For decades, celebrities have been the face of fragrance and clothing lines, adding their support to elevate the brand’s status while reaping financial benefits. Film stars and athletes, models, and musicians’ backing of brands can increase a product’s awareness with their fans and followers in the short term, lending to long-term loyalty (via Forbes).
Over the past few decades, the liquor industry has become the go-to business for celebrity investments. Why you ask? Perhaps because everything is more fun with a cocktail. Or because it is a straightforward endorsement if you have a genuine taste for the product, which each of our liquor barons does. And each has turned their spirits appreciation into big business, garnering millions to billions in revenue, reports Today.
However, in a sea of boozy options, which are worthy of securing a place on your bar cart? We have rounded up a list of top selections worthy of a shot. Prices may vary.
Few celebrity spirits can touch the buzz surrounding 818 Tequila. Today, the brand has over one million followers on Instagram. It isn’t a surprise, though, as the Kardashian/Jenner crew has mastered influencing. After months of promoting the brand on her social media, Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila hit store shelves in May 2021. The tequila is facing some legal issues due to its similarities in branding to rival tequila company, 512 Tequila (via Drinks Business), and the initial launch photoshoot the brand did garnered criticism over appropriating Mexican culture, notes Elle. However, these criticisms haven’t kept 818 from adding to its portfolio.
Earlier this summer, the company announced the latest addition to its selections, Eight Reserve Tequila Añejo, says PR Newswire. The liquor is crafted from a blend of one-year-aged añejo and up to eight-year-aged extra añejo tequila grown in the highlands and lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The Distilled Spirits Council reports that ultra-premium tequila is one of the fastest-growing liquor categories in the United States. With a $200-a-bottle price, Eight Reserve fits this category as a balanced sipping tequila.
Though Kendall Jenner’s Instagram following is enormous, it hasn’t yet touched Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s 346 million followers. The former professional wrestler is one of the most sought-after stars on the big and small screen, XFL football owner, and tequila maker with a net worth of $800 million (via Celebrity Net Worth).
In 2020, Johnson and his partners launched Tremana Tequila, selling 300,000 9-liter cases in the first year. In 2021, they doubled those sales, according to a statement made to The Spirits Business. In addition to impressive sales, the brand’s Instagram currently has over 800,000 followers.
Meaning “spirit of the earth,” Johnson says Teremana is for the people. The Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico piña (the heart of the agave) are slow roasted in traditional brick ovens and distilled in small-batch copper pot stills before aging in American oak barrels. This slow process produces a premium product with a smooth taste. We tried the tequila, finding toasted oak and pepper with toasted vanilla and creamy honey. Teremana Reposado produces high-quality, 80-proof tequila at a reasonable $35 price.
Aviation became a household name for gin lovers when actor and entrepreneur, Ryan Reynolds, acquired a stake in the company in 2018. However, over a decade before Reynolds was attached, Willamette Weekly reports the Portland, Oregon-based brand began in 2005.
Aviation is an authentic American gin with a soft palate, layering fresh floral and botanical notes. In 2012, Wine Enthusiast awarded Aviation an impressive 97-point rating.
Reynolds tried the liquor in 2018 and was hooked. In a press release upon his investment in the company, Reynolds shared that, “Aviation is the best tasting gin in the world. Once I tried it, I knew I wanted to get involved with the company in a big way.” Willamette Weekly reports with Reynold’s involvement, Aviation’s sales grew 100% in 2019. A year later, booze giant Diageo acquired Aviation in a deal reported to be over $600 million.
The 84-proof, $28 gin is ideal in a bold gin and tonic, highlighting the balanced freshness of the liquor. To produce the gin, a botanical blend, including cardamom, lavender, and orange peel, macerates for 18 hours, infusing the liquor with bold aromas and spicy, herbaceous flavors. We tried the gin, finding it aromatic, smooth, and well-rounded.
