Altamar Brands Founder and CEO W. L. Lyons Brown today revealed fresh details about the company’s exciting partnership with acclaimed artist, filmmaker, and professional skier Chris Benchetler. This collaboration leads into the highly anticipated launch of Mountains of the Moon (MOTM), an immersive experience designed to explore the subtle yet profound connections between sport, life, music, and the natural world. Set to the timeless and evocative sounds of the Grateful Dead, MOTM promises to transport audiences into a universe where creativity, athleticism, and the rhythms of the living earth converge.
The collaboration between Altamar Brands and Benchetler extends beyond MOTM, introducing limited-edition expressions of the company’s signature spirits: High n’ Wicked Warlander Blended Straight Whiskey and Lágrimas Single Estate Plata Tequila. Both feature original artwork by Benchetler, embodying the fusion of art, nature, and human craftsmanship in ways that transcend conventional expectations for spirits. These unique offerings are now available online and in select U.S. markets, giving enthusiasts a chance to experience the collaboration firsthand.
Lágrimas “La Sabina” Plata: A Terroir-Driven Tequila Experience
The Lágrimas del Valle brand is celebrated for its terroir-driven approach to tequila, emphasizing agave sourced from individual ranches to produce expressions that are honest, rare, and distinctive. For this special collaboration, Altamar Brands presents Lágrimas Benchetler No. 2, sourced from La Sabina, a high-altitude ranch in Guanajuato, Mexico. The agave from this region grows slowly under challenging conditions, yielding exceptionally flavorful and aromatic plants that capture the essence of their environment.
Production of this tequila is carried out in collaboration with Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123) and Master Distiller Salvador “Chava” Rosales Trejo, whose family has maintained a three-generation distilling tradition dating back to 1904 in El Arenal, Jalisco, the heart of Mexico’s iconic Tequila Valley. The meticulous process involves double distillation, careful blending, and bottling at 92 proof (46% ABV), ensuring a balanced and vibrant spirit. This special-edition tequila, with its captivating Benchetler artwork, carries a suggested retail price of $59.99, offering both connoisseurs and collectors a rare opportunity to experience a distinct expression of place and craft.
High n’ Wicked Warlander Whiskey: Bold, Complex, and Fearlessly Original
Altamar Brands’ High n’ Wicked Warlander Blended Straight Whiskey (Benchetler No. 3) is a striking example of innovation within the traditions of Kentucky whiskey making. This expression blends three- and four-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye and Bourbon whiskeys, carefully balancing the fruity, spice-forward notes of Rye with the depth and warmth of High-Rye Bourbon. The result is a whiskey of exceptional complexity, demonstrating more character in the blend than in its individual components.
The creation of Warlander was an intensive and deliberate process. It involved numerous blind tastings conducted with bartenders, distillers, blenders, and spirits experts to identify the optimal combination of flavors. Once blended, the whiskey was rebarreled in a mix of its own ex-bourbon and ex-rye casks and allowed to rest for slightly over two months, encouraging the integration of flavors into a harmoniously layered final product. Bottled at 99 proof, the whiskey fully expresses its complexity, depth, and balance.
Warlander’s presentation is as bold as its flavor. Chris Benchetler’s artwork, applied to the bottle, mirrors the spirit inside—raw, refined, and fearless. Named after the hybrid Warlander horse, known for its strength and adaptability, this whiskey honors traditional craft while redefining expectations. Available at a suggested retail price of $54.99, it offers both collectors and whiskey enthusiasts a truly category-defying experience.
The Bent Bus Mobile Bar: A Moving Celebration of Art and Spirits
In addition to the limited-edition spirits, the Altamar-Bencheler collaboration introduces The Bent Bus Mobile Bar, a traveling showcase painted entirely by Chris Benchetler. This eye-catching mobile bar will offer tastings and cocktails featuring High n’ Wicked Warlander Whiskey and Lágrimas Plata Tequila, bringing the collaboration directly to audiences across the United States. The Bent Bus will tour various locations throughout the fall and winter, with dates and specific stops to be announced, providing a dynamic, interactive way for fans and consumers to engage with the spirits, the artwork, and the MOTM experience.
The mobile bar concept embodies the same philosophy as the collaboration itself: merging artistry, exploration, and community. It transforms the act of enjoying spirits into a multidimensional event that combines visual art, performance, and taste, allowing guests to interact directly with the creativity behind the bottles.
Bridging Worlds: Music, Art, and the Spirit of Adventure
At the core of this collaboration is a shared vision: celebrating the intersections between diverse forms of human expression and the natural environment. The Mountains of the Moon experience does more than showcase sport or music; it illuminates the intricate ways these elements connect with the natural world, encouraging participants to see the extraordinary in everyday life. The incorporation of the Grateful Dead’s iconic music provides a timeless backdrop, resonating with audiences across generations while amplifying the emotional impact of the visual and experiential storytelling.
Through this partnership, Altamar Brands demonstrates its commitment not only to crafting exceptional spirits but also to fostering meaningful cultural experiences. By collaborating with Chris Benchetler—a visionary artist whose work spans mediums and disciplines—the brand positions itself at the forefront of experiential marketing in the spirits industry. The limited-edition releases of High n’ Wicked Warlander Whiskey and Lágrimas Plata Tequila serve as tangible extensions of this artistic vision, bridging the sensory world of taste with the evocative power of visual art.
Availability and Accessibility
Both the Lágrimas Benchetler No. 2 Plata Tequila and the High n’ Wicked Warlander Benchetler No. 3 Whiskey are now available for purchase online and in select U.S. markets. These releases invite enthusiasts to explore unique flavor profiles while engaging with original artwork and storytelling that elevate the drinking experience beyond the bottle.
With the forthcoming Bent Bus Mobile Bar, fans across the country will have the opportunity to sample these spirits, engage with Benchetler’s art, and immerse themselves in the Mountains of the Moon narrative. This multifaceted approach ensures that the collaboration is not just about consumption but about participation, discovery, and cultural connection.
A Unique Celebration of Craft and Creativity
Altamar Brands’ collaboration with Chris Benchetler represents a rare convergence of art, music, adventure, and fine spirits. From the careful sourcing of agave in Guanajuato and the blending of premium Kentucky whiskeys to the creation of a mobile art installation and immersive experiences, this partnership exemplifies a holistic approach to creativity and craft.
As W. L. Lyons Brown notes, “Mountains of the Moon is about more than spirits—it’s about the connections we share through art, music, and nature. With Chris, we’ve created something that celebrates these intersections and invites everyone to experience it in a deeply personal and memorable way.”
Whether through sipping a bold, complex whiskey, savoring a single-estate tequila, or engaging with the dynamic Bent Bus Mobile Bar, this collaboration invites audiences to witness how innovation and tradition can coexist—resulting in spirits, experiences, and art that are unforgettable.
About Altamar Brands
Altamar Brands is a premium spirits company dedicated to crafting exceptional whiskey and tequila offerings while fostering cultural and artistic collaborations that elevate the consumer experience. By blending tradition, innovation, and creative vision, Altamar Brands continues to redefine what it means to enjoy and celebrate fine spirits.
