Whisky may have many famous fans - from fictional characters to celebrities - but only a few have gone on to release their own bottlings.
From Hollywood stars to TV characters, and a global superstar, here are some celebrities that have their own whiskies.
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Global superstar Beyoncé is set to be the latest celebrity to launch their own alcohol brand as she prepares to launch a rye whiskey.
The rye whiskey, which is a whiskey distilled with at least 51% rye grains, has been ‘finished, blended and bottled’ in Texas - Beyoncé is from Houston, Texas. It’s being made by Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Distilleries.
This unique product was years in the making after Knowles-Carter, a Japanese whisky enthusiast, sought out Moët Hennessy to help craft a one-of-a-kind flavour profile that reflected her whisky ideal.
Meanwhile, Moët Hennessy had been exploring ways to deepen its presence in the American whisky market, making the timing ideal for a partnership between the luxury group and Knowles-Carter.
Of her whiskey, Beyoncé said: “I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling. When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated.
"SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy. In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whisky that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category. You can taste it better than I could ever tell you — welcome, SirDavis.”
SirDavis is named in honour of Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. He stashed whisky bottles in the empty knots of cedar trees for friends and kin to find and enjoy.
SirDavis is priced at £79 and is available for pre-order. The whiskey will be available at retail across the U.K as well as in select airports (LAX/JFK/SFO) and stores across the U.S, Paris, and Tokyo in September 2024.
Pre-order or buy here.
In mid-August, Springbank Distillers joined forces with the multiple BRIT and Ivor Novello-winning Scottish rock band Travis to release a special collaborative bottling.
Coinciding with the release of Travis’s new album, L.A. Times, the 26 year old bourbon matured Springbank was carefully selected in partnership with the band and proudly displays the L.A. Times album artwork.
A limited release of 234 bottles, the Springbank Travis bottling were available for £1,250, but as you can imagine with any new or rare Springbank, sold out quickly.
The Outlander star revealed in 2020 that he’d be releasing a whisky, The Sassenach.
The whisky, whose name is a nod to the nickname Sam’s character Jamie has given his on-screen love interest Claire on the show, had a successful trial in the USA, before being released in the UK in late 2020.
The Sassenach is a blended Scotch whisky, and has won multiple awards since its release.
A big fan of single malts, Heughan shared with us some of his favourites a few years back.
Tempted? You can pick up a bottle here.
The Still Game stars released a whisky named after their characters in 2021. When registration opened, thousands of fans signed up to snap up a bottle of the limited edition whisky, which is priced at £35.
The blended Scotch whisky has been created to suit whisky newcomers and connoisseurs alike, with tastes of honeyed orchard fruits and sweet malted barley.
The whisky also has a delicate peat smokiness and notes of fresh vanilla and oak spice.
You can buy a bottle here
Kiefer Sutherland recently unveiled his new whisky to the UK, Red Bank.
It is a premium Canadian whisky, paying tribute to Kiefer’s Canadian roots and love of the spirit. This is the first UK launch of its kind for the actor and musician.
Commenting on the launch, Kiefer Sutherland, Founder of Red Bank Whisky, said: “The thing that I found so fascinating about Red Bank and this journey developing the whisky is the incredible pride Canadians take in themselves and their country.
"I was born in England and I know the British people feel the same, but I grew up in Canada and one of the things that I’ve admired about Canada is its great diversity not just in its landscapes and culture, but it’s people as well.
"I am proud to have Red Bank represent all that is authentically Canadian and I am absolutely thrilled to bring it to the UK with the help of Mangrove Global.”
Red Bank Whisky is a blend of rye, corn and wheat whiskies. The rye and wheat whiskies are aged in new American oak barrels, while the corn whisky is aged in bourbon barrels.
Non-chilled - filtered and bottled at 40% this premium blended Canadian whisky is full of sweet, oaky character. You can buy it here.
Founded by Sir Rod Stewart and designed to reflect his rock ‘n’ roll heritage, with subtle nods to Americana, Wolfie’s is a blended Scotch whisky that was inspired by the legendary musician’s early hell raising days with the Faces.
Wolfie’s is balanced with flavours of warming cinnamon, fresh vanilla and baked apple – Rod’s favourite flavours.
The whisky has a delicate taste of sweet peat and pears in syrup before finishing with candied citrus peels and a gentle oak spice.
If you want to drink like a Hollywood A-lister, then pick up a bottle of Wild Turkey Longbranch.
It’s a collaboration between Wild Turkey master distiller, Eddie Russell and actor Matthew McConaughey, who is also the brand’s creative director.
It is made using an eight year old Wild Turkey bourbon and was created to reflect McConaughey’s links to Texas and Kentucky.
Find out more and buy here
This Irish whiskey, which launched in 2018, comes from former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion, Conor McGregor.
It is a blend of Irish grain and single malt Irish whiskey, with notes of vanilla, honey and toasted wood.
Conor worked with David Elder, master distiller of Proper Twelve (previously of Guinness). Together they sampled close to one hundred blends before selecting the final blend.
The legendary metal band released this whiskey back in 2018. It has been created in collaboration with distiller David Pickerell and is made with a blend of bourbons and ryes.
The liquid is matured in black brandy bottles, and is named for the band’s song Blackened.
Find out more and buy it here.
The Parks and Recreation star, Nick Offerman, teamed up with Lagavulin to launch a limited edition 11-year-old whisky in 2019.
He’s since gone on to have yearly releases, with this year’s being a Caribbean cask finish edition. The collaboration is the result of both the actor and his character's love of the Islay distillery's spirit.
Speaking about the initial release, Offerman said: “I have spent countless hours parsing the alchemy for a new, limited-edition whisky with Lagavulin Distillery Manager Colin Gordon.
"Together, we have concocted a most edifying nectar – Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years.
"Carrying the signature Lagavulin Islay Single Malt peatiness with sweet berry and orchard fruit notes, this Scotch whisky is for those who adore Lagavulin’s patented smoky flavour and the patience required to masterfully distil a Single Malt’ is what they told me to say, but I would rather just tell you that I am giggling with delight at the notion of people enjoying this limited-edition Scotch.”
Another big name in music who has worked with a brand to create an American whiskey is Bob Dylan.
Heaven's Door is a collection of handcrafted American whiskeys co-created with Dylan. Each bottle has a depiction of Dylan’s distinctive welded iron gates, which he created in his studio, Black Buffalo Ironworks.
There’s a few to choose from here, including a Kentuky straight bourbon, double barrel whiskey and straight rye whiskey.
Find out more and buy here