George Clooney is a very famous celebrity. Still, it wasn’t his work in Hollywood that garnered him billionaire status; it was tequila. In 2013, Clooney and friends Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman launched one of the fasting growing spirits brands in the country (via The Drinks Business).
According to CNBC, Clooney and Gerber got the idea for the company while building homes in Mexico and drinking a lot of tequila. However, they wanted an option they could sip all day that didn’t have the alcohol burn often associated with tequila. After finding a distiller and doing extensive taste testing, Casamigos was born. In 2017, Diageo purchased the brand for a reported one billion dollars.
Seven to nine-year-old blue Weber agave plants grown in Jalisco, Mexico’s Highlands, go into the production of Casamigos Blanco. After harvest, the succulent is slow-roasted for 72 hours in traditional brick ovens. This cooking method gives a sweet softness to the liquor. Though the tequila is smooth, it doesn’t lack complexity. The flavor of Casamigos Blanco layers sweet vanilla and honey notes with citrus blossom, white grapefruit, and a touch of spice. Though friends enjoy it sipped neat, we love the 80-proof, $50 blanco in our zesty paloma cocktail, highlighting the liquor’s citrus notes.
Matthew McConaughey likely bleeds burnt orange. Still, when he looked to create a whisky brand, he ventured outside his beloved home state of Texas, going instead to the birthplace of great American bourbon, Kentucky. Four years ago, his Wild Turkey Longbranch eight-year-aged bourbon was born. The actor shares that “Longbranch” is essentially the extension of a hand, welcoming friends to have a dram and enjoy.
He also shares how he incorporated a little bit of Texas in the straight Kentucky bourbon by fining the liquor in charcoal made from Texas-grown mesquite wood. The charcoal adds the distinct aroma of sweet smokiness that barbecue fans throughout the Lone Star state adore. The eight-year barrel-aged whisky is spicy with cinnamon and star anise notes, melding with dried orange peel and smoky mesquite. The 86-proof, $40 bourbon won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020. McConaughey thinks it is perfect when sipped neat, and we say “alright, alright, alright” to that.
In 2019, Forbes named Grammy-award-winning artist and entrepreneur Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter as one of the most influential entertainers of our time, with a net worth of over $1 billion. The key to his success is investing and creating the brands he promotes, the publication adds, including D’USSÉ cognac.
Vinepair reports cognac has been an integral part of rap and hip-hop lyrics for decades, representing the finer things in life while embracing inclusivity. According to Billboard, Carter’s interest in cognac came from the brandy’s historical significance and meticulous attention to detail. In 2012, he joined Bacardi to create D’USSÉ cognac, a new brand that carried 200-year-old traditions while delivering something new, fresh, and unique. Though, just recently according to Billboard, Jay-Z doesn’t want to own the brand anymore and is looking to sell his shares.
D’USSÉ VSOP (Very Special Old Pale) cognac blends eaux-de-vie from the Cognac region in France, lying along the Charente River. The liquor ages in French oak barrels for a minimum of four years, according to French law. D’USSÉ VSOP ages a bit longer, four-and-a-half years. The resulting 80-proof, $61-a-bottle cognac reveals flavors of butterscotch, toasted caramel, and dried orange peel.
The chemistry between Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul on the AMC series, “Breaking Bad,” went far beyond what they were cooking in the meth kitchen. So, we knew the friends turned liquor partners would be a hit, thankfully making mezcal instead of methamphetamine.
According to Esquire, what began as a mentor-mentee relationship has become a genuine friendship. So much so that earlier this year, they launched Dos Hombres Mezcal. Regarding booze, the roles reversed, as Paul is the brains behind the mezcal, Cranston shares in an interview with the publication.
Though the idea may have been Paul’s, the duo’s dedication to bringing premium, high-quality Oaxacan mezcal to the States and educating consumers on its versatility is mutual. Esquire adds that they do this while genuinely and respectfully giving back to the community that makes the liquor.
According to Liquor.com, 40 agave varietals are available for mezcal production, each with a different flavor profile. Dos Hombres Espadin uses a six-year-old Espadin agave cooked for four days, infusing the mezcal with smokiness. After roasting, the agave is milled with a traditional stone wheel pulled by donkeys. Fermentation in wooden barrels takes up to ten days, followed by slow distillation in copper pot stills. This refined process creates an 84-proof, $65 liquor with a creamy texture and smoky, spicy palate. Paul shares with Esquire that mezcal is the perfect liquor for his favorite smooth, Old-Fashioned cocktail.
Celebrity-backed tequila is saturating the tequila market today. But, in the mix, Justin Timberlake’s 901 Tequila stands out. Packing Digest reports the tequila is named after his hometown of Memphis, launching in 2008 in partnership with business executive Kevin Ruder.
The Spirits Business reports 901 tequila is a triple distilled, 80-proof, 100% blue Weber agave tequila with a silky texture and style as smooth as JT. With an average price of $29 a bottle, the liquor makes the perfect base in what Timberlake calls a “Fallon,” which is like an old-fashioned but with jalapeño-infused tequila. It sounds as multidimensional as the singer/songwriter.
In 2015, the duo partnered with Beam Suntory Company, adding the label to the historic Sauza Tequila portfolio and rebranding it as Sauza 901 tequila.
Singer, songwriter, and activist Bob Dylan likely won’t be the face of an advertising campaign for Heaven’s Door Whiskey. It isn’t his style. His music, however, is the inspiration for the brand, notably his song, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
Robb Report shares that the artist uses his auspicious talents in other ways. Dylan produces the artwork that inspires the bottle designs and sings a little ditty or two promoting the products, as he did on Sirius XM in 2020. The brand is the brainchild of master blender Ryan Perry and Angel’s Envy founder Marc Bushala, Robb Report adds. With the heavy lifting in the hands of the experts, the resulting whiskey is a high-quality collection of bourbon and rye.
The 92-proof Heaven’s Door Straight Rye is aged first in toasted American oak barrels for seven years, then finished for an additional three years in hand-toasted French oak cigar barrels. The aging creates a well-rounded $76 whiskey with black tea, caramelized toffee, and orange peel flavors.
In 2014, Diageo partnered with English football star David Beckham and his manager Simon Fuller. Together they created Haig Club scotch with one of Scotland’s oldest producers, the 400-year-old “House of Haig” (via Marketing Week).
Though the producer can lean on this history, by 2014, the brand needed a facelift. Enter one of the most notable athletes with English roots and international fame to the rescue. The introduction of Haig Club “Clubman” single-grain scotch whisky was the much-needed first new product for the brand in 30 years. The easy-drinking 80-proof scotch is an everyday option for the scotch enthusiast and novice. The Whiskey Exchange reports that the soft, light body and vanilla, caramel, and warm baking spice flavors of the $51 scotch will satisfy all spirits drinkers.
The flavored whiskey category is growing, and actor, musician, and entrepreneur Jamie Foxx wants to be a part of it. Recently, the sub-category has been increasing thanks to brands like Fireball. Flavored whiskey accounts for 6.7% of the whiskey market, up from 5.5% in 2020, according to BevAlc Insights. The site adds flavored whiskies are good options for entry-level whiskey drinkers, which brings us to Foxx’s BSB — Brown Sugar Bourbon.
The Washington State-based company’s 60-proof whiskey blends bourbon with brown sugar and cinnamon, reports American Whiskey. Foxx was introduced to the product by watching guests at gatherings in his home enjoy it. He shared with the publication in 2021 that he “wanted to own a brand that brings sweet life to the party.”
Whisky Magazine named the brand the “World’s Best Flavored Whiskey” twice (via Shots Box). Bottled at 60-proof and available for $23 a bottle, the liquor leads with warm spice and sugary sweetness. It is somewhat cloying, sipped neat, but with ice and a squeeze of lemon, the sweetness is subdued with fresh acidity, balancing the flavor.
