Actor and Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast Matthew Lillard’s spirits company, which takes its name from a classic wizard spell, is expanding its portfolio from fantasy to horror.
Find Familiar Spirits has announced Hell is Not Mocked, a Texas whiskey that forms the second release under its Macabre Spirits banner. The project pairs a collectable spirit with an original short story, this time embracing a dark Western Gothic theme of revenge and the undead.
The project features an original short story by bestselling author Christopher Buehlman, whose novels, The Blacktongue Thief and Between Two Fires, have garnered him a significant following among fantasy and horror readers. The story, exclusive to this release, is presented alongside the whiskey in a custom-designed box featuring the surreal and ominous artwork of painter John Brosio.
Matthew Lillard, co-founder of the company and known for his roles in Scream and Five Nights at Freddy’s, highlighted the project’s personal connections. He told the press,
Horror fans are some of the most passionate people on the planet, and they deserve something crafted with the same love and obsession they bring to the genre. For our second Macabre release, we turned to Christopher Buehlman, my favorite modern author and a friend since our days as roommates working at the Renaissance Faire 35 years ago. His writing is gritty and unforgettable, so we matched it with a Texas whiskey just as bold and haunted.”
Macabre Spirits is the horror-focused sibling to the company’s successful fantasy line, Quest’s End Whiskey. As Geek Native has previously reported, the D&D-inspired Quest’s End line sold out its initial runs and secured a silver medal at the World Spirits Competition, demonstrating a clear market for such genre-themed collectables. Find Familiar Spirits was founded by Lillard and screenwriter Justin Ware (Bloodsucking Bastards), with guidance from Blue Run Spirits co-founder Tim Sparapani.
Each release from the company aims to be a collector’s item, combining the spirit with a story and original art. The 98-proof Texas whiskey for Hell Is Not Mocked was hand-selected by Master Blender Molly Troupe.
Hell is Not Mocked is slated for a US release on July 31st, 2025, and will be available from the official Find Familiar Spirits website. However, for fans in the UK and Europe, acquiring a bottle might prove difficult, as the company’s direct-to-consumer model has thus far been challenging to access internationally. As a whisky drinking Scot, I feel as if I have some skin in this game.
