The only thing as predictable as a heat wave in the summer is a celebrity-driven alcohol brand popping up every few months. Some are brands that the celebrity has given their proverbial heart and soul to create from the beginning, some bought into an established brand, and others simply slapped their name on a bottle. That’s not to say there aren’t great collaborations that create delicious, sometimes even award-winning alcohol, but most are undrinkable duds.
Our list below will only highlight the best of them because we know you could spend hours reading stories about celebrity brands and not have a grasp on which are good and which ones are highly touted because of the name (or names) associated with them. Lucky for you, we did the work so you don’t have to spend an afternoon scrolling through online retailers and reading reviews to see which brands you should buy. Keep reading below to learn about the twenty best celebrity alcohol brands.
It’s not all bling-ed-out vodka bottles or tequila meant only for shots, celebrity brands run the gamut from gin, bourbon, Irish whiskey, single malt Scotch whisky, mezcal, and even wine. In this saturated marketplace, there’s something for every style of drinker and every palate.
Best Celebrity Alcohol Brands at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following:
- Best overall: Aviation Gin – Ryan Reynolds
- For whisky: Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon — Matthew McConaughey
- For vodka: Crystal Head Vodka — Dan Aykroyd
- For tequila: Casamigos Tequila — George Clooney
Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
Table of contents
- Best Celebrity Alcohol Brands at a Glance
- 1. Aviation Gin — Ryan Reynolds
- 2. Sweetens Cove Bourbon — Peyton Manning/Andy Roddick
- 3. Lagavulin Offerman Edition Single Malt — Nick Offerman
- 4. Casamigos Tequila — George Clooney
- 5. Virginia Black Whiskey — Drake
- 6. Dos Hombres Mezcal — Bryan Cranston/Aaron Paul
- 7. Maison No. 9 – Post Malone
- 8. CÎROC — Sean “Diddy” Combs
- 9. Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon — Matthew McConaughey
- 10. Singani 63 — Steven Soderbergh
- 11. Cincoro Tequila — Michael Jordan
- 12. Crystal Head Vodka — Dan Aykroyd
- 13. Mulholland Distilling — Walton Goggins
- 14. Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey — Conor McGregor
- 15. 818 Tequila — Kendall Jenner
- 16. Teremana Tequila — Dwayne Johnson
- 17. Heaven’s Door Whiskey — Bob Dylan
- 18. The Pogues Whiskey — The Pogues
- 19. Hampton Water Rosé – Jon Bon Jovi
- 20. Papa Salt Gin – Margot Robbie
- Why So Many Celebrities Join Alcohol Brands
- Your FAQs Answered
1. Aviation Gin — Ryan Reynolds
Famous one-liner comedic actor and the star of ‘Deadpool’, Ryan Reynolds may have sold Aviation Gin to European alcohol giant Diageo for over $600 million US back in 2020, but he’s still involved with the popular gin and even continues to make hilarious, tongue-in-cheek commercials for it. One of the most popular gins on the market, it’s well-known for being a great base for your favourite gin cocktails.
2. Sweetens Cove Bourbon — Peyton Manning/Andy Roddick
Award-winning whiskey brand Sweetens Cove was founded in 2019 by a group that included tennis star Andy Roddick and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. The brand has a handful of whiskeys including a blend of Tennessee and Kentucky bourbons as well as a blend that’s been aged in single malt Scotch barrels from Speyside.
3. Lagavulin Offerman Edition Single Malt — Nick Offerman
Before we move on, it should be noted that comedic actor, woodworking, and writer Nick Offerman doesn’t have any ownership stake in the iconic Scotch whisky brand Lagavulin. But he loves the whisky so much that he joined a partnership to release limited edition expressions. The most recent release is called Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Charred Oak Cask. It’s an 11-year-old single malt whisky that was matured in a combination of heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels and ex-red wine casks. It was created to be paired with medium-rare steak (just like Offerman likes it).
4. Casamigos Tequila — George Clooney
One of the most popular and well-known tequila brands in the world, Casamigos was founded in 2013 by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman. It was sold in 2022 to Diageo, but that hasn’t changed the fact that it will always be associated with the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ star. It’s known for its blanco, reposado, añejo, and even cristalino tequilas, but the brand also recently began producing mezcal as well.