Celebrities with their names on bottles have become commonplace today. However, a decade and a half ago, it was a relatively unheard-of business. That was when Sean “Diddy” Combs partnered with CÎROC French vodka, becoming chief marketing officer (via Forbes). The publication reports Combs’ involvement seeped into every part of the business, from packaging to promotion. Though the brand’s ownership is Diageo, Combs’ assistance transformed the ugni blanc and mauzac blanc grape-based alcohol into a major vodka player. The brand has increased sales from 40,000 cases annually to almost two million.
Earlier this year, the brand introduced its ready-to-drink line of cocktails, CÎROC Vodka Spritz, again with Combs leading the promotional efforts. Combs shared his enthusiasm for the new spritzer in a press release for the product launch, noting he is looking forward to “making it the number one brand in the country.”
Four flavor options with 7% alcohol are available, each made from sparkling water, natural flavoring, and French vodka. The flavors include Watermelon-Kiwi, Colada, Sunset Citrus, and Pineapple Passion. Sold in four-packs for around $17, each has a zesty flavor, with the Colada adding creamy coconut.
If you want to know the truth about Nick Jonas’ tequila, it’s delicious. In 2019 singer, actor, and entrepreneur partnered with designer John Varvatos and Stoli Group to create Villa One tequila. It wasn’t the first collaboration between Jonas and Varvatos. The duo also has a fragrance and clothing line together (via Haute Living). While bonding over bottles of agave-based liquor, the friends agreed getting into the tequila business would be their next adventure.
Villa One tequila blends sustainably grown blue Weber agave plants from the Lowlands and the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The combination creates a well-rounded flavor highlighting the regional differences between the two areas. Barley Corn Drinks explains that the differences are due to elevation and soil types. The Highlands agave is fruity and sweet; the Lowlands agave is herbal, earthy, and mineral-rich. The resulting double copper pot distilled Villa One tequila is complex and well-balanced.
According to Haute Living, Jonas’ favorite is the Reposado, an 80-proof, $46 liquor aged for six months in American oak barrels. The tequila’s sweet, herbaceous qualities marry with toasted oak spiciness, along with hints of coconut and butterscotch.
Vodka’s base ingredients vary from potatoes and grains to beets and grapes. However, none are as unique as Robert DeNiro’s New Zealand-made vodka, VDKA 6100. The luxury vodka has a base of whey. It is not the only vodka made from the byproduct of cheese production. Transparency Market Research reports that whey-based spirits are a rising liquor category. Modern Farmer adds that whey-based liquor takes a waste material and turns it into a profitable revenue stream.
Though the product category is growing, few have the star power DeNiro brings. He partnered with Australian casino owner James Packer in the product creation (via Wine Enthusiast).
VDKA 6100 is a unique spirit that is smooth and unctuous, with a buttery texture. Wine Enthusiast gave the 80-proof, $29 a-bottle product an 89-point rating, noting the vodka has a relatively neutral nose and palate. We found it well-rounded and smooth with fresh cream and marzipan flavors.
In 2021, actress and entrepreneur Kate Hudson added a new descriptor to her dossier: female spirits advocate. She has been a voice for women’s rights for years, becoming outspoken about the need for gender equality in the workplace, particularly in the film industry (via CNBC). However, that equality had yet to transfer to the alcohol industry.
When it came to finding a vodka to shake for her favorite classic dirty martini, she found the number of women in leadership roles in the liquor world lacking. Hudson shared in a 2021 interview with People that entering the liquor arena was attractive to her as it presents an opportunity to be a “disruptor” simply by being a woman.
With this, the creation of King St. Vodka became a reality. According to Distiller, the craft vodka takes its name after the street in New York where Hudson lived. It is a gluten-free vodka from non-GMO corn and alkaline water in Santa Barbara. The $30-a-bottle liquor is distilled seven times before filtration, creating a clean and pristine 86-proof spirit.
