New Jersey’s food and beverage culture has long been defined by its ability to blend tradition, innovation, and community pride. From award-winning restaurants and craft breweries to small-batch distillers and culinary entrepreneurs, the Garden State continues to redefine what a regional food scene can become. Now, a landmark collaboration rooted in Rutgers University history and the personal legacy of one of the state’s most inspiring figures is adding a new chapter to that story. The Eric LeGrand Bourbon Scarlet Knight Series is not only a premium bourbon release—it is a cultural moment for New Jersey, a philanthropic initiative, and a groundbreaking partnership that connects the state’s flagship university with the rapidly growing spirits industry.
For Explore New Jersey readers who follow the evolution of the state’s dining, hospitality, and beverage culture through our coverage of the Garden State’s culinary scene, this collaboration represents one of the most fascinating developments in recent years. The partnership between Eric LeGrand Bourbon and Rutgers University marks the first time in the institution’s long history that the university has officially collaborated with a spirits brand. Launched on October 1, 2025, the inaugural release in the Scarlet Knight Series instantly became a collector’s item for Rutgers alumni, bourbon enthusiasts, and anyone invested in the expanding influence of New Jersey’s food and beverage landscape.
To understand why the Scarlet Knight Series matters so deeply to New Jersey, one must start with Eric LeGrand himself. A former Rutgers football star whose resilience and determination have made him a symbol of perseverance, LeGrand’s journey has transcended athletics. After sustaining a spinal cord injury during a 2010 Rutgers game that left him paralyzed, LeGrand transformed adversity into purpose. Over the years he has become a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for spinal cord injury research. His story resonates not only with Rutgers fans but across the entire state.
In March 2023, LeGrand entered the spirits industry by co-founding Eric LeGrand Whiskey with business partner Brian Axelrod. The brand began as a way to celebrate resilience, camaraderie, and the shared traditions that often surround a good glass of bourbon. What started as a bold entrepreneurial step quickly evolved into something larger—an opportunity to build a brand rooted in philanthropy and New Jersey pride.
The Scarlet Knight Series is the most ambitious expression of that vision so far.
The bourbon itself is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced at Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky, one of the country’s historic distilling operations known for its careful aging processes and balanced mash bills. While the whiskey is produced in Kentucky, the story behind it belongs unmistakably to New Jersey.
Aged for five years and bottled at 92 proof, the inaugural Scarlet Knight Series release delivers a classic yet expressive flavor profile. The mash bill consists of 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 9 percent barley, creating a structure that balances sweetness, spice, and depth. On the nose and palate, drinkers will notice notes of caramel, dark cherry, and toasted oak layered with subtle rye spice. The mouthfeel is described as smooth and rounded, with bold fruit tones and warm vanilla emerging as the bourbon opens up.
But what makes the bourbon especially meaningful to Rutgers fans is its symbolism. The 92 proof level was chosen intentionally to honor LeGrand’s jersey number—46—with the alcohol percentage of 46 percent ABV serving as a subtle tribute to the Scarlet Knights fullback who became one of the university’s most beloved figures.
The bottle itself reinforces that connection. Designed as a collector’s piece, the packaging prominently features the iconic Rutgers “Block R” logo, a symbol instantly recognizable across the state and among the university’s global alumni network. For many Rutgers supporters, owning a bottle of the Scarlet Knight Series feels less like purchasing a spirit and more like preserving a piece of university history.
The road to bringing the bottle to market was not simple. Rutgers University has historically maintained strict guidelines around brand licensing and partnerships, particularly in industries tied to alcohol. Securing approval for the collaboration required a nine-month process during which the brand worked closely with the university to ensure the partnership aligned with Rutgers’ standards and legacy.
That careful approach ultimately resulted in a milestone moment. When the Scarlet Knight Series officially launched in October 2025, it represented the first time Rutgers had formally partnered with a spirits brand at the university level. For many observers of collegiate branding and licensing, the collaboration signaled a shift in how universities may engage with premium lifestyle products tied to alumni culture and fundraising initiatives.
