Top 10 most controversial spirits

Some bottles are made to be shared. Others are made to make headlines. Controversial spirits are nothing new and over the years there’s been numerous examples. 

Whether they ruffled feathers with political statements, eyebrow-raising ingredients, or just plain bad taste (in every sense), these spirits didn’t just push boundaries – they leapt over them, bottle in hand.

Here are ten of the most controversial spirits ever released – from artistic protest to questionable marketing, and everything in between. No, these are not April Fools’ jokes…

Top 10 most controversial spirits

Fishky – Herring Cask-Aged Whisky

Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. Fishky is a single cask Bruichladdich finished in a barrel that previously held pickled herring – a one-off bottling from independent bottler Stupid Cask, and possibly one of the most cursed experiments in whisky history. It was inspired by an old rumour that Scottish distillers once used fish barrels to store whisky and serves now as proof that not every cask finish deserves a comeback.

Stiffy’s Vodka

This Jaffa Cake-flavoured vodka was banned by the Portman Group back in 2011 for breaching rules around linking alcohol to sexual success. The producers claimed it was all a misunderstanding – “Stiffy” was just someone’s nickname. It then rebranded to “Stivy’s”. With a straight face.

Empirical Spirits Fuck Trump and His Stupid Fucking Wall Blend

Yes, that’s the actual name. Danish distillers Empirical Spirits put its political cards on the table with this protest blend against Trump’s immigration policy. A wine-spirit hybrid made with koji, barley, and Belgian Saison yeast, it also features a kilo of habaneros per bottle – though thanks to distillation, all the flavour remains without the tongue-melting heat. More complex and considered than its name might suggest, this discontinued bottle remains a landmark in liquid dissent.

Gilpin Family Whisky – Made from Diabetic Urine

Unreleased, but widely reported, this single malt whisky from designer James Gilpin (a diabetic himself) was created from fermented sugar-rich urine donated by other diabetics. It was meant as an art project exploring biotechnology and sustainability, but unsurprisingly, the public didn’t warm to the concept. Because… well, urine.

Scorpion Vodka

Yes, there’s a dead scorpion in every bottle. Allegedly edible, allegedly aphrodisiacal – definitely divisive. Some see it as a daring novelty; others, a stomach-churning gimmick. The same brand has also put centipedes and spiders into bottles.  It’s very much a sister product of Snake Wine, which is traditional in parts of Southeast Asia and features entire cobras coiled in rice wine or grain spirit. Both are viewed dimly by animal lovers and are illegal to import in many countries.

Anty Gin

Sticking loosely with that theme, we arrive at Anty Gin. Made with the essence of 62 red wood ants per bottle, this gin was created by Nordic Food Lab (founded by Noma’s René Redzepi) and the Cambridge Distillery. The ants lend a sharp, citrus tang, but let’s be honest – most people hear “insect gin” and run for the hills. A triumph of culinary curiosity or pure nightmare fuel, depending on your entomological tolerance. 

Red Army Vodka – In a Glass Kalashnikov

Russian-made vodka packaged in a glass AK-47, complete with a faux-wooden ammo crate. Subtle, it is not? Predictably banned or heavily criticised in several countries for glorifying violence, this bottle toes the line between militaristic kitsch and poor taste. Perfect for the collector who already owns a tank of Snake Wine.

Cosa Nostra Machine Gun Whisky

Amazingly we can stay on theme thanks to this ridiculous three-year-old blended Scotch. Sold in a machine-gun-shaped bottle, named after the Sicilian Mafia. Condemned by Italian media and under investigation by the Scotch Whisky Association for glorifying violence and breaking marketing codes. Less “mob chic”, more “PR disaster in a box.”

Atomik Vodka 

Distilled from grain grown near Chernobyl and water from the exclusion zone, Atomik Vodka made headlines for obvious reasons. Scientists behind the project confirmed the spirit is free from radiation – the danger, they said, was purely economic. The aim? To support communities still affected by the disaster through farming and distilling. The controversy? Some just couldn’t get past the name.

Absinthe – but don’t believe the hype

Not a product here but a whole category that I want to stand on my soapbox for. Absinthe gets a bad rap – blamed for madness, banned for decades, and generally treated like the green fairy from hell. But the truth is far less scandalous and far more delicious. The controversy largely stemmed from outdated science, dodgy politics, and a bit too much poetic licence from 19th-century artists. Modern absinthe is perfectly legal, carefully crafted, and full of botanical complexity – wormwood, yes, but also fennel, anise, and more. It’s not some illicit hallucination juice; it’s a sophisticated spirit with a long cultural legacy and a rightful place on any decent back bar. Time to ditch the myths and sip with respect.

Do you know any controversial spirits that should have been included? Let us know in the comments below.

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