But the evening was never just about the bourbon. As stories flowed from Schaefer and others in the room, it became clear that the whiskey was simply a starting point, a bridge that brought people together. Veterans and civilians, young and old, connected over shared values of resilience, service, and legacy.
“ When you have a bourbon, [ or ] when you have a whiskey, and you gather together, it signals that we’ re going to do something more than just sit around and talk over a beer. It’ s more. It’ s something special,” said Schaefer.
And on this night, it truly was.
The Stories That Must Be Told
As glasses clinked, Schaefer recounted the powerful story behind Horse Soldier Bourbon’ s origins. He detailed the courageous mission of ODA 595, the first US Army Special Forces team to enter Afghanistan in the wake of 9 / 11.
“ People want to know how a bunch of knuckle-dragging Green Berets managed to start a bourbon business that’ s the fastest-growing bourbon in the world,” he chuckled.
Schaefer’ s narrative went beyond just a story. It offered veterans there a chance to reconnect with a sense of belonging often lost after their service.
“ It’ s good for them to feel like there’ s somebody who actually understands what it is that they went through, and a lot of veterans don’ t have that. They move away, they’ re not with people, they’ re not with other veterans, and so they feel isolated,” said Schaefer.“ To come to one of these things, see other veterans around, it’ s really cathartic.”
A Monumental Legacy
Every attendee left with a personally signed bottle of Horse Soldier Bourbon.
“ What is significant about our label is that our logo is of the America’ s Response Monument that stands at the [ site of the ] Twin Towers,” Schaefer explained, drawing a direct line between the events of 9 / 11 and the team’ s enduring contribution to the nation’ s history.
Each signed bottle became more than a collector’ s item; it was a living testament to courage, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of the“ Horse Soldiers.”
A Community United
As the night came to an end, for many, the highlight was being in the presence of living history, witnessing firsthand what it means to serve, survive, and thrive after combat.
“ I, too, was in the military. I was in reconnaissance in the Marines, and I was able to relate well with the challenges that they had. And then of course, I also really enjoyed learning about the bourbon,” shared one attendee.
Another remarked,“ I came to see Whiskey & War Stories because I love to drink bourbon and my husband loves war stories, and we got to see it firsthand tonight.”
Looking Forward
In the end, Whiskey & War Stories at Esplanade at Artisan Lakes became much more than a tasting or a talk; it was a meaningful gathering that honored service, sparked connection, and left a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
“ I’ m glad everybody came. Everyone wanted to participate, not just in the bourbon tasting, but to be a part of the stories. That’ s what it’ s all about,” shared one attendee, capturing the spirit of the night.
Thanks to the heartfelt response from the community, Whiskey & War Stories has now grown into a national Esplanade program, led by Patrick Scully, National Director of Food, Beverage and Culinary Experience.“ I knew as soon as we hosted this first event that we had to share this experience with as many of our communities as possible,” says Patrick.“ Our mission is always to continue to bring people together through shared stories, meaningful moments, and the simple joy of gathering.”
Events like this are a beautiful reminder of how Esplanade fosters social connection, a key ingredient in living well and feeling truly at home. We also take this moment to salute and honor our veterans and those actively serving in our armed forces, whose dedication inspires the spirit of community we cherish.
Scan the QR code to relive this unforgettable evening with Ret. LTC Rob Schaefer and the Horse Soldier story.
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