Westland Distillery and outdoor brand C.C. Filson Co. recently announced Coldfoot, a new collaboration, that launches tomorrow (Feb. 20) with the release of a limited-edition American Single Malt Whiskey from Westland and a collection of new branded gear created by Filson.
An homage to the 1800s’ Klondike Gold Rush, the collaboration invokes the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, which makes sense as both brands are based in Seattle. Back then, the city served as the starting and ending point for a harrowing journey north and back. The vast majority of prospectors took the well-trodden path to the boomtown of Dawson, Alaska. However, a small group of prospectors followed a different path that headed even further north, into even more rugged territory to a camp called Coldfoot. Of the 2,000 that set out on the stampede, only 200 stuck it out to stake a claim there. The rest got “cold feet.”
“Westland and Filson are cut from the same cloth,” says Matt Hofmann, Co-Founder and Master Distiller at Westland. “Both brands make real things in time-honored ways with an integrity that comes from understanding the essence of the Pacific Northwest at an elemental level. We’ve been long-time friends and partners and it’s great to finally collaborate to create something as exciting as Coldfoot.”
“The story of the stampede to remote Coldfoot is a perfect symbol of the grit, perseverance, and ambition this region has imprinted onto both our brands,” adds Alex Carleton, Filson’s Chief Creative Officer. “While Filson and Westland are each dedicated to our own paths, we share that common spirit. Our brands are rooted in the opening of the West and the sensibilities it takes to not only survive here, but thrive in what are the outer edges of the known world.”
Filson Coldfoot Collection includes co-branded t-shirts, caps, stickers, a pullover hoodie, and a stoneware shot glass, each with custom graphics inspired by the struggle and solitude of the trail to Coldfoot. The characters illustrated represent folklore and tall tales emanating from the storied mining camp.
Westland and Filson will host a launch party for Coldfoot at the Westland Distillery in Seattle on Friday (Feb. 21). Additionally, three more events will take place at Filson stores in Portland (February 27), Boston (March 12), and New York (March 19), featuring samples of Coldfoot Whiskey, music, make-your-own Filson coasters, and keynote presentations on arctic expeditions by Christine Dennison of Atlas Obscura’s Explorer Club.
The limited-edition Coldfoot Edition 1 will retail for $99.99, with only be 978 bottles available.
