The 8 Most Bizarre Booze Releases of 2023

2023 was a wild year for many, and something was definitely in the water — or ethanol? — on the booze front.

The flavored category is expected to achieve a projected revenue of 47.1 billion by 2030, according to Vantage Market Research, and a major trend we’ve seen this year is flavored spirits of all kinds. We’ve seen the usual suspects over the years: peanut butter whiskeys, watermelon-flavored tequilas and stone fruit rum. But what about the weird stuff?

The wild and wacky beverages on this list definitely raised a few eyebrows with each release. Ranging from weirdly wonderful to mildly nauseating, the following list features some of the most bizarre alcoholic beverages that launched in 2023.

8 Most Bizarre Booze Releases of 2023

Tamworth Distilling Trout Brandy

Learn More

You may be inclined to read it twice, but there’s nothing fishy about that subheading. Yes, Trout Brandy is a thing, and this offering was released by Tamworth Distilling in November.

The New Hampshire-based brand has earned itself the reputation as the “Willy Wonka” of distilleries due to its infamous release of crab-infused whiskey, and this aquatic-themed spirit also made waves when it launched. Tamworth Saison de Frai Trout Brandy is a blend of Tamworth’s VSOP apple brandy, sustainably farmed smoked trout and fish eggs. According to the brand, it has a texture reminiscent of bubble tea.

A 200-milliliter bottle hosts a suggested retail price of $65, and proceeds of the profits from each bottle purchased go to trout conservation efforts.

Doritos x Empirical Nacho Cheese Flavored Spirit

Learn More

We thought we’d seen it all this year until Doritos and Empirical made a cheesy splash on Dec. 13 with the launch of a nacho cheese-flavored spirit.

The chip company tapped the uncategorized spirits company to extract the “essence” of Doritos through a vacuum distillation process. Vacuum distillation uses lower temperatures than regular distillation and Empirical claims it preserves the “full spectrum” of flavors from Doritos. The brands recommend serving the 42% ABV-spirit in a Bloody Mary, Margarita or an Old Fashioned.

It appears Empirical sold out of this cheesy and unexpected libation fairly quickly, but the brand claims it is “working really hard,” to bring back this bottle of boozy nacho goodness. We just wonder if there will be a Cool Ranch flavor on the horizon.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society “Exp. 01”: Chili-Infused Whisky

Learn More

Exp. 01 hails from the brilliantly twisted minds of the mavericks over at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and definitely packs a peppery kick. Released in early August, this spicy spirit is the result of SMWS’s collaboration with a “Thrill Engineer,” Professor Brendan Walker.

Walker and the SMWS added 100 slices of Scotch bonnet chilies to a 10-year-old single malt. Though this spicy choice stripped the spirit of its title as a Scotch whisky, Walker claims the act of drinking it triggers a dopamine hit.

The spirit was created in celebration of the SMWS’s 40th anniversary and was praised for its food-friendly versatility. Those at the SMWS claimed it paired with chocolate tarts — and even anchovies! Eventually, Exp. 01 was used in an ice cream.

Those interested in acquiring this limited-edition experimental spirit can snag themselves a bottle with a 12-month membership to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Dunkin’ Donuts Spiked Iced Coffee and Tea

Learn More

They say “America runs on Dunkin’,” but let’s be real: It’s not the donuts; it’s the drinks. Everybody knows that.

It seems like amid an RTD and flavored booze craze, spiked iced coffees and teas from this Massachusetts-based brand would be a no-brainer. News of Dunkin’s spiked line of iced coffee and tea RTDs made headlines in August.

These sweet and caffeinated boozy drinks are made from malt-based alcohol. The line of spiked iced coffees clocks in at 6% ABV and comes in four flavors: Original, Caramel, Mocha and Vanilla. The spiked tea line has a slightly more modest 5% ABV and comes in Slightly Sweet, Half & Half, Strawberry Dragonfruit and Mango Pineapple flavors. If you want to learn more about Dunkin’s latest boozy line, you can read a full review at Tequila Raiders.

Tamworth Distilling Garden Sylvan Mist Gin

Learn More

Another offering from Tamworth cracked made the list of most bizarre releases, this time a sprayable perfume gin. This gin was released in April and also happens to be drinkable.

Sylvan Mist is the byproduct of the imagination of Steven Grasse, Tamworth’s founder. Grasse read a book on the history of spirits and learned that they were a happy accident as the result of the search for perfume. Grasse decided to craft a gin perfume because the relationship between the two seemed “very symbiotic.”

This beautifully packaged gin is priced at $80.00 for a 100 ml atomizer. Grasse suggests misting this floral gin atop any cocktail.

Elvis “Midnight Snack” Whiskey

Learn More

Fans of The King will be sure to want to pick up a bottle of this 70-proof boozy take on Elvis Presley’s favorite midnight snack. A flavored whiskey that tastes like peanut butter, banana and bacon (yes, bacon), Elvis Whiskey’s Midnight Snack is definitely decadent.

Grain and Barrel Spirits launched the Elvis Whiskey line in September 2021, with a whiskey and rye expression both bottled at 90 proof. The whiskeys are bottled in Elvis’ home state of Tennessee.

According to the brand, Elvis’ cook, Pauline Nicholson, used to whip up sandwiches fried in bacon grease made from peanut butter, banana and bacon. The whiskey was released in April and is described by the brand as a “balanced blend of sweet, savory, salty and smoky.”

Midnight Snack has a suggested retail price of $34.99 and can be found at stores across the U.S., Caskers and ReserveBar.

KFC Dead Man’s Fingers 11 Herbed and Spiced Rum

Learn More

In August, KFC partnered with the Dead Man’s Fingers Rum brand and released a rum flavored with the fried chicken chain’s signature 11 herbs and spices. Though both brands remain mum about the secret spice recipe, they divulge that there is a bit of black and white pepper.

Dead Man’s Fingers is a rum brand based out of the United Kingdom, and it is known for its expressions of spiced rum and tequila. Though it appears there is no fried chicken in this rum, Dead Man’s Fingers claims 11 Herbed and Spiced Rum has aromas of vanilla, caramel, nutmeg and pepper. Dead Man’s Fingers suggests pairing this spicy rum with cola for a cocktail that’s “finger-lickin’ good.”

The rum was available for purchase for a limited time on Amazon, but this limited release appears to have sold out unless both brands bring it back.

Spritz Society Pickle Sparkling Wine

Learn More

The seeds for Spritz Society’s Pickle Sparkling Wine were planted as an April Fools Prank in 2022. Yet, in July, the high-profile Kraft Heintz-owned Claussen pickles decided to bring this clever little prank to life, because why not?

Spritz Society’s pickle sparkling wine cans host a 6% ABV and are 120 calories each. Unsurprisingly, they mark Claussen’s first time in the beverage space. And hey, maybe they actually taste great if you’re a fan of salty spritzes.

The minds behind the collaboration chose to bring sparkling pickle wine to life because they believe the pickle is “such a craveable food.” You can pick up a pack of these pickle-flavored potions for $25 — if you can find them in stock.

It appears that somewhere out there, a cult of sparkling pickle wine devotees have been purchasing more than their fair share of the stuff, as Spritz Society is currently out of stock. Well, you snooze you lose, we guess.

Join the Whiskey Raiders Bottle of the Month Club, where you will receive hard-to-find bottles curated by Whiskey Raiders staff with a 90+ rating on whiskeyraiders.com plus live virtual tastings. Sign up here!