Pittsburgh-based craft distillery Wigle Whiskey has released a limited-edition bottled cocktail called “Pittsburgh Is On The Clock,” a ready-to-pour Bourbon Old Fashioned created to coincide with the 2026 NFL Draft. The 375 ml bottled cocktail blends Wigle’s signature bourbon with bitters and a touch of sweetness, and is available across the distillery’s retail locations through the draft weekend.
The release marks a tie-in with the NFL Draft’s arrival in Pittsburgh, which is hosting major draft-related events across the city’s North Shore district.
“This release is all about Pittsburgh pride,” said Alex Moser, COO at Wigle Whiskey. “With the Draft bringing fans together and putting the city in the national spotlight, we wanted to create something commemorative that feels celebratory, bold, and unmistakably local.”
The bottled cocktail is available at Wigle’s Strip District Bottle Shop at 2401 Smallman Street and at its Ross Park Mall Bottle Shop. A pop-up retail experience at Wigle North Shore, located on Federal Street outside PNC Park, ran from Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 26.
The North Shore pop-up served as a hub for draft festivities, offering fans a way to purchase the exclusive release amid the neighborhood’s wider celebrations.
Wigle Whiskey operates as a grain-to-glass producer, sourcing grains from local farmers and crafting each bottle by hand. The distillery has earned significant national recognition, including being named the Most Awarded Craft Distillery by the American Craft Spirits Association. USA Today has also ranked Wigle Whiskey among the top 10 best craft distilleries in America.
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Pennsylvania previously hosted the NFL Draft in 1947, when the event was little more than a small conference at a since-demolished hotel. However, Pittsburgh has long been considered one of the league’s most passionate football markets, anchored by the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The three-day NFL draft event this year is expected to see as many as 700,000 people descend on Pittsburgh.
Limited-edition spirit releases tied to major sporting events have become an increasingly common strategy for craft distillers seeking to connect with local audiences.
