Matthew Lillard Joins Forces With Dungeons and Dragons Web Series ‘Critical Role’ to Launch Fantasy Whiskey From the ‘Lore of the Show’
Find Familiar Spirits unveiled its latest release: the recreation of a fictional liquor from the “Critical Role” universe. (Photo: Find Familiar Spirits)
The talented creators behind the popular Dungeons and Dragons streaming series, “Critical Role,” are joining forces with “Five Nights at Freddy’s” actor, Matthew Lillard, and his Find Familiar Spirits brand to recreate a fictional whiskey from the “Critical Role” universe. Described as “the world’s first fandom-centric spirit,” Sandskeg’s Hide is rolling out for pre-sale starting April 30 through May 1. General sales will begin from May 2 and run through May 23.
Find Familiar Spirits describes the release as a small-batch bourbon that was custom-blended by Quest End’s Master Blender Ale Ochoa. Ochoa brings her talents from TX Whiskey, a Fort Worth, Texas-based brand known for playing with experimental finishes. The bourbon was finished in a combination of vermouth and sherry barrels.
“We wanted to do something special for our fans, and we wanted to pull something from the actual lore of the show,” “Critical Role” Licensing Manager Shaunette De Tie said in a statement.
Sandskeg’s Hide is a mythical beverage that appeared on-screen in Episode 65 of the series. It was introduced as a liquor made from the bile of an 8-foot-tall insect-like creature called a Sandkheg.
The bourbon is housed in emerald-green glass with a distressed label and wax seal, complete with a bespoke medallion bedecking the neck of the bottle. The whiskey is presented in a box meant to depict a shipping crate from the mythical world, with an Exandrian journal that tells the story of this in-world liquor.
The story is written by actress and Game Master Jasmine Bhullar and illustrated by renowned fantasy artist Tyler Walpole. A custom-made map depicting the fictional world within the “Critical Role” Universe made by mythical cartographer Devin Rue is included with each bottle purchased.
“From the gorgeous in-world Exandrian bottle design to the delicious whiskey blend to the incredible all-new “Critical Role” art and story in the journal, we’re insanely proud of what we’ve created with Sandkheg’s Hide,” Lillard said. “We think Critters are going to freaking love it.”
Find Familiar describes the whiskey as possessing aromas of baked orchard fruit, warm spices, shortbread and oak. The vermouth and sherry finish adds a layer of herbaceousness and dried red fruit qualities.
“Critical Role” rose to prominence with the release of a web series that involved a group of professional voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons. The series’ popularity skyrocketed and in 2019, the group raised funds on Kickstarter to launch an animated show titled The Legend of Vox Machina. Amazon picked up the series and ordered 14 episodes which released in 2022.
In a hilarious video considered one of the series’s “hidden gems,” Sandskeg’s Hide was introduced as an “expensive” acidic drink that numbs the tongue, and a snippet of the video from Gamemaster and Critical Role fan, TP Burrow, can be watched here.
Find Familiar Spirits and “Critical Role” made a trailer for the whiskey release, which can be viewed below:
About Find Familiar Spirits
Matthew Lillard announced his venture into the spirits game in August.
The actor known for many roles, including playing Shaggy in the live-action “Scooby-Doo” movies, joined forces with longtime buddy and screenwriter Justin Ware. The duo sought out the help of Blue Run Spirits co-founder Tim Sparapani to bring their whiskey brand to life.
Find Familiar Spirits released its debut expression, “Paladin” after the Dungeons and Dragons character. The brand’s follow-up expression “Rogue” was released in February.
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