The Chicken Box Launches Branded Sparkling Rosè With Napa Valley's Hogwash

There’s a new headliner coming to The Chicken Box this summer - all the way from Napa Valley.

The “internationally infamous” dive bar on Dave Street is launching perhaps its most unexpected collaboration this week with Napa’s Hogwash Rosé, just in time for the Nantucket Wine Festival.

The Chicken Box and Hogwash sparkling rosé will be unveiled Thursday night during a party at the Box. The 250 ml cans of the sparkling California rosé branded with The Chicken Box logo will be on sale all summer at the bar for $10, as well as at Epernay Wine and Spirits on North Beach Street. A portion of the sales of the rosé at Epernay will go to support the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club.

For the owners of The Chicken Box, a branded rosé was certainly not something that was in their wheelhouse. But when the partners at Hogwash, who spend time on Nantucket and at the Box, called about a potential collaboration, co-owner Packy Norton said “this was a no-brainer.”

“I think people will love it,” Norton said. “It’s not something we’re accustomed to, but hey, people are changing and people’s drinking habits have certainly changed in the last few years. People aren’t just doing a shot and a beer anymore like back in the day at The Chicken Box. We said why not cater to everyone’s taste, and this is a fun way to do it with our own label.

“And I figured if we’re going to put our name on it, it has to be good,” Norton added.

Enter Hogwash. The rose is made at Amulet Estate in Saint Helena, California, and is distributed under the slogan “seriously good rosé doesn't need to take itself too seriously.”

Nathaniel Dorn, a partner and COO of Amulet Estate, said that with the company’s connections to Nantucket, the collaboration with The Chicken Box was a good fit for their product and their people.

“It’s about relationships, and with so many good people on Nantucket - our partners live on the island - it made sense to partner with someone like Packy and The Chicken Box,” Dorn said. “Hogwash isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. It’s for celebration and enjoyment. With our partners being on the island, we were able to meet Packy and we talked about doing a collaboration. He loved the design, and he wanted to make sure what was inside the can was as good as the experience at the Box. We decided to give it a test run for the year.”

The Chicken Box / Hogwash launch party is set for this Thursday night at the Box, with DJ Lay ZBoy performing and no cover.