Ryan Reynolds – Aviation Gin
Reynolds is one of a very few, and the only celeb on this list, to invest in the herbaceous juniper infused elixir, gin. The actor, writer and producer, best known at the moment for his role as title character in “Deadpool”, has added another to his resume, he is now the owner of “Aviation Gin”
In an announcement on Twitter, Reynolds tweeted in his traditional tongue in cheek way, “In the long and in no way disastrous marriage of showbiz and alcohol, so happy to announce I’m the proud owner of a gin company.” In an official statement he said “Aviation is the best tasting gin in the world. Once I tried Aviation for the first time. I’ve spent my time finding some way to infiltrate the company,” He will play an active role in the day-to-day business and oversee creative direction of the company. “I did this for one simple reason: It’s the best damn gin on the planet.”
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt – Miraval Rosé
The former superstar couple own and operate a vineyard that they purchased in 2012 for a reported $60 million. In a partnership with a French winemaking family, Jolie and Pitt now find themselves in the wine-making business with Miraval Rosé. The first 6,000 bottles of Miraval Rosé they produced sold out in just five hours when they first hit the market in 2012, and the wine isn’t just some star powered celebrity hobby, It’s actually really delicious and even took a spot on Wine Spectator’s list of the top 100 wines of 2013.
Despite the celebrity couple’s divorce, which was announced in September 2016, work at the estate has continued without interruption. There are currently three new Miraval wines in the works: a Provence red made from Syrah, a Mourvèdre and a Cabernet Franc. That’s in addition to the award-winning rosé and two whites now in production. According to Marc Perrin, who co-owns the estate “We have long-term projects and we’ve just released the latest vintage of Miraval rosé with ‘bottled by Pitt, Jolie and Perrin’ on the label” He continued “It is an investment for the family and the children. They [Jolie and Pitt] are involved in all aspects of running the estate”.
George Clooney – Casamigos Tequila
Clooney’s award-winning tequila, was created in 2013 in a collaboration with his friends, Nightclub operator Rande Gerber, and real estate developer Mike Meldman to create “the best-tasting, smoothest” tequila. Produced in Jalisco, Mexico, the liquor immediately received rave reviews, and when it was sold in 2017 to the spirits giant Diageo the deal was valued at up to $1 billion. $700 million in cash upfront and up to $300 million more if it hits sales targets over the next decade.
Justin Timberlake – Sauza 901 Tequila
Named after his Memphis, Tenn. hometown area code, Sauza 901 is Justin Timberlake’s own brand which first launched in 2009. He co-founded the company and merged it with Beam-Suntory and used the name of their tequila brand “Sauza”. Timberlake is involved primarily in a creative and marketing capacity. He has appeared in some of their advertisements and frequently tweets about the tequila to his nearly 40 millions followers.
Dan Aykroyd – Crystal Head Vodka
Dan Aykroyd, the former Blues Brother and Ghostbuster makes Vodka best known for being sold in a fun glass skull bottle. Aykroyd, in partnership with New York-based artist John Alexander, created a successful vodka that is seven-times distilled and clean in flavor.
Marilyn Manson – Mansinthe Absinthe
Made in Switzerland, Manson’s Absinthe is quite tasty. It won the gold medal at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Marilyn Manson loves it and was heavily involved in the product’s development from flavor and blending, to creating the artwork on the label.
Ludacris – Conjure Cognac
Atlanta-based rapper/actor Christopher Bridges, known to most as Ludacris, has a very successful career closely connected to the party scene, so it is no surprise that he has backs a booze label. Cognac is a high end spirit and this one is crafted under the direction of Ludacris himself.
David Beckham – Haig Club Whisky
In 2014 Diagio announced the global launch of a new single grain Scotch whisky called “Haig Club”. The whisky is made at Cameron Bridge Distillery, one of the oldest grain distilleries in Scotland and was developed in partnership with soccer star David Beckham and entrepreneur Simon Fuller. The whisky is packaged in a blue glass bottle, inspired by the tradition of blenders using blue tasting glasses so the spirit can be reviewed on aroma and taste alone. Oh, and the guy next to him in the image is a shoe maker named Jimmy Choo, he’s a partner in the company too.
Diddy – Ciroc Vodka & DeLeon Tequila
The connection between rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs and the massive company Diageo to develop Ciroc Vodka is among the most successful celebrity partnerships in the history of liquor. Ciroc’s net sales have grown from just under 50,000 cases per year when the partnership was announced to almost 2-million cases today.
The parties involved announced a tequila venture “DeLeon” in 2014. Combs said “I’m not just a celebrity endorser, I’m a brand builder. I’m a luxury brand builder.”
“They’re looking for something that tastes like their lifestyle,” he said. “It’s that trendsetter, that hipster, someone who’s looking for luxury and looking for something better.”
Bob Dylan – Heaven’s Door Spirits
Bob Dylan recently announced a collection of 3 whiskeys that feature his own artwork on the bottle. The blends are finished in “Cigar” Barrels from Vosges, France. Dylan said that he and his partner Marc Bushala “wanted to create a collection of American whiskeys that, in their own way, tell a story.” The products first three blends include a Straight Tennessee Bourbon, a Double Barrel Whiskey, and a Straight Rye Whiskey, each of which have won San Francisco World Spirit’s Competition gold medals.
Drake – Virginia Black Whiskey
In a joint venture back in 2016, the Grammy-winning Canadian rapper and spirits producer Brent Hocking launched Virginia Black Whiskey. This is an American Blended Bourbon, and is said to be “much smoother and sweeter than your average bourbon.”
Channing Tatum – Born and Bred Vodka
The actor says he found himself in the liquor business after struggling to find any “good American vodka.” So he partnered up with Idaho’s Grand Teton Distillery to launch the spirit that has “a smooth taste to it, like a cool feeling in your mouth”
Matthew McConaughey – Wild Turkey Bourbon
Though not really an owner, McConaughey is the creative and campaign director for Wild Turkey, and is responsible for writing, directing and sometimes starring in TV and digital ad campaigns. His involvement is actually very similar to “Diddy”s and hopefully with the “Longbranch” version that he’s put his name on gaining traction amidst positive reviews, he’ll see similar success.
George Straight – Código 1530
“Celebrating a successful show with a shot of tequila backstage has been a concert ritual for a long time now,” he said. “This year, I’m resolving to drink more water, and better tequila,” the country music legend said. This award winning tequila began importing and winning awards in 2016.
Sammy Hagar – Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
Sammy Hagar is most well known from his time with the band Van Halen, but it’s possible that he’ll also be remembered for his effect of celebrity backed craft liquor.
After the success of his Cabo Wabo tequila, which he sold for a total of $91 million, Hagar found a new port in the spirit industry by creating a collection of rums that captured the essence of Hawaii. “It is truly ‘The Spirit of Aloha,’” he says.
Adam Levine (and Sammy Hagar, again) – Santo Mezquila
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, and one of the hosts of televisions “The Voice” has put himself in the liquor business with Sammy Hagar behind a new kind of spirit “Mezquila”.
Tequila is produced using only 100% blue agave, whereas mezcal can be made from any agave plant. The result of the mixture is a “smooth, full agave, rich tequila flavor with a touch of smoky-sweetness that you can only find with Mezcal – perfect for sipping,” Levine said
Kenny Chesney – Blue Chair Bay Rum
Country star Kenny Chesney is the sole owner and chief creative officer of this Caribbean distilled brand. The flavors of rum they offer includes 9 varieties, like white, coconut, spiced, and key lime. All of which are said to be made in “authentic beachside distilleries” .
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