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There’s a new school-sanctioned way for UNC sports fans to celebrate their team — drinking hard liquor.
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UNC Athletics teamed up with Cape Fear Distillery to create the “Spirit of Carolina” collection — four alcoholic products designed to celebrate UNC’s “traditions and fan culture.”
There’s Chapel Thrill Vodka, “inspired by the town’s energy.” Or maybe Old East Whiskey is more your speed, named for the university’s oldest residence hall.
If neither of those pique your interest, there’s also Rams Head Silver Rum and Best Blue Coconut Cream.
The liquors will officially launch the weekend of Sept. 12 to celebrate UNC football’s first home game against East Tennessee State University, according to UNC. Fans can buy the spirits at Kenan Stadium on game days and order them in their cocktails.
Ernest Hemingway famously said he drinks to make other people more interesting. UNC’s football program doesn’t seem to need help in that department.
UNC is coming off a hard-fought win during the season opener against Texas Christian University in Dublin, Ireland. But that victory has not solved the program’s problems.
In the wake of general manager Michael Lombardi’s high-profile resignation and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick’s extended medical leave, the school continues to investigate misconduct in the football program, The News & Observer previously reported.
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According to unverified media reports, investigators are asking questions about several eyebrow-raising topics, like the provision of illicit substances to a player, as well as possible inappropriate relationships between players and staff.
Luckily for UNC fans reading these reports, there’s liquor.
The bottles are already available at ABC Stores in North Carolina, according to Cape Fear Distillery. They’ll also be available at Cape Fear Distillery locations in Elizabethtown and Bald Head Island, as well as certain area restaurants, according to UNC. The liquors can also be bought online and shipped out of state.
Cape Fear Distillery is owned by Alex Munroe, who graduated from UNC in 1989 with a degree in journalism.
In addition to liquor and wine, Munroe’s 13-acre property in Elizabethtown also boasts a “a national award-winning boutique resort with 28 lakeside rooms, zoological garden, restaurant, spa, gift shop, events center, and celebrity art museum,” according to UNC.
UNC Athletics and Cape Fear Distillery worked with the Collegiate Licensing Company and the university’s licensing and multimedia partner Learfield to develop and market the collection.
The partnership will create “additional fan engagement opportunities throughout the coming months,” UNC says.
Cape Fear Distillery also sponsors UNC Athletics through Tar Heel Sports Properties, the university disclosed in its press release about the collection.
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