The scheme was conceived by none other than Rev. Jim Sichko, a Kentucky cleric who has been appointed as a papal missionary of mercy.
He had a lightbulb moment to use his local Kentucky product, coupled with his connection to Pope Francis - who was recently hospitalized- to drum up some funds for good causes through a charity auction.
"I understand that at times people say, ‘What is this priest doing? ’ I get it," Rev. Sichko admitted recently. "I think outside the box all the time."
His "visionary" thinking paid off quite well during the Sotheby’s auction, collecting approximately £30,000 from two bourbon bottles signed by the pope and another endorsed by NFL legend Tom Brady.
On 31 January, Sichko handed out the first check to Paws 4 the Cause, a furry friend rescue in Lexington, Kentucky.
He announced that more of the money would support hospice care in Texas and a legal clinic in Lexington that aids immigrants.
And where's the rest of the money going?
The Catholic Diocese of Lexington will use its share to give a leg-up to those hard-up.
It all started several years ago when Sichko gifted Pope Francis some rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon during a Rome visit.
Since then, whenever they met, Kentucky bourbon became the go-to gift.
Appointed by Francis himself, Sichko is part of an exclusive club of missionaries who journey across the globe, spreading kindness, mercy, and joy.
At 58, Sichko spends about 300 days of the year trotting the globe as a missionary and Evangelist.
Last year in Vatican City, it was quite a scene when Sichko arrived with two bottles of bourbon, aiming for a different kind of mission.
He intended to spread cheer by having the Pope sign the bourbon donated by Willett Distillery, which is aged for a decade and features special seals.
When the moment of truth arrived, he mustered the courage to ask for the pope's autograph. "I just pulled out the bottle of bourbon with a pen," Sichko said, still somewhat surprised by his own audacity.
"And he looked at me, and he signed it. And I was shocked. And then what I did was I pulled out the other bottle. And he signed that."
Sichko didn't expect the pope's next move. "He looked at both bottles, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘Father, which one of these is mine?’"
A delightfully awkward confession followed.
"I said, 'Neither one of these are for you. I want to come up with a creative way to auction them off for the good of others,'" Sichko remarked. "And that's how it came about."
The mastermind behind the initiative, along with Sichko, is Drew Kulsveen, the master distiller at Willett Distillery.
"From the first conversation, our door was open knowing this contribution can impact countless people in need through his work," Kulsveen expressed.
Kulsveen and his significant other accompanied Sichko on his pilgrimage to Rome. Kulsveen described it as a "tremendous honor" to observe the pontiff personally autograph bottles from his distillery"
Upon delivering a check for $7,375, Sichko was warmly welcomed at the animal shelter. Anita Spreitzer, the director at Paws 4 the Cause, mentioned that the funds would support their ongoing expansion project.
However, Spreitzer revealed that a portion of the donation is intended for another animal charity.
This announcement was robustly endorsed by Sichko, who quipped, "That's the way it goes—give and receive."
Sichko anticipates another Vatican visit within six months but hasn't made plans to request further papal signatures on liquor.
Regular autograph requests from the pope would drain the specialness, he implied.
Hope springs eternal for Sichko; he hopes his efforts spark a chain reaction of kindness—simple actions like holding doors or giving up places in a grocery line are just the start.
Fr. Sichko weighed in on the world's current state, sharing his perspective: "Everyone can do something," and asserting, "It costs nothing to be kind."
He also voiced concerns about societal anger: "Our world is turning into a very angry world."
"And I think it's time that we just chill out a bit and recognize truly
what we're called to be. And that is brothers and sisters. We may all
have different skin colors. We may have all different ways of life. But I
think we all come from the same place, and that is love and love of
God."