Another day, another new conservative outrage. This time it's about whiskey, of all things.
Conservatives have threatened to boycott the makers of liquor brand Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey after the company asked right-wingers to stop using its product to toast the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial verdict.
The whiskey brand, which has no connection to Kyle Rittenhouse, has been flying off the shelves as right-wingers celebrate Rittenhouse's acquittal of murder charges stemming from his killing of two people and injuring of a third at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer.
In a depressingly predictable development following Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal last month, sickos began buying up a bunch of @RittenhouseRye (which is not related) to celebrate: https://t.co/dkeXOefBbQ pic.twitter.com/jCGnqEpS6t
— Dave Infante (@dinfontay) December 4, 2021
Heaven Hill Brands, which makes the whiskey along with several other liquor products, issued a statement in a series of tweets, making clear it doesn't share right wingers' celebratory attitude, as seen below.
1/3 We have been disheartened to learn that some individuals and businesses have been using our Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey brand to celebrate the Kyle Rittenhouse case verdict, despite the profound loss of life from those events.
— Heaven Hill Brands (@heavenhill) November 21, 2021
Heaven Hill expressed that it is "disheartened" that its whiskey is being used to celebrate the verdict, "despite the profound loss of life from those events." In subsequent tweets, Heaven Hill went on to say:
"It is our strongly held belief that in serious matters such as this, where lives were lost and people deeply affected, there is no cause for celebration, but instead deep reflection on how we can make the world a more peaceful and respectful place for all."
It's a sentiment shared even among those who have underlined the wealth of evidence, including his surviving victim's testimony, that corroborated Rittenhouse's claims he acted in self-defense when he shot Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, killing the former two and injuring the latter.
Even if justice was served under Wisconsin law, it seems absurd anyone should need to point out that the death and maiming of three people is, indeed, "no cause for celebration."
But many right-wingers, especially those with white nationalist sympathies, disagreed and threw an all-out temper tantrum in Heaven Hill's direction--despite the fact the brand made no comment whatsoever on the verdict itself.
They clapped back at Heaven Hill with boycott threats and the usual absurd claims that "going woke" will translate into the failure of the company--a frequent charge by right-wingers that has almost never come to pass.
Go woke. Go broke. No more of your products for me.
— Keith Hall (@KeithHallProp) November 25, 2021
Thank you, I won't buy Rittenhouse to celebrate....and come to think of it, I just won't buy it anymore since you want to play politics.
— Roman Roy (@RomanRoyLive) November 23, 2021
Get ready for a marked decline in all Heaven Hill brands at the largest liquor store in southern Maryland.
I can and will make that happen. Should have stuck to whiskey. There was no reason to insert yourself into this debate. Enjoy your virtue signaling.
— blue goose (@drivethruliquor) November 24, 2021
I didn’t boycott you during the strike, but your “woke” political stance has cured that. Hopefully everyone sees you for what your employees obviously have. Never again will I buy your brand.
— Rodney (@rmcneese1123) November 23, 2021
The triumph of justice over the demands of the mob will always be worth celebrating.
But, you're right, we don't need to celebrate with your product.
Carry on.
— Chris 🇺🇸 (@RealChrisCotts) November 24, 2021
But many others found the furor absurd, and praised Heaven Hill for their approach.
I'm so proud that my favorite bourbon distiller took this mature step, and just emphasized, without siding with either side, just noting that in light of lives lost there's no ground for a toast.
— leif caspersen (@leifcaspersen) November 23, 2021
People: "Cancel culture is attacking people for having an opinion! A violation of their right to free speech!"*
Same people: "This whiskey maker had an opinion! Cancel them!"
*Not a correct statement of constitutional law but that's an issue for another tweet.
— The Finch That Stole Christmas (@AF_Superdude) December 6, 2021
Every comment like this inspires at least three buyers. For example, I'm buying 3.#genius
— The Finch That Stole Christmas (@AF_Superdude) December 6, 2021
What’s wrong with our world - it celebrates the loss of life with violence and then in the same breath are “pro-life”. No matter the circumstances killing is killing. Hopefully we can once again find kindness for each other - now that’s something to celebrate
— George Bachman (@GeorgeBachman) November 22, 2021
They’re just saying they don’t endorse using their product to piss on the graves of the dead. I think that’s reasonable?
— Tom Mutdosch (@tommut) November 24, 2021
Despite the MAGA crowd's threats of reprisal, recent polling showed that while 43% of respondents approved of Rittenhouse's verdict, 39% percent did not and a further 18% were unsure. They're not exactly the overwhelming majority they think they are.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter