James Bond's 007 Malt Liquor 12 Oz Tab Top Can

James Bond's 007 Special Blend

Introduced in the late 1960s by the National Brewing Company, James Bond's 007 Special Blend was launched to capitalize on the massive pop culture wave surrounding Ian Fleming's fictional British secret agent. Bottled and canned across several National Brewing facilities, including the brewery's Western Division plant in Phoenix, Arizona, the product was uniquely marketed with the descriptive slogan, "A subtle blend of PREMIUM BEER and MALT LIQUOR."

Design and Pop Culture Appeal

Rather than showing the secret agent himself, the can artwork features a cinematic aesthetic reminiscent of 1960s spy thrillers. The label prominently displays a glamorous portrait of a model gazing upward, set against a brooding sky and silhouetted London landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament. The bold, stenciled "007" logo sits centered over the portrait, immediately aligning the beverage with mid-century espionage media.

Licensing and Collector History

Despite its ambitious national test marketing and high-profile branding, the product enjoyed only a very brief run. National Brewing released the brand without securing official licensing approval from the Ian Fleming estate. Faced with legal pressure over trademark rights, the brewery quickly withdrew the line from store shelves.

Because production was halted prematurely, cans from this short-lived series became enduring favorites in the breweriana collecting community. Collectors catalog several distinct variations featuring different city mandatory texts and rotating depictions of British landmarks across the series.