ATLANTA, GA — The Human Highlight Film is back — and this time, he’s bringing the heat in a bottle. Dominique Wilkins has teamed up with Old Fourth Distillery, Atlanta’s first distillery since Prohibition, to create Nique’s Batch — a limited-release8-year-old bourbon crafted to celebrate Atlanta, basketball, and the art of doing things the right way.
This isn’t just another celebrity whiskey.
This is a deep collaboration between Wilkins and Old Fourth’s master blender and co-owner, Clinton Dugan — a partnership built around one thing: doing it for the city that made them who they are.
"Atlanta has always been home," said Wilkins. "I wanted to build something real. Something you can taste and say, 'Yeah, that's Atlanta.'"
The Details That Matter:
- Age: 8 years — fully aged in Atlanta’s intense heat, locking in deep flavor and amplifying every layer of complexity. This is one of the first bourbons to spend its entire aging life within city limits.
- Proof: 105 — a purposeful tribute to Wilkins’ iconic #21 jersey, multiplied by the five NBA teams he electrified during his Hall of Fame career.
- Bottle Count: Just 1,982 bottles were produced — marking the year Dominique Wilkins burst onto the scene and started rewriting highlight reels forever.
- The Label: Look closely and you’ll feel the legacy — the label’s texture and design mimic the mesh of a basketball jersey, inspired by the shorts Nique wore in his 1982 rookie debut. This isn’t just a nod to history — it feels like it.
- The Card: Each bottle includes a custom basketball card modeled after Dominique Wilkins’ 1986 Fleer Rookie Card— one of the most iconic and sought-after basketball cards ever made. We designed three unique versions, each hand-numbered, with a limited number featuring Dominique’s autograph — randomly inserted like a golden ticket.
On the back of every card, you'll find detailed stats about the specific barrel your bottle came from — giving each collector and bourbon fan a direct connection to the story behind the spirit inside.
Why It Matters: Nique’s Batch is more than a bourbon — it’s a love letter to Atlanta. It’s proof (literally) that when two hometown icons team up, they can create something that’s built differently.The partnership between Old Fourth and Wilkins kicks off a new era of athlete collaborations — real input, real passion, real product — no shortcuts.
“This wasn’t about just putting my name on a bottle,” said Dominique Wilkins. “I was part of every step — from tasting to blending — because it had to reflect who I am and what Atlanta means to me.”“We set out to create something with real meaning,” added Clinton Dugan, Co-Owner of Old Fourth Distillery. “Dominique was involved start to finish, and launching it in Atlanta first was the only way this story could begin. Nique’s Batch is more than a bourbon — it’s a tribute to legacy, pride, and doing things the right way.”
Old Fourth’s leadership couldn’t agree more."From day one, this partnership was about authenticity," said Adam Dorfman, Co-Owner of Old Fourth Distillery. "Dominique cares about the city. We care about the city. That energy is in every bottle."
"It’s rare when everything just clicks — the product, the story, the people," added Patrick Lemmond, Co-Owner of Old Fourth. "Nique’s Batch feels bigger than bourbon. It’s Atlanta, bottled up."
Where to Get It: Nique’s Batch hits stores across Georgia next week through United Distributors, with a wider online release shipping to 45 states shortly after.
It will be available on both ShortbarrelBourbon.com and O4D.com. Retail price is set at $79.99 — but with only 1,982 bottles produced, you’ll need to move fast. To sweeten the deal, autographed collector cards from Dominique Wilkins will be randomly inserted into select bottles — making each purchase a chance to score a true highlight.
About Old Fourth Distillery
Founded in 2014, Old Fourth Distillery made history as Atlanta’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Revived and now owned by the team behind Shortbarrel Bourbon, Old Fourth is committed to crafting spirits with deep roots and bold character — a blend of Southern tradition and relentless innovation.
In just the past year, the brand has undergone a full-scale revival: expanding its product lineup, distilling bourbon, aging bourbon entirely in Georgia, and reintroducing Atlanta to what a true local distillery can be. Every bottle is produced and bottled right here in greater Atlanta.
And there’s more to come — including a flagship bar and restaurant opening inside Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport later this summer, giving travelers from around the world a first taste of our city’s spirit.
Nique’s Batch is a reflection of everything Old Fourth stands for: craft, culture, community, and pride in the city that built us.
For More Information:
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