Today, bartenders and honey lovers alike are all abuzz about Honeybee Day, which not only celebrates bees but also raises awareness of the stressors that threaten native native bee species, such as pests, pathogens and loss of habitat.

In an effort to help reverse this trend, Scottish distillery Aberfeldy in collaboration with The Bee Conservancy has created The Barrels & Bees Award, which will be granted to 16 bars and restaurants – and in some instances cared for by community gardens – around the country with the aim of supporting local bee populations.

The brand’s whisky is known around the world as the ‘Golden Dram,’ due to its famed rare honeyed notes, creating a unique connection between the whisky and the delicious natural resource. 

Aberfeldy launched its Barrel & Bees program in 2018 to support urban beekeepers by planting for honey bees, and to promote buying local honey. Beginning today, and continuing throughout National Honey Month in September and beyond, the brand will showcase its commitment to helping these precious pollinators through the use of their used whisky barrels which were used to create barrel garden planters that the organization has awarded to various bars, restaurants, and community gardens nationwide.

The up-cycled barrel gardens, which were designed in partnership with custom wood and fabrication shop Brooklyn Woods, are custom planted with bee-friendly flowers and seasonal herbs native to the region they are in to support the foraging of local bee populations.

Alongside The Bee Conservancy, Aberfeldy have. created a variety of new Barrels & Bees activations, including:

• A charitable sponsorship with The Bee Conservancy, which led to the organization’s creation of the Barrels & Bees Award for bars, restaurants, and community gardens;
• A $15,000 philanthropic donation to The Bee Conservancy to support their important work;
• The additional donation of $20 per use of the hashtag #BarrelsAndBees on Instagram, up to $10,000, to drive public participation in the program;
• An educational video series with bee advocate and The Neighborhood star Beth Behrs; and
• A cocktail kit for people looking to get involved at home.

The barrels will be on display now through the end of October at local bars and restaurants in eight markets around the country – Miami, Tampa/Orlando, Dallas, Southern California, the Bay Area, Chicago, New York City and Washington, DC – after which they will be maintained locally at restaurants or by community gardens where they will continue to support bees throughout the year.

The Bee Conservancy’s community garden partners likewise will receive a Barrels & Bees Award funded by Aberfeldy to account for transportation needs while tending the barrel at the restaurant and bar partners. Each bar or restaurant that receives the Barrels & Bees Award will also serve Aberfeldy’s Herbed Honey Smash – a signature cocktail crafted to showcase local honey alongside Aberfeldy 12 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, lemon juice, and fresh herbs harvested from the pollinator garden.

“The Aberfeldy Barrels & Bees platform educates people about the plight of bees while advocating provenance and the use of quality ingredients,” said Sara Ivy, Brand Director Single Malts at Bacardi. “We are proud to continue driving awareness for bees and to do our part to support their populations.”

In addition to a $15,000 donation Aberfeldy is making to The Bee Conservancy in support of its crucial work, people at home are able to participate and further the giving. For every Instagram post from August 21st through September 30, 2021, using the hashtag #BarrelsAndBees, Aberfeldy will donate an additional $20 – up to $10,000 – to support the bees.

“The decline in bee populations and the toll of their loss is intrinsically linked to the ability of local areas to grow food. This is why beyond saving the bees, The Bee Conservancy strives to educate, engage with nature, grow food and community bonds and build sustainable economic opportunities,” said Rebecca Louie, Managing Director, The Bee Conservancy. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Aberfeldy, a collaborator that shares these same goals, as we continue our important work.”

The brand has also sought the assistance of longstanding bee advocate and whisky lover, Beth Behrs – star of The Neighborhood – to create a digital content series that aims to educate viewers on bees, the issues they face, and what they can do to help from home. Behrs, along with her beekeeping mentor Phoebe Piper of The Hive Tribe, filmed the series at the Hive Tribe bee farm in Malibu, CA.

The educational videos take viewers inside an apiary, giving them an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at how a hive works, how honey is extracted from a hive and the ways that individuals can help these powerhouse creatures from home – including mixing themselves a cocktail featuring the beautiful pairing of local honey and Aberfeldy whisky.

“Once I started learning about declining bee populations and how important beekeeping is to the longevity of bees and therefore our food source, I knew this was something I had to get involved with,” said Behrs. “As a whisky lover and someone who is passionate about protecting the bees, working with Aberfeldy on Barrels & Bees is almost as perfect a partnership as Aberfeldy whisky and honey.”

For people who want to support the cause but aren’t located near a Barrels & Bees Award-winning bar or restaurant, Aberfeldy is offering a limited-edition, cocktail kit on ReserveBar.com, stocked with all the ingredients needed to create the signature Aberfeldy Herbed Honey Smash at home.

The limited-edition cocktail crate, which includes a bottle of Aberfeldy 12, seed coasters and a seed package they can use to plant their own basil that can double as forage, gold-dipped glassware and a bottle of artisanal, small-batch honey, will be available for purchase on ReserveBar.com, while supplies last.

For more information on the Barrels & Bees program, go to aberfeldy.com