Eric LeGrand, former college football defensive tackle, launched his first-ever whiskey brand, Eric LeGrand Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

In 2010, Eric LeGrand’s life changed when he became paralyzed after a tackle while playing football for Rutgers University. Through his ongoing rehabilitation journey, Eric has been inspired to appreciate the finer things in life which led him to team up with spirits entrepreneur Brian Axelrod to create a whiskey brand.

The duo is also committed to supporting those living with and impacted by paralysis by finding the cure for spinal cord injuries. This motivated them to make the promise to donate $5.20 of every case sold of Eric LeGrand Bourbon to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

“We are grateful for Eric’s long partnership with the Reeve Foundation and his dedication to carrying forward Christopher Reeve’s legacy and dreams for the spinal cord injury community – a world of empty wheelchairs,” Colleen Coppla, Chief of Development at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, said in a news release. “With resolute commitment to his passions, Eric has become a leading entrepreneur and we’re thrilled to be able to support and benefit from his ventures. Eric LeGrand Bourbon helps to achieve Eric’s goal of getting us to the endzone – cures for spinal cord injury and paralysis – and we couldn’t be more excited to be involved.”

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. To date, the LeGrand team has raised close to $2 million for spinal cord research.

“My recovery journey has mirrored that of my bourbon. Both take precision, patience, and trust in the process.” said LeGrand. “Eric LeGrand Bourbon offers a way for those who are living with paralysis and those who are not impaired by it, to enjoy sipping on a quality bourbon, while coming together to support a foundation that gives back to anyone impacted by this condition.”

“Teaming up with Eric to create a product that gives back to those that have been impacted by paralysis has truly been such an eye-opening business endeavor,” said Axelrod. “It feels good knowing that we have developed a high-quality bourbon that has the potential to change someone’s life.”

Eric LeGrand Bourbon is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. The liquid is created with heartland grown corn, limestone purified water, plus the freshest rye and barley available, and then aged no less than two years in charred oak barrels. It is now available to purchase in 750ML bottles online and distributed by Allied Beverage Group in the state of New Jersey and distributed by KEG 1 River City in Kentucky, with additional states soon to follow.

For more information, visit www.ericlegrandwhiskey.com.