Fundraising Drive for Liquor Store in Honor of Viral 'Drunk Raccoon'

The Virginia Distillery Company is celebrating its states newest viral sensation a mischief-loving raccoon with a fondness for whiskey through a fundraiser benefiting local animal shelters.

Earlier this weekend, a Virginia ABC liquor store experienced a chaotic scene after bottles of rum, moonshine, peanut butter whiskey, vodka, and eggnog were found smashed across the store. The culprit? A raccoon, discovered by an employee the next morning, sprawled and dazed in the stores restroom. Authorities confirmed the animal was heavily intoxicated and transported it to a nearby shelter to recover before being released safely back into the wild. The Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter humorously noted that the raccoon emerged uninjured, aside from a likely hangover and questionable judgment.

The story quickly captured public attention, drawing coverage from major outlets and inspiring a flood of social media memes about party pandas and unruly wildlife.

Local businesses have joined the trend with creative fundraising initiatives. The Virginia Distillery Company recently launched a Raccoon Approved Whisky line of shirts and stickers, with a portion of proceeds going to animal shelters. Stickers are included with online whisky purchases, while shirts are sold for $35 each. The distillery joked that although they craft fine whisky, they did not anticipate it appealing to local wildlife, noting the overwhelming demand for raccoon-themed merchandise online.

Virginia ABC embraced the moment by introducing raccoon-inspired cocktails. Featured drinks include the Midnight Masked Gin Fizz, described as a playful mix of citrus and berries, and the Trash Panda Old Fashioned, said to reflect the creativity of a raccoon raiding a liquor store.

Author: Gavin Porter