Date 5.22.2020
This week, we spoke with Bryan Avery, Head of Sales and Marketing at Horse Soldier Bourbon. You can read more about their incredible story on the website.
WE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE BANDED TOGETHER AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION. OUR DEDICATION TO SERVING OTHERS AND PASSION FOR ADVENTURE HAVE LED US ON A NEW QUEST.
HORSE SOLDIER BOURBON WHISKEY IS AUTHENTIC, AWARD-WINNING, AND ALL-AMERICAN.
Written by Braden Worrell
Horse Soldier Bourbon is ingrained with storytelling. From the eye-catching label design featuring the mounted soldier, to the fact that every ounce of their whiskey touches distilling equipment made out of repurposed steel from the World Trade Centers. When you see one of their bottles you instinctively want to learn more.
Bryan Avery receives weekly fundraising requests from 501c3’s asking for a bottle of their amazing bourbon to auction off. However when IBCF reached out, Bryan was drawn into IBCF’s own story.
“It’s part of our mission to do charitable work and to support the communities that we’re in where we can. As a small company, we can’t always just write a check, but we can give most people a bottle signed by some of the Horse Soldiers and then the organization can auction that off and make more than we ever could by writing a check.”
Bryan attended the 2019 Through the Looking Glass Gala and was able to visit ISBVI during his trip to get a behind the scenes look and experienced a shift in his perspective.
“When Laura took me on a tour of the facility and told me about the work that they’re doing, I was like, ‘Holy cow! Why wouldn’t we get involved?’ I don’t have a connection to anyone with a visual impairment, but to meet some of the faculty, understand what their mission is and where their struggles are financially, it drew me in personally. I now have a 180-degree different perspective. I love that when you get into the school, you see kids that are highly motivated. It’s just like when you meet a veteran who has unfortunately lost his leg or arm and they're working their butt off. It's inspiring and when you meet these kids that are pushing themselves to a point that the average person who is not sight impaired doesn't do, that's huge to me.”
“I feel a little bad about the way I used to think or judge others based on their appearance, and assuming things about how they handled their life, without knowing their story. Now I love hearing and learning about those stories. So if I can help support a cause to raise money for a new tablet for a kid that uses a different device, then I’m happy to support at whatever level we can, even if we never know how much that means to them.
My experience with IBCF has been eye-opening, no question about it. I love it and it makes me want to try to do more."
Stay tuned for a virtual “Whiskey and War Stories” event with a few of the Horse Soldiers benefiting IBCF.