The philanthropic dimension of the project also plays a central role in its identity. Continuing Eric LeGrand’s long-standing commitment to spinal cord injury research, the brand has pledged that $5.20 from every case sold will be donated to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The foundation is one of the most respected organizations supporting paralysis research and quality-of-life programs for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
For LeGrand, this element of the project is not an afterthought—it is the core purpose behind the brand’s growth. Every bottle sold contributes to advancing medical research and support services that could change lives for thousands of people living with paralysis.
The Scarlet Knight Series also fits naturally into New Jersey’s broader food and beverage ecosystem. Across the state, the hospitality and culinary industries continue to evolve rapidly, with craft beverages playing an increasingly prominent role in the region’s identity. Explore New Jersey has documented this transformation extensively through coverage of the Garden State’s restaurants, breweries, wineries, and culinary innovators featured throughout our food and beverage section.
As New Jersey’s dining scene expands, collaborations between local institutions and beverage brands are becoming more common—but few carry the emotional resonance of this project. The Scarlet Knight Series blends sports heritage, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and premium spirits craftsmanship in a way that reflects the spirit of the Garden State itself.
The release has already sparked strong interest among collectors and bourbon enthusiasts. Priced at $54.99, the bottle is available at select New Jersey liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, as well as through the Eric LeGrand Whiskey online platform. The price point positions the bourbon as both an accessible premium spirit and a commemorative item that celebrates Rutgers pride.
Importantly, the Scarlet Knight Series is not a one-time release. It is designed as an ongoing collection, with additional “drops” planned in future years. Each release is expected to carry new elements of Rutgers symbolism while maintaining the high-quality bourbon profile that defines the inaugural edition.
For fans and collectors, that means the opportunity to build a series that captures evolving chapters of both the brand and the university’s legacy.
The Scarlet Knight Series is also only one part of the broader Eric LeGrand Whiskey portfolio, which has already produced several notable limited editions. Among them is the Eric LeGrand Single Barrel 7-Year-Old, an ultra-exclusive release limited to just 120 bottles. Bottled at a powerful 136.4 proof and featuring a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 4 percent malted barley, the single-barrel offering represents the brand’s most intense and rare expression.
Another milestone release came during the holiday season of 2024 with the Eric LeGrand Single Barrel Bourbon Holiday Edition. That release was aged four years and bottled at 104 proof as a tribute to LeGrand’s jersey number 52 from his earlier football career. Approximately 1,920 bottles were produced, making it a coveted piece for early supporters of the brand.
The company has also explored creative collaborations outside the whiskey world. In June 2024, Eric LeGrand Whiskey partnered with Nicholas Creamery for a special Peanut Butter Bourbon Ice Cream released in celebration of National Bourbon Day. The dessert collaboration demonstrated how the brand could intersect with New Jersey’s culinary community in ways that go beyond traditional spirits.
Together, these releases reveal a brand strategy built on storytelling and community connection rather than simple product launches. Each limited edition ties back to LeGrand’s life, football career, or philanthropic mission.
That approach resonates strongly in New Jersey, where sports culture, university pride, and local food traditions often intersect. Rutgers football games, tailgates, alumni events, and local restaurant gatherings all share one thing in common: the sense of community that comes from celebrating shared experiences.
The Scarlet Knight Series captures that feeling in liquid form.
For the state’s hospitality industry, the bourbon also presents opportunities for creative integration into menus and cocktail programs. Restaurants and bars across New Jersey have already begun featuring the bourbon in specialty cocktails inspired by Rutgers traditions and autumn game-day culture.
As Explore New Jersey continues to highlight the Garden State’s vibrant culinary landscape, the Eric LeGrand Bourbon Scarlet Knight Series stands out as a compelling example of how food, beverage, sports heritage, and philanthropy can intersect to create something meaningful.
The project is not just about bourbon. It is about legacy, resilience, and the evolving identity of New Jersey’s food and beverage culture.
With future releases already planned and enthusiasm building among Rutgers fans and bourbon collectors alike, the Scarlet Knight Series appears poised to become one of the most distinctive spirits collaborations ever associated with a major university.
For Eric LeGrand, the journey from Rutgers football field to entrepreneur and advocate has been defined by perseverance. Through this collaboration, that journey now extends into the world of premium bourbon, where every bottle poured carries a story of determination, community pride, and the enduring spirit of the Scarlet Knights.
In New Jersey’s ever-expanding culinary and beverage scene, that story is just getting started.
