This holiday season, Wild Turkey Distilling Co. is teaming up with The Farmlink Project — one of the fastest growing solutions in the charitable food space, and acclaimed cook, author and YouTuber Andrew Rea (“Babish”) to raise awareness and drive action around food waste.

For more than a century, Wild Turkey has been synonymous with Thanksgiving, bringing together families and friends in celebration of the holiday. In securing a partner to support their annual “give back” platform, the brand connected with The Farmlink Project, a nonprofit organization that matches farms with surplus crops to food banks around the country to feed people in need. 

In addition to Wild Turkey’s donation of $101,000 to Farmlink, the brand enlisted Rea, the personality behind the popular cooking show, “Binging with Babish” to help build awareness and distribute unused, excess produce to Americans in select markets this holiday season – turning surplus into sustenance. The collective has additionally joined forces to launch a nationwide Friendsgiving Sweepstakes, to inspire Americans to transform their celebrations into opportunities to give back.

“An estimated 25% increase in household waste occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, with much of this increase attributed to food,” Aidan Reilly, Chief of External Affairs at The Farmlink Project, said in a news release. “We’re grateful not only for Wild Turkey’s generous donation, but also for the partnership with Andrew, whose positive influence extends far beyond the culinary world. Together, we’re turning surplus food into opportunity, working to make a lasting impact in communities nationwide and inspiring others to give back this season,” he added.

Farmlink identifies surplus produce at risk of going to waste and works to move it into communities facing food insecurity. This involves collaborating directly with farmers, food banks, and partners to bridge gaps in the food system and ensure fresh, nutritious food doesn’t get left behind in the field. In October and November, apples are especially abundant, and Farmlink is focused on rescuing and redistributing as much of that surplus — as well as other produce — as possible, reducing waste, supporting farmers, and increasing access to healthy food.

In recognition of Farmlink’s efforts, Wild Turkey and Babish have collaborated to create innovative apple-infused cocktails. Crafted with Wild Turkey 101, dehydrated apple syrup, and aromatic bitters, the Wild Apple Pie cocktail is ideal for holiday gatherings and offers a flavorful tribute to autumn while highlighting Farmlink’s mission. 

“This seasonal twist on a classic cocktail highlights an ingredient currently in abundance among farmers, so we created a flavorful nod to autumn, to kick off the season of giving back,” Babish said. “Friendsgiving is all about coming together and sharing great food, but as it kicks off the giving season, it’s also an opportunity to make a difference.” 

As part of the campaign, Wild Turkey is giving consumers 21+ the chance to win the ultimate Friendsgiving experience. Four lucky groups of friends will experience a private dinner in NYC hosted by Babish, featuring expertly crafted cocktail pairings by Wild Turkey.

“At Wild Turkey, we believe in shared moments and giving back,” Allison Varone, Head of Marketing at Campari America, said. “This Friendsgiving, we’re proud to partner with The Farmlink Project and Babish to create a campaign that goes beyond the table, inviting people to savor bold flavors while making a real, immediate impact in their communities.”

Learn more about Wild Turkey’s Friendsgiving Sweepstakes by visiting iheartradio.com/wildturkey 

WILD APPLE PIE COCKTAIL

2 parts Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
1/2 parts ugly apple syrup*
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters

Strain over ice into rocks glass
Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice** and a lemon twist

*Ugly Apple Syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1.5 lb. “Ugly” apples (roughly chopped, skin on, core discarded)
1 Tsp. Powdered Cinnamon
1 tsp. Chinese five spice powder (optional)
1/4 tsp. Salt 

Bring all ingredients to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning
Continue to cook until the apples are soft enough to mash with a fork
-Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Store in airtight container. 

**Dehydrated Apple Slices
Slice apples from top to bottom (with a mandolin, if available). Place slices in a dehydrator or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 200°F for four hours, or until crisp.

Read more: Wild Turkey Unveils New Global Brand Campaign

ABOUT WILD TURKEY

The distillery for Wild Turkey Bourbon is in Kentucky, situated on a deep limestone shelf on the Kentucky River. The shelf acts as a natural filter and provides the distillery with crystal clear water, vital to making such a high-quality product. Wild Turkey features the legendary father and son Master Distilling team of Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who have over 100 years of collective experience working at the Wild Turkey distillery, and are now joined by the next generation, Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell. For more information, visit wildturkey.com.