The original Fortuna Whiskey brand operated from the late 1800s until the mid-1960s and was highly sought after. It was founded by Phil Hollenbach, a German immigrant, in the late 1800s. Hollenbach found success in Kentucky by bringing “A Taste of Good Fortune” to all with his bourbon. They closed their doors and have now been revived by the people at Rare Character. Rare Character is a new brand itself, founded in 2021 by Pablo Moix and Peter Nevenglosky. In 2022 their team was joined by Andy Shapira as well who worked and grew up within the Heavin Hill Distillery family business.
This team has done extensive research including correspondence with members of the Hollenbach family, this iteration of the brand aims to recreate the essence of Fortuna at its peak in the 1880s, down to the branding, bottles, and whiskey itself.
