Boom Boom Bourbon is out
By Kalea Hall
BOARDMAN
Boom Boom Bourbon has hit liquor stores.
The smooth bourbon is from Kentucky, but has both a local taste and name.
Boxing legend Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini partnered with Bill Candella of Candella Micro-Distillery and Diamante Blu to bring the bourbon to life.
“I am involved from top to bottom,” Mancini said.
Boom Boom Bourbon hit the shelves at some state liquor stores last week. It’s also on sale at the Candella Micro-Distillery at 4440 Market St.
There are only 1,200 bottles of Boom Boom Bourbon available for the first run, and half of them already are sold.
“The goal is for it to sell out,” Mancini said. “It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. I want this to be around for a while.”
Mancini already has his own wine on the market called Southpaw. Diamante Blu, a portfolio company of the venture firm Diamante Companies that has offices in Poland, started and invested in the bourbon project with Mancini a couple of years ago. They wanted to use the Candella micro-distillery for the project because it’s local.
Candella is known for its Y-town vodka, an 80-proof, smooth spirit made from that pure cane sugar that has four gold awards from the American Distilling Institute.
Candella worked directly with Mancini to perfect the taste of Boom Boom Bourbon. Once the bourbon came in from Kentucky back in late October, he blended it to the taste they developed.
“It’s a smooth bourbon,” Candella said. “There’s not really a burn to it.”
The bourbon doesn’t automatically make it to the state stores, Candella said. If customers want it, they have to call.
People are stopping at Candella’s distillery to get an autographed bottle of the limited edition bourbon.
The response “has been tremendous,” Mancini said.
There will be another batch of the Boom Boom Bourbon released next year.
“I can’t say it’s smooth like how I used to fight because that wasn’t my style,” Mancini said. “It’s a gentleman’s drink. I am very proud of this.”