The independent spirits brand pairs highly curated single-cask releases with original artwork honoring extinct species. Its inaugural release, Extinction Event I, celebrates the Dodo Bird.
While many whiskey brands are built around a distillery, a family legacy, or a particular style of whiskey, Extinct Spirits is taking a different approach: finding exceptional spirits that may never exist again and giving each one a story of its own.
Launching in November 2026, Extinct Spirits is a new independent spirits brand founded by Cole Hanna, Joslyn Hanna, and Darrick Jackson. Its concept combines distinctive single-cask spirits, commissioned original artwork, and stories of species lost to time. Each release is called an Extinction Event, and once the final bottle is sold, that release becomes part of a permanent collection known as The Archive.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with the team in a limited consulting capacity, providing feedback along the way on elements of the brand’s positioning, design, pricing, and overall presentation. It’s been exciting to see the concept develop from those early conversations into an actual brand and inaugural release. The vision and execution belong to founders Cole, Darrick, and Joslyn, and I’m looking forward to seeing where they take it.
The idea is simple but compelling: some spirits are too distinctive to be replicated, and their stories deserve to live beyond the last bottle.
One Release. One Story. One Extinction Event.
Rather than building a traditional lineup of recurring expressions, Extinct Spirits intends to operate around a carefully curated selection of finite releases.
The company sources distinctive single-cask spirits, pairing each with an extinct species and original commissioned artwork. That artwork extends beyond the bottle label and becomes part of the overall presentation and collectible identity of each release.
Once a particular Extinction Event sells through, it won’t be recreated. Its spirit, species, and artwork will instead be preserved in The Archive, creating a permanent record of each release.
For co-founder Cole Hanna, the concept grew out of years spent sourcing, selecting, blending, and developing whiskey.
Hanna, who is also co-founder and co-owner of H.K. Young Bourbon Co., says he repeatedly encountered individual casks and limited whiskey stocks that stood apart but didn’t necessarily fit into an existing brand or product lineup.
Those discoveries became the foundation for Extinct Spirits.
Rather than trying to build a traditional brand around repeatable expressions, the company wants to give those unusual finds a platform of their own.
“I didn’t set out simply to create another limited-release whiskey brand. 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.”
Co-Founder of Extinct & H.K. Young, Cole “C.G.” Hanna
Extinction Event I: The Dodo Bird
Extinct Spirits will make its debut with Extinction Event I, an inaugural single-cask release honoring the Dodo Bird (Raphus cucullatus).
Native to Mauritius, the flightless bird disappeared during the 17th century and has since become one of the most recognizable symbols of extinction.
The Dodo provides the inspiration for the first release’s commissioned artwork and collectible presentation, establishing the creative direction for what the company hopes will become an ongoing series.
While the species and artwork provide the narrative, the whiskey itself remains the centerpiece.
Co-founder Darrick Jackson sees the limited nature of the program as an opportunity to pursue spirits that might otherwise never receive their own dedicated release.
The company’s intention is to showcase just a handful of barrels each year, prioritizing individual character and curation over volume.
That’s an interesting proposition in a market where limited releases have become increasingly common, but genuinely distinctive single-cask selections still have to earn their place.
More Than a Whiskey Brand: A Conservation Mission
The extinction theme isn’t intended to stop at the bottle.
Wildlife conservation has been part of the company’s vision from the beginning. Extinct Spirits says it intends to raise awareness and support conservation efforts focused on vulnerable species and their ecosystems.
The distinction is worth making: while each release honors a species that has already disappeared, the broader mission also looks toward protecting those that remain.
Co-founder Joslyn Hanna describes the brand as an opportunity to recognize what the world has lost while supporting efforts to preserve what is still here.
The company hasn’t yet detailed specific conservation partnerships or financial commitments, so those will be worth watching as the brand develops.
“The idea is simple but compelling: some spirits are too distinctive to be replicated, and their stories deserve to live beyond the last bottle.”
