Inside ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Stars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder’s Brother’s Bond Bourbon Release at 1 Hotel Austin

On Oct. 13, 1 Hotel Austin hosted a conversation and cocktail-making class featuring Brother’s Bond Bourbon co-founder Paul Wesley, Starwood Director of Beverage Steven Minor and 1 Hotel Austin Director of Beverage Harrison Deakin. Held at Neighbors Cafe & Wine Bar in the new hotel, the event celebrated the Brother’s Bond Regenerative Grain Micro-Batch release. Guests sampled the bourbon while participating in a Q&A exploring sustainability and craftsmanship.

Wesley co-founded Brother’s Bond Bourbon with Ian Somerhalder, his former co-star on “The Vampire Diaries.” Inspired by their on-screen brotherhood and lasting off-screen friendship, the brand was founded on shared values of community and connection. As Wesley explains, when enjoying a cocktail, “you want it to be a communal bonding experience.”

Wesley describes the release as a personal endeavor for himself and Somerhalder, noting that the team is “a tiny little company” with a family-rooted approach. “We’re just doing what we love and what we’re passionate about, and we hope that that is conveyed in the glass,” he says.

The conversation highlighted the release’s central innovation: a limited-edition bourbon made entirely with regeneratively grown grains. Partnering with a family-owned distillery in North Carolina, the team developed a grain-to-glass expression that supports local farming and prioritizes soil health.

As discussed during the event, the bourbon’s grains are sourced from farms within approximately 15 miles of the distillery, strengthening its connection to the surrounding community. Wesley emphasized the importance of building a brand with lasting purpose.

The collaboration with 1 Hotel Austin was a natural fit, uniting two brands committed to combining luxury with environmental responsibility. As Wesley says, “It’s great that we found brands that align so closely, telling the same story.”

Following the discussion, guests enjoyed a fall-inspired bourbon cocktail-making class led by Deakin and Wesley.

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Harrison Deakin and Paul Wesley lead cocktail-making class at 1 Hotel Austin. (Photo courtesy of 1 Hotels)

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Brothers Bond Bourbon pictured at Neighbors Cafe and Wine Bar at 1 Hotel Austin. (Photo courtesy of 1 Hotels)

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Harrison Deakin and Paul Wesley at 1 Hotel Austin. (Photo courtesy of 1 Hotels)

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