CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 2, 2026) — A new independent spirits brand is making the final bottle part of its identity, pairing limited single-cask releases with original artwork honoring extinct species.
Extinct Spirits will debut this month with Extinction Event I, an inaugural release dedicated to the dodo bird. Presales begin Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. Eastern, with a limited number of bottles available through the company’s website.
Each release, called an Extinction Event, will feature a distinctive single-cask spirit available in finite quantities. Once the bottles sell out, the release will enter The Archive, a permanent record documenting the whiskey, the species it honors and its commissioned artwork.
The concept creates a home for individual casks and limited whiskey stocks that may stand apart from the ongoing lineup of an established brand.
Co-founder Cole Hanna brings experience in sourcing, selecting, blending and developing whiskey to the venture. He also is co-founder and co-owner of H.K. Young Bourbon Co., a Kentucky bourbon brand focused on toasted barrel finishing.
Extinct Spirits grew partly from discoveries Hanna made while evaluating whiskey: unusual casks and small stocks that deserved a release of their own.
“I didn’t set out simply to create another limited-release whiskey brand,” Hanna said. “Over the years, I’ve come across unique stocks that you simply don’t see in today’s market. When you find something like that, there is only so much of it, and there may never be anything quite like it again. Those spirits deserve an opportunity to stand on their own and a story worthy of what’s inside the bottle.”
The inaugural release honors the dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius that disappeared in the 17th century. Original commissioned artwork will extend across the bottle and packaging, making the visual presentation part of each release’s identity.
The founders plan to keep the annual release schedule small, selecting only a handful of barrels each year.
“There’s something exciting about intentionally keeping our releases to just a handful of barrels each year,” said co-founder Darrick Jackson. “It gives us the freedom to showcase whiskeys that are truly unique in an industry where so much has started to feel familiar. That’s how we intend to operate one of the most highly curated single-barrel programs in the industry.”
Alongside its focus on species lost to extinction, the company says wildlife conservation will be part of its mission. Extinct Spirits plans to raise awareness and support conservation efforts benefiting vulnerable species and their ecosystems.
“Extinct Spirits gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the stories of what the world has already lost, while also raising awareness and supporting efforts to protect what is still here,” said co-founder Joslyn Hanna. “As the brand grows, we want that purpose to grow with it.”
The launch announcement did not disclose the inaugural whiskey’s age, proof, price or bottle count. Specific conservation beneficiaries and contribution amounts also were not announced.
Consumers can join The Archive and find presale information at extinctspirits.com.