5. Virginia Black Whiskey — Drake
Drake might be most known for his love of Toronto Raptors basketball and hits like ‘Nice For What’ and ‘Hotline Bling’, but he collaborated with well-known spirits producer Brent Hocking to create Virginia Black Whiskey back in 2016. Referred to by the brand as a “decadent American whiskey”, it’s a blend of bourbons matured in charred American white oak barrels.
6. Dos Hombres Mezcal — Bryan Cranston/Aaron Paul
You would have a hard time finding two better friends than Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. They might have been an odd couple in ‘Breaking Bad’, but in real life, they are so chummy that they decided to start a mezcal brand together in 2019. While it makes a limited edition Tobala Mezcal, it’s most known for its Espadin Mezcal with its fruity, floral, oaky flavour profile with just a hint of campfire smoke.
7. Maison No. 9 – Post Malone
Often celebrities seem to want to be associated with flash booze brands. Vodka, tequila, and whiskey seem to be favourites. But American rapper and singer Post Malone decided to go a little more upscale with this brand. In 2020, along with music producer Dre London and entrepreneur James Morrisey, Post Malone launched Maison No. 9, a Mediterranean-inspired clean, crisp, dry rosé wine.
8. CÎROC — Sean “Diddy” Combs
Well-known French vodka brand Cîroc was founded by Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, but it’s most known for its relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs. For years, Combs was the face of the brand (as well as DeLeon Tequila) even though it was owned by Diageo. Even though he and the company parted ways this past summer, CÎROC will always be associated with the ‘Bad Boy For Life’ rapper.
9. Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon — Matthew McConaughey
In 2016, Matthew McConaughey began to work with Wild Turkey in the launch of Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon. But it was more than just a celebrity endorsement, he was named the creative director of the small batch bourbon that gets extra flavour from the use of oak and mesquite charcoal. It’s known for its nose of vanilla and oak and its palate of honeysuckle, caramel, vanilla, spices, and light smoke.
10. Singani 63 — Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh was in Madrid in 2007, filming the movie ‘Che’ when his Bolivian casting director brought him a bottle of Singani, a brandy made in the Bolivian Andes. He loved it so much, he decided to bring it to the US market. The flavour is very floral with notes of grape peels as well as gentle cracked black pepper. It’s smooth, sippable, and incredibly unique.
11. Cincoro Tequila — Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player in NBA history. He’s also an avid golfer and one of the owners and founders of Cincoro Tequila along with other NBA owners Jeanie Buss, Wes Edens, Wyc Grousbeck, and Emilia Fazzalari. Known for its smooth, easy-drinking flavour, the brand makes blanco, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and gold.
12. Crystal Head Vodka — Dan Aykroyd
Not only is Dan Akroyd one of the greatest cast members in ‘Saturday Night Live’ History, but he was also one of the best comedic actors of the 1980s and 90s. On top of that, he owns his own vodka brand: Crystal Head Vodka. The skull bottle was designed by Aykroyd and John Alexander. The vodka inside is made from locally sourced Canadian corn. It was distilled four times before being blended with water from Newfoundland, Canada. It’s filtered seven full times through Herkimer diamonds.
13. Mulholland Distilling — Walton Goggins
In the last decade, Walton Goggins has become one of the best character actors in Hollywood. He’s also the co-owner and co-founder of Mulholland Distilling along with photographer and friend Matthew Alper. They create award-winning spirits including gin and vodka, but the brand is most known for its Mulholland American Whiskey. This 100-proof whiskey is known as a sipper and a well-balanced mixer.
14. Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey — Conor McGregor
Founded in 2018. Proper No. Twelve quickly became one of the biggest-selling Irish whiskeys in the world. This is in large part because it was highly advertised by its founder MMA superstar Conor McGregor. Before all of that, he worked with a master distiller to create a blend of Irish grain and single malt whiskey. It’s known for its sweet, honey, and vanilla-forward flavour profile.
15. 818 Tequila — Kendall Jenner
As you likely know, in order to be called a tequila, the agave-based spirit must be made in the state of Jalisco (where the town of Tequila is located) as well as in a handful of other states. And while Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila was produced in Jalisco, its name comes from the model’s hometown of Calabasas, located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California.
