Virginia ABC releases raccoon-inspired cocktails after drunken raccoon’s viral incident

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- After a furry "suspect" made national headlines for getting drunk and ransacking a Hanover County ABC store last weekend, Virginia ABC is continuing that momentum by releasing raccoon-inspired cocktail recipes.

The morning of Saturday, Nov. 29, officer Samantha Martin with Hanover County Animal Protection responded to an unusual call out of an ABC store in the town of Ashland, per a social post from the shelter.

According to officials, a raccoon broke into the store the night before. Once inside, he smashed dozens of bottles and ransacked several shelves.

The local raccoon celebrity has garnered an overwhelming response from the community, going viral across the U.S. and making national headlines.

According to the Virginia ABC website, recipes for three brand-new cocktails inspired by the viral drunken raccoon are available:

• Rye Rascal Sour: the flavors are tangy and rich, and it is recommended “after enjoying the good stuff from the top shelf.”
• Trash Panda Old Fashioned: a “scrappy” and “no-nonsense” take on a classic Old Fashioned mixes bourbon, brown sugar and some smoky bitterness.
• Midnight Gin Fizz: a mischievous cocktail with equal parts citrus sparkle and berry mischief. 

Since the raccoon's now viral drunken experience, Hanover County officials have launched a limited edition T-shirt campaign, “Ashland Drunk Raccoon,” which reads “Trashed Panda."

Additionally, Virginia ABC released surveillance footage of the incident on Wednesday, Dec. 3, after Hanover officials previously warned that it may not exist due to the raccoon taking out security cameras when he dropped through the store’s ceiling.

Virginia ABC also posted a new advertisement highlighting the drunken raccoon's antics by releasing promotional digital artworks of a raccoon with various kinds of alcohol, titled “Raccoon’s Recommendations.” The raccoon can be seen posing with bourbon, vodka, tequila and more.