Kash Patel Reportedly Gifted Personalized ‘KA$H’ Woodford Reserve Bourbon Bottles to FBI Staff

FBI Director Kash Patel (right) and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announce that former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted April 28 at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. (Photo: AP/Cliff Owen)

A new report from The Atlantic, published Wednesday evening, alleges that FBI Director Kash Patel has been distributing personalized bottles of Woodford Reserve bourbon to FBI staff, government officials and civilians while conducting official business, adding another layer to the growing controversy surrounding Patel’s alleged relationship with alcohol.

The report by journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick claims Patel regularly travels with custom-engraved bottles bearing the phrases “Kash Patel FBI Director” and “Ka$h,” alongside an FBI shield and references to his status as the bureau’s ninth director. One bottle surfaced on an online auction site before being purchased by The Atlantic, according to The Atlantic.

A bottle of FBI Director Kash Patel’s custom Woodford Reserve bourbon. (Photo: The Atlantic

According to The Atlantic, Patel has distributed the bottles during FBI-related events and official travel, including a trip to Milan during the Winter Olympics earlier this year. The report also alleges that Department of Justice aircraft were used to transport cases of bourbon.

The FBI did not deny the existence of the bottles. In a statement to The Atlantic, a bureau spokesperson said the gifts were consistent with longstanding traditions involving commemorative items exchanged by senior FBI officials.

“The bottles in question are part of a tradition in the FBI that started well over a decade ago, long before Director Patel arrived,” the spokesperson said, according to the report.

However, several current and former FBI officials quoted in the story said they had never previously seen an FBI director distribute personally branded liquor bottles, particularly to civilians outside the bureau.

A spokesperson for Woodford Reserve said the engravings would have been added after purchase through a customization service, according to The Atlantic.

Ongoing Debate Around Alcohol and Patel’s Conduct

The new allegations build on previous reporting from The Atlantic regarding Patel’s alleged drinking habits and leadership style at the FBI.

Last month, Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick over an earlier report alleging excessive drinking and erratic behavior. The Atlantic’s initial article included anecdotes describing Patel as being so seemingly intoxicated that his security detail struggled to wake him. According to the report, a request was made for breach equipment usually used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams last year because Patel was unreachable behind locked doors.

Patel strongly denied the accusations in the article, calling the reporting “categorically false.”

That report was soon followed by a push from the House Democrats calling for the FBI director complete an alcohol screening test following the allegations.

The latest Atlantic report claims some FBI personnel view the personalized bourbon gifts as inappropriate within an agency that has historically maintained strict standards regarding alcohol use and professional conduct.

Among the incidents described in the story is an alleged dispute at the FBI training facility in Quantico, where a missing bottle reportedly prompted threats of polygraphs and internal investigations.

The story also highlights Patel’s broader embrace of personal branding and merchandise, including apparel, challenge coins and accessories connected to his public persona and political following. Within the story are photographs of Patel wearing a scarf, sweatshirt and hat all branded after himself. Other photos show multiple Kash Patel challenge coins and Kash Patel-branded Nike sneakers.

According to The Atlantic, Patel previously operated cigar and merchandise ventures before becoming FBI director and continues to maintain close ties to branded promotional products associated with his name.

The controversy arrives as Patel remains under heightened political scrutiny following the earlier allegations surrounding alcohol use and workplace conduct at the FBI.