A new bourbon called Tears of the Left Whiskey recently made headlines. Its label proudly reads “0% Safe Space” and the marketing promises “woke meltdowns, distilled.” It is aimed squarely at supporters of Donald Trump.
Examples can also be found on the other side of the political divide. In Washington D.C., Republic Restoratives Distillery has sold bottles of Fascist Tears Vodka. It began as an April Fool’s joke but became a real product when customers demanded it. Proceeds go to Vote.org, a progressive cause.
Whiskey and vodka were once neutral. They were drinks to be shared, not statements to be shouted. Yet in today’s polarized climate, bottles themselves have become symbols in the culture war. The question is simple but important: what happens when a spirit stops being a drink and starts being a political identity?
Left-Wing and Right-Wing Spirits
Tears of the Left Whiskey
Tears of the Left is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 45.47% ABV. The number is a nod to Donald Trump as the 45th and 47th president. Actor and political commentator Rob Schneider has promoted it, urging Trump supporters to buy a bottle.
The packaging leans into conservative identity politics. Buyers can choose collector editions labeled as “Snowflake Tear,” “Feminist Tear,” or “DEI Tear.” The copywriting is designed to mock the opposition. On social media, the brand has declared that every liberal “meltdown” makes the next batch stronger. It is bourbon as a political punchline.
At nearly $90 a bottle, Tears of the Left is not competing on flavor alone. It is marketed as a badge of loyalty. Newsweek described it as a whiskey “targeted at supporters of President Trump’s MAGA movement.”
Fascist Tears Vodka
On the other side of the spectrum is Fascist Tears Vodka from Republic Restoratives in Washington D.C. The distillery is women-owned and queer-led.
Fascist Tears started as a joke in 2024. The April Fool’s post drew so much interest that the team decided to produce it for real. A portion of sales supports Vote.org, making it both a product and a fundraising tool. At $35 a bottle, it is more accessible than its right-wing counterpart.
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Whiskey’s Traditional Role
Whiskey has always carried cultural weight in the United States. It is tied to craft, heritage, and the idea of community. For generations, a bottle of bourbon was not a political symbol. It was something to be shared at the end of the day, whether at a bar, around a table, or in the halls of Congress.
Even in Washington, there is a Congressional Bourbon Caucus that brings together lawmakers from both parties. Its stated goal is to support America’s native spirit and the industry behind it. That in itself shows how whiskey has long been understood as neutral ground.
Traditionally, whiskey was the backdrop to conversation. People debated politics over a drink, but the drink itself was not the politics. That distinction is what makes today’s trend so striking. When bottles like Tears of the Left or Fascist Tears arrive, the spirit is no longer the context. It has become the message.
Outrage, Identity, and Marketing
Why are whiskey and vodka suddenly partisan? The answer lies in modern marketing. Outrage drives attention, and attention drives sales. Social media rewards the content that sparks anger. This phenomenon is known as ‘rage-baiting’. Brands have learned to use this cycle to their advantage.
Tears of the Left thrives on antagonism. Its advertising mocks “snowflakes” and celebrates every online backlash as proof of success. The more opponents complain, the more visible the whiskey becomes to its intended audience. The outrage is not an accident. It is the business model.
It also leans heavily on patriotic symbols, including the ABV referencing Trump’s presidencies. The branding suggests that real patriots drink this whiskey. Patriotism becomes less a shared value and more a partisan marker.
Republic Restoratives’ vodka still baits the right, but the tone is slightly less combative. The tactic is softer than Tears of the Left, but it still turns identity into branding.
This mirrors a wider trend in consumer culture, with an increasing number of everyday products being politicized. Whiskey has simply joined the list. The product is no longer just liquid in a glass. It is a marker of which side you are on.
What This Means for Whiskey Culture
Whiskey has long been seen as a unifier. A bottle on the table meant conversation and connection. The rise of partisan spirits risks changing that. When the label itself makes a statement, it can turn a drink into a barrier instead of a bridge.
That does not mean whiskey must be stripped of meaning. Spirits can stand for values like inclusion, diversity, and shared experience. They can amplify voices that have too often been overlooked in whiskey culture. The difference lies in intent. A bottle that invites more people into the conversation strengthens the community. A bottle that mocks or excludes risks narrowing it.
To me, whiskey works best when it brings people together. It should create space for dialogue, not drive people apart.
Back To The Glass
Whiskey itself is neutral. It is grain, water, yeast, and time. The decision to brand it as left or right is a choice by producers and marketers. Tears of the Left and Fascist Tears are striking examples of how far the culture wars now reach.
Yet the heart of whiskey culture is still about sharing a pour, not using the label as a weapon. When bottles are designed to provoke and divide, consumerism becomes just another battlefield. Some brands use that strategy to stir outrage, while others aim to spark activism or inclusion. Either way, the drink can sometimes replace the conversation.
The world’s problems are not solved through the bottle, but across the table, glass in hand. That is the spirit worth protecting.
