Might be best to grab a drink, this could take a while..

Whiskey has been our passion since graduating college. Although we were fascinated by the delicate process that goes into making every bottle, we realized that many folks don’t share the same appreciation because they find whiskey too harsh, too smokey, or too sweet. This is exactly why we set out to create the whiskey for everyone. The whiskey for our friends. The whiskey for our moms. The whiskey that enthusiasts, newbies, and even those who experience “whiskey-phobia” can share.  However, our drive to create something special and share it with the world has been with us long before taking a sip of whiskey.

We’ve known each other since we were seven years old and grew up a block apart in Montclair, NJ. We’ve always had the “get up and go” mindset and individually ran the gamut of small businesses from a young age. From lemonade stands when we still had our baby teeth, to DJ event and house painting companies in the unforgettable college years. Each of these endeavors taught us the value of being different and have carried much influence in our lives. Although starting a business together came up casually in conversation, we finally had the opportunity to collaborate on a project we both obsessed about....the beautiful, brown nectar of the gods. And who else to take the risk with other than your best friend. The worst that could happen is that we have a bunch of whiskey to drink, right?

We started this business with absolutely no experience besides drinking the stuff. We just had a vision. This made us work harder to develop a unique, high quality whiskey that was the perfect balance between complexity and drinkability. We spent many sleepless nights running home from our corporate jobs to blend, infuse, and spit out lots of homemade infusions. In 2017, after four years of development and feedback, we finally bottled Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey. The next question was, would anyone buy it?

After our first bottling run, we drove from Kentucky to Jersey City throughout the night to make it to Jersey City Whiskey Fest, which was Misunderstood’s debut to the world. We were exhausted, anxious, nervous, and excited to say the least. 1,500 people were in attendance to taste products showcased by nearly 100 established brands…and well, us. Much to our surprise, we were overwhelmed by the people’s reactions as Misunderstood became a crowd favorite that night. No one actually believed it was our first day in business. We immediately knew we had something people wanted and it was a very surreal experience.

The first few months in business was the most tested period of time for the brand. We lived, breathed and learned the industry day in and day out. We were self-distributing in NJ which meant we were both the sales team and delivery boys. We spent every day going door-to-door on our bicycles to have bar managers try Misunderstood, sometimes waiting for hours until someone showed up. Good thing for appetizers. During those few months, we realized Misunderstood’s true potential in the cocktail world and its ability to break traditional whiskey barriers. Bartenders gravitated to use Misunderstood in cocktails that were typically based with gin or vodka. After three months of hitting the pavement and lots of Watermelon Ginger Smashes, we sold out of our first batch and started partnering with distributors. We weren’t the delivery boys anymore.

Ever since then, we've been building the business glass by glass. We’ve met some awesome friends throughout, made unforgettable memories, and have enjoyed every glass of Misunderstood that’s been poured. Misunderstood is more than a bottle of whiskey now. Misunderstood is good vibes. Misunderstood is inspirational. Misunderstood is unconventional.  Misunderstood is made by friends and enjoyed by friends.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy Misunderstood Whiskey as much as we enjoy crafting it.

Cheers to you,

JD Recobs & Chris Buglisi, Co-Founders, Misunderstood Whiskey Co.