Wild Turkey Partners with YouTuber “Babish” for Friendsgiving Campaign

By /
Home » Bourbon Blog » Bourbon and Whiskey News » Wild Turkey Partners with YouTuber “Babish” for Friendsgiving Campaign

Wild Turkey’s Friendsgiving Campaign Focuses on Giving Back.

This Friendsgiving season, Wild Turkey Distilling Co. has announced a new partnership with The Farmlink Project and acclaimed cook and YouTuber Andrew Rea (“Babish”) to raise awareness around food waste and food insecurity. The initiative combines community engagement, charitable giving, and bourbon-inspired cocktails to encourage consumers to “Trust Your Spirit” and turn their gatherings into an opportunity to give back.

Wild Turkey has pledged a $101,000 donation to The Farmlink Project, a nonprofit that connects surplus farm crops with food banks nationwide. The organization helps prevent food waste by ensuring excess produce reaches those in need. “An estimated 25% increase in household waste occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day,” said Aidan Reilly, Chief of External Affairs at The Farmlink Project. “We’re grateful not only for Wild Turkey’s generous donation, but also for the partnership with Andrew, whose positive influence extends far beyond the culinary world.”

Andrew Rea and Wild Turkey Create Seasonal Apple-Inspired Cocktail

In celebration of the collaboration, Wild Turkey and Rea developed the Wild Apple Pie cocktail, highlighting apples—one of the most overproduced crops in the fall season. “This seasonal twist on a classic cocktail highlights an ingredient currently in abundance among farmers,” said Rea. “Friendsgiving is all about coming together and sharing great food, but as it kicks off the giving season, it’s also an opportunity to make a difference.”

The full recipe for crafting this cocktail is found below.

Sweepstakes Offers Friendsgiving Dinner with Babish in NYC

As part of the campaign, Wild Turkey is hosting a nationwide Friendsgiving Sweepstakes. Four groups of winners (ages 21+) will receive a private Friendsgiving dinner in New York City hosted by Andrew Rea, featuring Wild Turkey cocktails.

“At Wild Turkey, we believe in shared moments and giving back,” said Allison Varone, Head of Marketing at Campari America. “This Friendsgiving, we’re proud to partner with The Farmlink Project and Babish to create a campaign that goes beyond the table, inviting people to savor bold flavors while making a real, immediate impact in their communities.”

Learn More and Enter the Sweepstakes

Learn more about the Wild Turkey Friendsgiving Sweepstakes by visiting iHeartRadio.com/wildturkey.

WILD APPLE PIE COCKTAIL RECIPE
  • 2 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
  • ½ parts ugly apple syrup*
  • 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Strain over ice into rocks glass.
Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice** and a lemon twist.

Ugly Apple Syrup

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1.5 lb. “ugly” apples (roughly chopped, skin on, core discarded)
  • 1 tsp. powdered cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. Chinese five spice powder (optional)
  • ¼ tsp. salt
    Bring all ingredients to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook until apples are soft enough to mash with a fork. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and store in an airtight container.

Dehydrated Apple Slices
Slice apples from top to bottom (using a mandolin, if available). Place slices in a dehydrator or bake at 200°F for four hours, or until crisp.

Listen to Bourbon Lens on your favorite podcast app or stream on Spotify. If you’d like to support Bourbon Lens, join our Patreon, sign up for our “Weekly Pour” Newsletter, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Recent Bourbon Lens Coverage

Scroll to Top