Hometown whiskey champs, Reservoir Distillery’s latest charity project involves a collaboration with well-known local muralist Ed Trask and Jason Lefton of the laser etching shop, Big Secret.
Proceeds from an ongoing auction running the 10 days leading up to Christmas will go to the Holli Fund, which provides emergency grants to local food workers experiencing crisis.
According to a blog post on Reservoir’s website, Trask will create “ten sets of two glasses and two bottles—glassware etched with his artwork and then filled with Reservoir whiskey. The backdrop of etched glass, when placed together, will reveal the landscape of one of Richmond’s historic landmarks, the arched CSX A Line bridge—a true piece of architectural beauty stretching across the James River. These sets will then be auctioned from Ed’s Instagram (@edtrask) and Facebook accounts for the 10 days leading up to Christmas—one on each day.”
Reservoir is crafting a special bourbon rye blend, a nod to Trask’s favorite grain combo that he used to make for himself working at Millie’s Diner. A second bottle will “hold our barrel aged bourbon finished off in a Burgundy Grand Cru wine cask, a spirit as unique as the artist himself,” the website notes.
This is the second time that Reservoir has worked with Trask, who created the LOVEwork mural outside its business in Scott’s Addition for the distillery’s 10th anniversary.
The blog post also notes that Trask was interesting in helping out the charity because of his punk rock touring days (as a drummer with Avail and Kepone), with the artist noting: “Restaurants gave a backbone to all touring musicians. You come back from a tour and you could find a shift in between gigs. Waiting as a profession was respected, but it was my steppingstone. It made the wait time so much better, and it made me who I am … Collaboration is everything. We can’t see these restaurants go out of business.”
The first auction will be held on Monday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., visit the distillery’s website to learn more.