Branding on the vodkas and the bourbon pays tribute to the family’s longtime love of the Bahamas. (photo courtesy of the brand)

King Spirits founder Steven Busch is swimming out on his own. His father, the legendary August Anheuser Busch III, was born into brewing royalty, leading the Anheuser-Busch company from the 1970s until his retirement in 2006. With input from his dad, Steven’s now cannonballing into the spirit world, making a splash with a new small-batch product line that includes Walker’s Cay Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($37), Hope Town Vodka ($24), and a new Hope Town Lime vodka ($24).

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Inspired by a long tradition of family sportfishing trips, Steven worked with marine artist Carey Chen to design custom labels for the products. Distilled six times for a clean, smooth sip, Charleston S.C.-produced Hope Town is a natural choice for conscientious vodka drinkers. Meanwhile, made in Owensboro, Ky., Walker’s Cay (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley) rests in new Missouri oak barrels, finishing with sherry cask staves to impart a distinctive flavor that hints at vanilla and spice.

As the namesakes suggest, the Bahamas remain near and dear to the Busch family’s heart. To support Bahamian communities affected by hurricanes, Steven has spearheaded the King Spirits Giving Initiative, with a portion of each Walker’s Cay Bourbon purchase going to local community-driven non-profit organizations, namely Hope Town United, Green Turtle Cay Foundation, and the Restore Hope Foundation. The products are available online at the mashandgrape website.