'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' stars launch whiskey to benefit bar and restaurant workers – Philadelphia Business Journal

Cast members of the FXX hit comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” are making their own whiskey and the proceeds will directly benefit the people the show portrays: Pennsylvania bar and restaurant workers.
Actors Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day — who play Dennis, Mac and Charlie, respectively — launched their Four Walls whiskey label on Thursday. All proceeds from the sales of the label’s two products will go to the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, which supports and advocates for the state’s hospitality and tourism industries. The money will go to the organization’s Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania fund, which was formed to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic by distributing first-come, first-serve grants to industry employees.
One of Four Walls’ products is an Irish-American whiskey aged 15 years, paying homage to the show’s 15th season. Only 755 bottles of what Four Walls calls the “world’s rarest and finest Irish expression for public sale” will be sold at a price of $999.95 each. The single-malt, cast-strength collector’s edition whiskey also comes with autographed cards from the trio and is encased in an engraved wooden and mirrored box. It carries an ABV of 58%.
The second Four Walls product is the “Bartender’s Blend” whiskey, which is priced at $89.95 per bottle. Its blend of Irish whiskeys and Pennsylvania rye whiskey is a nod to the show’s Irish pub setting, while using locally sourced ingredients. The blend has an ABV of 45%.
The whiskeys are currently only available on the Four Walls website, but there will be opportunities for tastings in the coming months. One of those tastings will be at The Met Philadelphia, when the North Broad Street venue hosts “The Always Sunny Podcast” live event on Sept. 18.
Both whiskeys are distilled across the state at Pittsburgh Distilling Company and are expected to arrive to buyers in mid- to late-July.
Not unlike many young businesses, Howerton, McElhenney and Day’s idea was born out of the pandemic.
“We were shooting Season 15 when bars were shutting down all across America,” McElhenney said in a statement. “So we decided to source some really great whiskeys and create something as a tribute to the bar and kick it off by giving back.”
The show itself chronicles the trials, tribulations and oddities that come with owning and working in a Philadelphia bar. Now the whiskey will help support the types of hospitality workers that Howerton, McElhenney and Day play on “It’s Always Sunny” at the show’s fictional Paddy’s Pub.
“We learned just how rare and how collectible old Irish Whiskey is, and we couldn’t believe we got our hands on some and wanted to release it and do something for the people and places that do so much for all of us — the bars and the bartenders,” Day said.
The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association has been the leading voice for the state and city’s restaurant and hotel sectors throughout their pandemic recovery as they worked to stay afloat while navigating business restrictions and reduced traffic. The organization also announced its next CEO, Joe Massaro, on Thursday as current CEO John Longstreet plans to retire at the end of July.
© 2022 American City Business Journals. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated January 1, 2021) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated July 1, 2022). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals.

source