CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE – November 2, 2026 – Some things are meant to exist once.

That idea is at the heart of Extinct Spirits, a new independent spirits brand launching this November, built around unique whiskey, original art, and the stories of species lost to time.

Each release from Extinct Spirits is known as an Extinction Event. The brand seeks out distinctive single-cask spirits available in finite quantities and pairs each with an extinct species and original commissioned artwork. Once the final bottle is gone, the release becomes part of The Archive, a permanent record of the spirit, species, and artwork behind each Extinction Event.

Behind the search for those spirits is co-founder Cole Hanna, a longtime bourbon enthusiast and industry veteran with years of experience sourcing, selecting, blending, and developing whiskey. Extinct Spirits marks Hanna's second venture in the bourbon industry. He is also co-founder and co-owner of H.K. Young Bourbon Co., a Kentucky bourbon brand focused on the exploration of toasted barrel finishing.

Over years spent sourcing and evaluating whiskey, Hanna encountered individual casks and limited stocks that stood apart but did not necessarily have a place within an existing brand or product line. Extinct Spirits grew, in part, from the idea that those discoveries deserved a space of their own.

“I didn't set out simply to create another limited-release whiskey brand,” said Hanna. “Over the years, I've come across unique stocks that you simply don't see in today's market. When you find something like that, there is only so much of it, and there may never be anything quite like it again. Those spirits deserve an opportunity to stand on their own and a story worthy of what's inside the bottle.”

The brand will debut in November 2026 with Extinction Event I, its inaugural single-cask release honoring the Dodo Bird (Raphus cucullatus), the flightless bird native to Mauritius that disappeared in the 17th century.

For Extinct Spirits, the species is more than an illustration on a label. Original artwork commissioned for each Extinction Event extends across the bottle and packaging, becoming part of the collection.

“There’s something exciting about intentionally keeping our releases to just a handful of barrels each year,” said Extinct Spirits co-founder Darrick Jackson. “It gives us the freedom to showcase whiskeys that are truly unique in an industry where so much has started to feel familiar. That’s how we intend to operate one of the most highly curated single-barrel programs in the industry.”

The brand's focus on extinction also turns toward species that remain. Wildlife conservation has been part of Extinct Spirits from its inception, with the company committed to raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts for vulnerable species and their ecosystems.

"Extinct Spirits gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the stories of what the world has already lost, while also raising awareness and supporting efforts to protect what is still here," said co-founder, Joslyn Hanna. "As the brand grows, we want that purpose to grow with it."

Presales for Extinction Event I will begin Friday, November 13, at 9 p.m. ET, with a limited number of bottles available online at extinctspirits.com. Those interested can join The Archive at extinctspirits.com and follow Extinct Spirits on social media @extinctspirits.

About Extinct Spirits
Founded by Cole “CG” Hanna, Joslyn Hanna, and Darrick Jackson, Extinct Spirits is an independent spirits brand pairing distinctive, limited single-barrel spirits with original artwork honoring species lost to time. Each release, known as an Extinction Event, becomes part of The Archive while supporting the brand's broader commitment to global wildlife conservation. Extinct Spirits is a proud veteran-owned, woman co-owned company.