16. Teremana Tequila — Dwayne Johnson
A new tequila on the market, Teremana was launched in 2020 and is already one of the most popular. This is thanks to its high quality as well as the fact that it was founded by Dany Garcia, Jenna Fagnan, Ken Austin, and world-famous action star Dwayne Johnson. Currently, the brand makes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequilas.
17. Heaven’s Door Whiskey — Bob Dylan
Heaven’s Door Whiskey was co-founded in 2018 by famed folk singer Bob Dylan. Named after ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ as well as the art studio where he does his metalwork. Not only is every bottle a world of art, but the brand has also won numerous awards in the few years it’s been on the market. While it makes myriad expressions, it’s well known for its Revival Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
18. The Pogues Whiskey — The Pogues
The English and Irish band the Pogues is one of the most well-known punk bands in the world. So it should be no surprise that it launched its own whiskey along with well-known whiskey maker Frank McHardy. This blend of 10-year-old single malt Irish whiskey that was matured in sherry casks and four-year-old Irish grain whiskey that was aged in ex-bourbon barrels.
19. Hampton Water Rosé – Jon Bon Jovi
Jesse and his famous father Jon Bon Jovi launched Hampton Water Rosé. Its name comes from the nickname given to rosé wine. But it’s more than simply another celebrity wine brand. It has won myriad awards including being named to Wine Spectator’s annual list of best wines. It’s well-known for its fruity flavour profile, light acidity, and crisp, dry finish.
20. Papa Salt Gin – Margot Robbie
Made to pay homage to sunny days spent drinking gin and gin-based cocktails, Papa Salt was founded by Josey McNamara, Regan, and Charlie Maas as well as iconic actress Margot Robbie. Made with Australian herbs and botanicals, it’s known for its flavour profile featuring notes of citrus peels, wildflowers, and just a hint of cracked black pepper. It’s a perfect base for your favourite gin-based cocktail any time of year.
Why So Many Celebrities Join Alcohol Brands
If you were a celebrity, wouldn’t you want to own an alcohol brand or endorse one? You already have the name recognition. Why not use it to endorse a whiskey, gin, vodka, tequila, rum, wine, or beer you already enjoy drinking? Even better, be a founder of a brand or buy a stake.
It’s not surprising that there are seemingly countless celebrity brands of spirits and wine. People are willing to try gins, vodkas, rums, whiskies, and wines endorsed or founded by actors, athletes, and other well-known people. You can also equate the growth in the celebrity marketplace because of the potential to grow and sell a brand to a larger company like Diageo the way Casamigos and Aviation did.
Spirits Market Growth
According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, spirits market share in the US has overtaken beer. The alcoholic drink market is expected to continue to grow yearly in Australia as well. This means there’s even more room for celebrity-driven brands. But, while there are still celebrities that simply slap their name on a gin, vodka, or whiskey, there are also more award-winning, highly popular celebrity-founded and endorsed spirits and wines. On top of that, not only are consumers more likely to spend more to buy a celebrity brand, but they are also more likely to spend more for a premium brand (especially if it has a notable person’s name slapped on it).
Your FAQs Answered
As we mentioned earlier, George Clooney is one of the founders of Casamigos Tequila along with Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman. It was sold for $1 billion US back in 2017. This sale is one of the reasons we see so many celebrity brands today. Especially celebrity tequila brands. Even though George Clooney is no longer one of its owners, he’ll always be associated with this tequila brand.
Aviation Gin was Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian in 2006. It was already a popular brand when it was purchased by New York-based distributor Davos Brands in 2016. It was propelled into a new stratosphere of popularity when famous actor Ryan Reynolds bought a stake in the company in 2018. It was sold to Diageo in 2020, but Reynolds is still involved with the brand, even continuing to make appearances for the gin and starring in comedic commercials.
It’s hard to argue that there’s any celebrity alcohol brand more successful than Casamigos. As we mentioned earlier, well-known actor George Clooney was one of its founders. It sold for a staggering $1 billion US dollars. While there are many other successful celebrity brands, there are none that rival Casamigos.
