North Carolina-based nonprofit Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) has launched Final Flight Reserve, a limited-edition bourbon commemorating the retirement of the U.S. Marine Corps’ AV-8B II Harrier fleet. The release coincides with the June 3 sundowning ceremony for the fleet with Marine Attack Squadron 223 at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina, marking the end of a 55-year chapter in military aviation history.
Final Flight Reserve is finished with toasted oak staves and bottled at 108 proof. Production is limited to just 1,500 bottles.
The bourbon is the result of a partnership between ACT, Lexington, Kentucky-based Bespoken Spirits and Give 270, a nonprofit based in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
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“For 55 years, the AV-8B Harrier II has represented innovation, readiness and the unwavering dedication of the Marines who served alongside it,” said Havelock Mayor and ACT President Will Lewis. “Final Flight Reserve is a tribute to that legacy and an opportunity to commemorate the end of an extraordinary era in military aviation.”
Bottles are now available at MCCS Cherry Point and at select area bars and restaurants in the Havelock region. Consumers can also purchase bottles online through Bespoken Spirits.
Give 270 is hosting a silent auction for select numbered bottles. Each numbered bottle tells part of the Harrier story by honoring historic squadrons, milestones and the broader legacy of the aircraft.
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READ THE STORYProceeds from both bottle sales and the silent auction will benefit ACT and its mission to support MCAS Cherry Point’s role in national defense and regional prosperity through advocacy, partnership and community engagement.
The release adds to a growing number of limited-edition spirits tied to military and commemorative themes. Bourbon brands and independent bottlers have increasingly partnered with veterans’ organizations and military-adjacent nonprofits in recent years, producing special releases that serve dual purposes as collectible items and fundraising vehicles.
The AV-8B Harrier II, a vertical and short takeoff and landing attack aircraft, first entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1985. Its retirement marks a significant transition as the Marines shift to the F-35B Lightning II as the fleet’s successor platform.
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