Pigs Brand Bourbon (Small Batch) Arrives in Arkansas

Label: Pigs Brand Bourbon
Style: Bourbon Whiskey (Small Batch)
Barreling: New charred white oak barrels
ABV / Proof: 47% ABV (94 Proof)
Distillery Partner: Fordham Lee Distillery
Release: Announced July 9, 2025 by Pigs Brand; available through Colonial Wines & Spirits in Little Rock.

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The Bottle

Pigs Brand Bourbon is a small-batch bourbon whiskey aged in new American white oak and bottled at a balanced 94 proof.
The release marks the debut spirits collaboration between Pigs Brand, the Arkansas-born clothing label, and Fordham Lee Distillery of Middletown, Maryland.

While production details remain limited, the partnership has drawn attention across the state for blending an Arkansas fashion name with a growing Mid-Atlantic distillery.

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The Arkansas Story Behind Pigs Brand

A homegrown label with DIY roots.
Pigs Brand began as a creative side project—screen-printing shirts, sewing costumes, and experimenting with fashion long before it had a name. Founders Lance and Lindsey Fairchild of Maumelle, Arkansas, started making custom hats in 2017 for friends and family. That original cap, emblazoned simply with “PIGS,” resonated with locals who wanted apparel that represented Arkansas without relying on collegiate logos.

From local pride to lifestyle brand.
Over time, the Fairchilds transformed their idea into a full line of Arkansas-inspired apparel built around their tagline, “Arkansas Since Forever.” Today, Pigs Brand produces hats, hoodies, polos, and tees that blend Razorback-country pride with a clean, high-end streetwear aesthetic.

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About Fordham Lee Distillery

Location and philosophy.
Fordham Lee Distillery operates from Middletown, Maryland, a region with its own deep ties to agriculture and whiskey making. The distillery emphasizes small-batch, grain-to-glass production, using non-GMO grains sourced from local farms.

Portfolio.
Their lineup includes several bourbons and flavored cream liqueurs—such as Peanut Butter, Blueberry Swirl, and Snickerdoodle—alongside occasional moonshine offerings. A handcrafted 10-gallon copper still, displayed in their tasting room, symbolizes their start as a local operation focused on authenticity and experimentation.

Production approach.
Fordham Lee touts its use of locally grown corn and wheat, traditional pot distillation, and a patient small-batch blending process. The distillery’s growing distribution footprint now reaches multiple states through retail partners and collaborations—Pigs Brand Bourbon being one of its most visible to date.

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Opinion & Commentary

From an Arkansas perspective, this collaboration raises a fair question: why wasn’t an Arkansas distillery chosen for production?

Pigs Brand’s entire identity centers on Arkansas pride—its products carry slogans like “Arkansas Since Forever” and are designed to celebrate the state’s unique culture. Given that foundation, it’s somewhat surprising that their first spirits collaboration didn’t involve one of the state’s established distilleries such as Rock Town Distillery (Little Rock), Fox Trail Distillery (Rogers), or Hot Springs Distilling—each fully capable of producing a small-batch bourbon to Pigs Brand’s specifications.

Perhaps there are unseen details behind the decision. Negotiations, barrel availability, licensing, or specific flavor profiles could all have played a role. Still, for many Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts who champion local production, seeing an Arkansas-branded release distilled outside the state feels like a missed opportunity.

At its core, this is less criticism and more curiosity—a call for transparency and for future collaborations that keep the story, and the spirit, truly Arkansas-made.

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Final Thoughts

Regardless of distilling address, Pigs Brand Bourbon represents a creative step forward for one of Arkansas’s most recognizable independent brands. It shows that homegrown labels can expand into the craft-spirits world—and that local pride can drive interest well beyond apparel.

Whether this is the first of many releases or a one-off experiment, it will be interesting to see if future Pigs Brand spirits find their way home to an Arkansas still.

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Fast Facts

Attribute	Details
Brand	Pigs Brand (Based in Maumelle, AR)
Distillery Partner	Fordham Lee Distillery – Middletown, MD
Category	Bourbon Whiskey (Small Batch)
Barreling	New charred white oak
ABV / Proof	47% / 94 Proof
Announced	July 9, 2025 (Pigs Brand Facebook)
Retail Sighted	Colonial Wines & Spirits – Little Rock

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