Cheers! New Mexico St. becomes first college to license whiskey

NewMexicoState University on Wednesday unveiled its own officially licensed whiskey, making it the first college to do so as schools across theU. S. try to create newrevenue streamsamid shrinking budgets.

PistolPete’sSix- Shooter whiskey expands on the university’ s brand building effort, which startedseveral years ago with a golden ale craftedbyone of the state’s largest brewing operations. Last month, the school added a signature wine developedby vintners withdeep NewMexico roots.

Like the otherventures, this one involves apartnership with another home grown business— DryPoint Distillers.

MarioMoccia, NewMexico State’s athletic director, said licensed whiskeymarks something newfor the collegiate world, which over the last several years has seen its share of officially licensed craftbeers grow tomore than twodozenwhile schools such as MichiganState, Wake Forest and Gonzaga added wines.

Moccia described the licensing partnerships as positive steps for the university, for small businesses that havebeen struggling during pandemic- forcedclosures and for the athletic program, which shares in the proceeds each time bottle orcan is sold.

“Forus to be thefirst, I think it’s a source of pride, it’s a source of innovation, and I have nodoubt other schools will say this is a good thing because in today’s dayand agewhenthe budgets are being reduced, it’s incumbent upon us to do things to generate ourown revenue,” he said.