The clink of a glass can carry more than a toast. For the founders of Four Branches Bourbon, every pour is a salute—to fallen comrades, to families left behind, and to the unshakable bond of service. What started as a single barrel made in memory of one man has grown into a mission-driven brand that, in just two years, has raised nearly half a million dollars for veteran and first responder nonprofits.
The company was co-founded by Valley resident Mike Trott, who has lived here for more than a decade. An Air Force veteran who later spent years with the CIA, Trott says his second act in life began with a simple but powerful idea from an old friend.
“Rick Franco, a Marine veteran, told me he felt called to make a barrel of bourbon to honor the comrades he had lost,” Trott says. One of those friends, Greg Wright Jr., was killed on his first CIA mission. “That pain stayed with Rick for nearly 20 years. What began as one barrel in memory of Greg turned into a mission to honor many.”
Trott and Franco joined forces with retired Navy SEAL Harold Underdown and former Army Green Beret RJ Casey. Together they became the “Four Branches,” building a brand that honors their shared service. From the beginning, they agreed the bourbon had to stand for more than what was in the glass.
The company’s tagline, “Serve Honorably. Drink Honorably.,” reflects that commitment.
“We know alcohol can sometimes have a negative impact, especially for veterans and first responders who have lived through high-stress situations,” Trott says. “Our goal is to help reshape that narrative. Serve honorably means to act with respect wherever you are. Drink honorably means to raise a glass in remembrance, not in escape.”
That message is central to what the founders call “Beyond the Branches,” their ongoing commitment to giving back. Since its launch, Four Branches has supported veteran and first responder organizations with nearly $500,000 in cash and product donations. Trott says the work ensures that names, stories, and sacrifices are never forgotten.
“Many people believe the dead live on as long as their names are spoken,” he says. “Our mission is to keep saying those names and sharing those stories. We also want to honor the families, siblings, parents and friends who sacrifice in their own way. They deserve recognition, too.”
Though distilled and aged in Kentucky, Four Branches is proudly championed in Arizona. Locally, it is available at Total Wine, Trevor’s Liquor, and other shops. The bourbon has also appeared at charity events, private tastings, and community fundraisers, where Trott and his partners share the stories behind the label and the lives it honors. For many attendees, it becomes less about the drink and more about the connection—an invitation to join in remembering together.
Trott says his military and CIA experiences continue to guide how he leads—through planning, collaboration, and a daily reminder that “failure is not an option.” Looking ahead, he hopes the bourbon becomes a legacy of gratitude.
“One day my granddaughter will be able to order a glass of Four Branches and tell the story of how it began,” he says. “That story is about service, memory, and community. Our brand is a way to keep those values alive.”
Learn more at FourBranches.com.