Belfour Spirits, a whiskey producer led by Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Belfour, announced today the release of its Special Edition Straight Rye Whiskey, a tribute for Fighting Sioux hockey fans.

This whiskey is 106 proof, and represents the company’s first product to roll out since the launch of its three original spirits within the “Spirit of Champions” family in October 2019.  

Belfour started his hockey career playing for the Fighting Sioux. In his rookie year, Belfour — a freshman in goal — helped lead the team to its fifth NCAA Championship (in 1987). Belfour went on to enjoy a near 20-year career playing in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs, among others. 

“Wearing a Fighting Sioux sweater was — and always will be — an incredible honor,” says Belfour, founder and CEO of Belfour Spirits. “I’ve been blessed to play for many great organizations, and while it all began for me in North Dakota, it’s the camaraderie of the greater team — the fans — that I remember most.”  

The Belfour decanter-like bottle showcases the Belfour eagle, wings and 1920’s typeface, and pays tribute to the Fighting Sioux with team colors. Each cork has an inlaid commemorative coin that reads “Ralph Engelstad Arena, Home of the Fighting Sioux.”

The Belfour Special Edition Straight Rye Whiskey has aromas of caramel, sweet dill, caraway and molasses, the company reports. The palate is white grape, apricot, raisin and brown sugar, before a smoky finish with a coating of white pepper.  

The Belfours distilled this whiskey at its distillery partner, Southern Distilling in Statesville, N.C, where the whiskey aged for a minimum of 24 months in new American white oak barrels.  As a special edition, this straight rye will have limited allocation, available in select stores in North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Illinois in the coming weeks. 

The suggested retail price is $99 per 750-ml. bottle.