‘Her Resilience Captivated Us All’: Wyoming Whiskey Commemorates Slain Beloved Grizzly Bear With Bourbon

On Friday, Wyoming Whiskey unveiled a limited-edition bourbon paying tribute to Grizzly 399, a beloved icon of the Grand Teton National Park killed in a car accident at the end of October.

Clocking at 7 feet and nearly 400 pounds, 399 was recognized as the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the region. Sightings of the 28-year-old matriarch and her dozens of cubs garnered a cult following in the years before her death, inspiring an Instagram fan page with over 60,000 followers and a dedicated tour agency named in her honor. Many consider her to have been the most photographed bear in North America over the past two decades.

On Oct. 22,  the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that 399 had been struck and killed by a passing vehicle. The news inspired a wave of obituaries from locals, conservationists and tourists; Yellowstone tour guide Jack Bayles remarked to The New York Times: “There will be other bears, but there will never be another 399.”

This photo provided by Grand Teton National Park shows Grizzly bear No. 399 and her one-year-old cub after emerging from hibernation, May 16, 2023. (Photo: C. Adams/National Park Service via AP)

Wyoming Whiskey intends to honor her legacy in drinkable form.

Dubbed “Queen of the Tetons” in homage to a PBS documentary aired in May, the brand’s latest bourbon is limited to just 720 bottles, each of which boast an ABV of 49.5%. Wyoming Whiskey says it’ll accompany the release with a $20,000 donation to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation. In addition, the 399th bottle in the batch will be auctioned to support wildlife conservation efforts.

Those hoping to pick up the release can find it at select retailers across Wyoming at a suggested price of $84.99. The bourbon is said to boast aromas of field berries and cinnamon spice alongside a palate of white chocolate mocha, red fruit and rich brown sugar.

“Grizzly 399 earned her title as the Queen of the Tetons by placing her 28 years of life on display,” Wyoming Whiskey co-founder David DeFazio said in a news release. “She was shrewd, which resulted in her resilience. And her resilience captivated us all.”

Since its founding in 2006, Wyoming Whiskey has held a special kinship with both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Honorific releases have paid tribute to the likes of Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Snake River and 1872, the year that President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law.

For more information on its latest bourbon, find the Wyoming Whiskey website here.

Wyoming Whiskey Queen of the Tetons Tasting Notes, Per the Brand

• Nose: Honey and ripe field berries, layered with a gentle dusting of cinnamon spice
• Taste: White chocolate mocha, with notes of red fruit and rich brown sugar
• Finish: Lingering hints of candied ginger and soft vanilla