New Experimental Spirits Co. Launching Crowdfunded Smoked Bacon Bourbon

Bacon and bourbon have been lifelong drinking buddies, dredging up wild west frontier images in their smoky, smoky team-up. But the porch-lovin' pair usually remain on plate and glass, woefully separated from realising their true fusion potential. However, things are changing for bacon and bourbon romances, as well as their steadfast fans. While US company Old Major have already teamed the two in their own infused spirit, we're looking for something a little closer to home.

From the Speakeasy team behind Eau De Vie and The Roosevelt Bar and Diner, brand new Australian spirit venture The Experimental Spirits Co. is launching their own smoked bacon bourbon. Coinciding with the latest unofficial hashtag on the Australian calendar, Australian Bacon Week, the smoky, smoky spirit marks the first endeavour for the brand new company — plus, they're crowdfunding it.

"I had an idea to create a unique boutique spirits company some time ago, when I ran my own consultancy outfit (Behind Bars), but due to various conflicts of interests I was unable to do so," owner, founder and renowned spirit guru Sven Almenning says. "Having now untangled myself from that, I am very excited to be launching the Experimental Spirits Co. We developed this great little whisky when we were working on our Eau De Vie Small Batch Cocktails — currently available through Vintage Cellars — and we thought it was too good not to share with the world in a more familiar format."

So how do you actually infuse bourbon with bacon? The key to the whole shebang is what's known as a 'fat washing' process, allowing the smoked bacon flavour to be soaked into the whiskey. Then it's filtering time (ten times over) before the alchemy is bottled and wax sealed. It's a handmade labour of love for the Experimental Spirits Co. "It’s quite a laborious process," admits Almenning. "But that’s the nature of the products we want to produce."

While you'll only initially be able to enjoy the Smoked Bacon Bourbon in the Speakeasy Group venues (both Eau De Vie venues in Sydney and Melbourne, Sydney's recently opened Eau De Vie Apothecary plus The Roosevelt Bar & Diner) plus a handful of specially-picked bars, the team are making their infused bourbon a special edition crowdfunding perk of its own — $80 donations will get you a bottle of the bourbon to swill at your own leisure.

So with $25,000 as the target, where's the money going? "Primarily the funds will go towards purchasing whiskey and the down payments on all the equipment that is required for creating the product," say the team. "We hope that this campaign will assist us in covering some of the costs for new production equipment such as more high-volume filtration systems as well as the rental of a small ‘lab’ where we can base our work and the new business."

With the smoked bacon bourbon up and running, the Experimental Spirit Co. intend to launch a salted coconut spiced rum and a 'new-age' gin with a twist later in the year. For now, its all about bringing home the crowdfunded bacon. Throw your sweet cashola at it over here.