Stone fruit | Seasoned oak | Apricot | Toffee

Caramel | Apricot | Cinnamon bun | Honey | Graham cracker | Nutmeg | Brown sugar | Leather | Seasoned oak

Baking spices | Cinnamon | Caramel | Tobacco | Leather | Lingering sweetness

Brotherhood & Valor Spirit Company was founded in 2025 by Battalion Chief Troy Cool and Captain Mark Rossi, who are both longtime firefighters. Their company motto is “Service First – Whiskey Second,” and the company states, “Every bottle sold helps fund local charities that support veterans, first responders, families in need, and community causes we’re personally involved with.” Battalion #1 follows the firefighter naming convention, rather than batch #1. It is effectively the company’s first batch and was released alongside a limited edition barrel proof version, the Special 25th Anniversary Release, which pays tribute to the FDNY firefighters who were involved in the rescue efforts of 9/11.

Battalion #1 is a solid bourbon with a lively flavor profile. A mix of stone fruit, seasoned oak, apricot, and toffee on the nose gives way to a more complex midpoint. Sweeter notes of caramel, apricot, cinnamon bun, honey, graham cracker, and brown sugar contrast nutmeg, leather, and seasoned oak. The palate has a nice richness, and though it leans sweet, plenty of savory notes balance it. Baking spices, cinnamon, caramel, tobacco, and a touch of leather cap the sip off, with a pleasant lingering sweetness.

The source of the bourbon is not disclosed, but given the mashbill and age, Green River Distilling Co. is highly likely, and Battalion #1 might be compared to the company’s Wheated Full Proof Bourbon as a result. Regardless, Battalion #1 delivers a solid drinking experience on its own merits. My main critique with this bourbon is its label, which feels generically created by A.I. This does not seem to represent the brand, which seems to be focused on people with a more sincere message than the label conveys. Battalion #1 is Brotherhood & Valor Spirits’ first release, so it will set the baseline for how the brand grows and transforms over time.