The two-time flyweight queen teams with a California distillery to release a 114-proof single-barrel whiskey crafted from heirloom red corn.
Former UFC champion Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko is getting fired up for a spirited new endeavor—she’s partnering with California’s Sespe Creek Distillery for a special Warbringer “Bullet Edition” Overproof Whiskey.
Crafted alongside Master Distiller John Campbell—whose 16-year tenure at Laphroaig stands among the longest at the venerated Islay distillery—the limited release aims to celebrate elite MMA energy and quality whiskey craftsmanship. Bottled at a potent 114 proof with a retail price of $95, this single-barrel offering is strictly limited to just 170 bottles.
The boozy news comes as Shevchenko prepares for her eventual return to the Octagon following her victory over Zhang Weili at UFC 322, having recently vacated her title due to back and shoulder injuries while setting her sights on reclaiming flyweight gold from newly crowned champion Natalia Silva in 2027.
As for the whiskey, its unique mash bill features 65% mesquite-roasted Bloody Butcher red corn, 10% hand-roasted yellow corn, and 25% malted rye, finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The result is a bold and spicy flavor profile that the brand says will deliver “bright honey sweetness alongside bold spice, eucalyptus, and deep smoke.”
“This is Valentina’s Whiskey, and so the process was all about finding something she genuinely delighted in,” says Campbell. “We tasted through a lot of different barrels, but when she blind selected the Bloody Butcher, it was like ‘Ahh right, of course!’ It was a fun moment. She picked a delicious barrel.”
For Shevchenko, the flavor profile resonates on a personal level for the Kyrgyzstan native. “This Barrel has the taste that I love,” the UFC star said in a statement. “There was a rich, earthiness to it like being outdoors, and also sweetness and eucalyptus, which reminds me of home. The smoke I also love. In Kyrgyzstan, we cook over open fire. So that smell is family; it is a celebration.”
Shevchenko joins a growing list of UFC brawlers capitalizing on their name recognition within the liquor industry. Conor McGregor famously paved the way with Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, which achieved massive commercial success before its landmark buyout. Other notable fighter-led ventures include Dustin Poirier’s Rare Stash Bourbon, Jorge Masvidal’s El Recuerdo Mezcal, and Michael Chandler’s investment in Hiatus Tequila.
Warbringer “Bullet Edition” debuts November 3 and will be initially available at the Warbringer online store and in limited quantities at select retailers across California, Texas, Arizona, and Colorado.