Who Is Behind Extinct Spirits?
The founding team brings together whiskey industry experience and the creative vision behind the brand.
Cole “CG” Hanna has spent years working with whiskey sourcing, selection, blending, and product development. He is also co-founder and co-owner of H.K. Young Bourbon Co., a Kentucky bourbon brand known for exploring toasted barrel finishing.
Darrick Jackson is also part of the H.K. Young connection, bringing existing industry relationships and experience into the new venture. The overlap between the teams gives Extinct Spirits an interesting foundation, while allowing it to establish an identity and release philosophy of its own.
Joslyn Hanna joins them as co-founder, helping bring the conservation mission and broader vision into the company’s identity.
Extinct Spirits is also a veteran-owned and woman co-owned business.
When Can You Get Extinction Event I?
Extinct Spirits plans to begin presales for its inaugural Extinction Event I release on:
- Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Availability: Limited online release
- Website: extinctspirits.com
Interested buyers can also join The Archive through the company’s website and follow along on social media at @extinctspirits.
As with any single-cask release, availability will be finite. Once the bottles are gone, Extinction Event I will become part of the brand’s permanent archive rather than a recurring product.
Why This Matters
There is no shortage of new whiskey brands entering the market, and there is certainly no shortage of limited releases.
What makes Extinct Spirits worth watching is the combination of its sourcing philosophy and its willingness to build a brand around individual releases rather than a permanent lineup.
The concept also gives each bottle an identity beyond its age statement, proof, or mash bill. The artwork, species, and historical story create another layer of connection, while the conservation mission gives the brand something to build toward beyond selling whiskey.
Of course, the concept alone won’t carry a whiskey brand. The liquid has to deliver, particularly when you’re asking consumers to pay attention to a release that may never come around again.
That’s why the inaugural bottle matters so much.
I’ve already had an opportunity to taste Extinction Event I, and my initial impression is extremely positive. I’ll have a full review coming next week, ahead of the anticipated release, with a closer look at what’s actually inside the bottle.
For now, Extinct Spirits has my attention.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
Extinct Spirits is entering the market with a concept that gives every release a reason to exist beyond simply putting another bottle on a shelf.
A highly curated single-cask program, original commissioned artwork, a permanent archive, and an interest in wildlife conservation make for an unusual combination. More importantly, the brand appears to understand that the story needs to start with what’s in the glass.
Having had a small opportunity to contribute to the development of the brand, it’s particularly rewarding to see this launch come together. But the real credit belongs to Cole, Darrick, and Joslyn for taking the concept and bringing it to life.
I’ve tasted the inaugural release, and I’m looking forward to sharing more. If the rest of the brand’s releases follow the same level of thought and execution, Extinct Spirits could be the name to follow as the independent spirits landscape continues to evolve.
Extinction Event I is expected to open presales November 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Keep an eye out for my full review next week.
Learn more at extinctspirits.com.
About Extinct Spirits
Founded by Cole Hanna, Joslyn Hanna, and Darrick Jackson, Extinct Spirits is an independent spirits brand built around distinctive, limited-quantity single-cask releases. Each release, known as an Extinction Event, pairs a carefully selected spirit with an extinct species and original commissioned artwork. Once a release sells out, its story, artwork, and spirit are preserved in The Archive, creating a permanent record of each unique bottling.
The founding team brings established whiskey industry experience to the venture, with connections to H.K. Young Bourbon Co. Cole Hanna is a co-founder of H.K. Young, while Darrick Jackson serves as its sales manager. Joslyn Hanna is also involved in the broader H.K. Young business. Together, the founders are bringing that industry experience into a distinct brand focused on highly curated spirits, creative storytelling, and limited releases.
Beyond whiskey, Extinct Spirits has a conservation-minded mission, using each release to raise awareness of species lost to time while supporting efforts to protect vulnerable wildlife and their ecosystems. The company is veteran-owned and woman co-owned.
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