UFC champion fighter Connor McGregor knows a thing or two about Irish whiskey. According to Joe, the Crumlin, Ireland native grew up with a taste for whiskey. After becoming one of the wealthiest fighters in the world, the Irishman joined the alcohol industry, beginning Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. With a triple distilled base of barley and grain, the whiskey ages for four years in former bourbon barrels in the oldest distillery in Ireland.
Unfortunately, the whiskey inside the $27 bottle leaves much to be desired. Business Insider shares that its taste is like vanilla-flavored rubbing alcohol. 31 Whiskey gives it a one out of five (five being the highest). What the product lacks in flavor, it makes up with in heart, as a portion of the proceeds of every crate sold is donated to charity (via Joe). We say to dilute the flavor in a whiskey-cream cocktail.
We would have expected country artist, Blake Shelton, to create tequila after enjoying such success with his single, Tequila Sheila. However, “The Voice“ judge opted to enter into the liquor business with vodka instead, backing Ft. Smith, Arkansas-made Smithworks Vodka. Pernod Richard owns the brand, but the singer is involved in its development and promotion.
In an interview with Hook & Barrel Magazine, Shelton shares how fulfilling being a part of the product development was and how rewarding seeing the brand’s success has been. The Oklahoma native actively endorses the product through his social media and while appearing on talk shows like Ellen, touting the quality of the American-made liquor.
The 80-proof alcohol calls the country’s Heartland home, produced from corn grown in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, with water from Lake Fort Smith. With a clean profile, the vodka distills three times before filtering through charcoal. It costs around $16 a bottle, making it a celebrity booze bargain.
In 2016, country singer George Strait partnered with Ron Snyder and Federico Vaughan to create an ultra-premium tequila produced in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico. Código 1530 showcases a historic recipe passed down through generations following the customs and traditions of tequila artisans from eras before (código means code in English). What began as a drink enjoyed by friends has become one of the top agave products in the ultra-premium tequila sector.
Roasted agave ferments with local yeast grown at a bakery in Amatitán for Código 1530 Reposado. The twice-distilled liquor ages six months in French oak barrels previously used to age Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. We tried the $70-a-bottle tequila, finding its flavor slightly spicy, with subtle vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel flavors and a smooth, lingering palate.
If country singer Kenny Chesney could add all his favorite things into a bottle, he says the result would be Blue Chair Bay Rum.
Influenced by his life on his boat in the Caribbean, living in the moment is what the brand he began almost a decade ago embodies. Named for a fictional place Chesney wrote about in his song “Old Blue Chair,” the Caribbean rum is solely owned by the artist.
Blue Chair Bay Coconut rum is vegan, gluten-free, and 52-proof. Caribbean-grown sugar cane is the base, delivering creamy vanilla, coconut, and toasted spice flavors. It is one of the best rums for mojitos, transporting you to the tropics with each sweet sip. Even better, the rum is available for under $20 a bottle.
Former “Real Housewives of New York” turned millionaire Bethenny Frankel hit it big with her Skinnygirl Margarita. Vinepair reports the housewife introduced the low-calorie cocktail to audiences on her first season of Bravo TV’s New York franchise.
CNBC reports Frankel made less than $10K that first season. However, she held the rights to products she created while on the show, which was lucrative. A few years after launching, Beam Global Spirits & Wine came calling with a multi-million dollar deal to purchase the Skinnygirl Cocktail brand (via Businesswire).
Though Skinnygirl cocktails include a dozen offerings today, including a vodka and wine line, the original Skinnygirl Margarita is the star. The pre-mixed tequila-based cocktail has 35.5 calories per 1½-ounce serving. With an average price of $13 a bottle, the drink provides a modest 12.7% alcohol. Like many ready-to-drink offerings, the product is for immediate, crack-the-bottle-and-pour enjoyment.
