://american-madeheroes.com/.
ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS
The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero bottles for the past eight years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN-MADE HEROES FOUNDATION FUND
Evan Williams is honored to broaden its support of veteran communities across the country through the launch of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund, announced in April 2020. The American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund was established to show Evan Williams’ pride in being American-made and owned, and to give back to those who served. Our purpose is: to provide a platform for sharing inspiring veteran stories; to raise public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community; and to support nonprofit organizations that help veterans through a specialized grant program.
