This Whiskey Brand Donates 100% of Its Profits, and Its Latest Bottling Is a Blend of WhistlePig Rye and Black Button Bourbon

Spirits brand Good Deeds released a bourbon and rye, intending to donate 100% of its proceeds to the STEPUP organization. (Photo: Good Deeds)

Good Deeds Spirits announced its second whiskey release, Good Deeds Whiskey (Batch 2), on Dec. 9. The expression is a blend of rye whiskey from popular brand WhistlePig and bourbon from Rochester, New York’s Black Button. Proceeds from sales of the brand will benefit the STEPUP Foundation, an organization founded by the American Craft Spirits Association.

For the release, WhistlePig, Big Thirst Inc., As Above So Below Distillery and Black Button Distilling donated their talents, bottles, closures, and labels for the release. The brands shared that the whiskey was blended and bottled at Black Button Distillery.

The STEPUP Foundation is a spirits training program for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to enter the industry.

“Good Deeds mirrors the energy and passion behind the STEPUP Foundation, a diverse blend of skills and talents married together to create an unparalleled product,” STEPUP Foundation President and ACSA CEO Margie A.S. Lehrman said in a news release. “This incredible group of distillers has already made a significant contribution to STEPUP through their inaugural release, and we are honored to collaborate on Batch 2.”

Good Deeds launched in 2021 and made a name for itself as the first spirits brand to donate 100% of its profits to nonprofit organizations. The project was a collaboration between spirits industry professionals intending to be a positive force in the spirits industry.

For the brand’s second release, Good Deeds received donations from Phoenix Packaging, Niagara Label Co., WhistlePig Whiskey, Black Button Distilling, Big Thirst Inc., and As Above So Below Distillery. The whiskey was made in August from a blend of WhistlePig Rye whiskey and Black Button Bourbon.

The brand hired FEW Spirits Head Distiller Erin Lee and STEPUP alum Liza Rhoades to put the whiskey together. Rhoades is the Director of Operations at WhistlePig in Vermont.

Black Button distiller Jack Scardino, Good Deeds Executive Director Sailor Guevara and STEPUP intern Erica Paul also participated in the whiskey’s creation.

“I feel a deep commitment to support this mission,” Guevara said. “It is vital that we continue to champion access and support in the craft spirits industry for underrepresented individuals. The overwhelming support for this project during challenging times for craft producers highlights the strong, collaborative spirit that defines the American craft spirits industry.”

Good Deeds Bourbon & Rye Blended Whiskey Tasting Notes, Via the Brand

Nose: Maple with vanilla bean and drizzled caramel.

Taste: Stone fruits like baked apples with marzipan, vanilla and brown sugar.

Finish: Long, with baking spice and sweet fruit.