Celebrity booze has become the latest A-list side-hustle.
The bar has become a far more star-studded space lately, with everyone from Emma Watson and Rita Ora to Gary Barlow getting into the spirit.
Even tequila, famously once a shot that accelerated or abruptly ended a night out, has been given a healthy swipe of celebrity gloss with the UK’s Jodie Kidd, Lewis Hamilton and Rita Ora launching their own artisan bottles to join the likes of The Rock’s Teremana and Jenner’s 818 across the Pond.
The next big thing? Celebrity whisky.
Big names have rolled out their versions of the firewater, boosted by the sort of stardust that only fame can bring. From David Beckham and Bob Dylan to, surprisingly, Beyoncé, the category is booming.
While some have stayed faithful to Scotch, big names from across the Atlantic are bringing warming and rich bourbons and Canadian whiskey to the party.
But as we know all too well with makeup and fragrance brands, just because a star has saddled their horse to a brand, it doesn’t mean the resulting product will be any good.
To help you sniff out the finest, we’ve sorted the best celebrity whisky brands out there worth splashing out on.
Find our favourites below and shop now
SirDavis
Star power: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Had no idea Queen B was in the whiskey biz? The Texan star teamed up with Möet Hennessy to bring to life this brand, named after her whiskey-making ancestor, Davis Hogue.
Crafted with American Rye and poured into one of the prettiest whiskey bottles we've seen, the serve can be sipped neat or added to a cocktail. It's perfect right now as Cowboy Carter rolls into the capital (not least thanks to that horse emblem), with bars including House Party, Three Sheets, Mama Shelter and Four Seasons Tower Bridge pouring cocktails with the spirit.
Giddy up.
Buy now £82.75, The Whisky Exchange
Wolfie’s Blended Scotch Whisky
Star power: Sir Rod Stewart
It seems only fitting that part-Scotsman Stewart owns a whisky brand.
The blended Scotch bears Sir Rod’s signature under a strangely sexy winking wolf donning a top hat and the brand’s swirling font, suggesting a serve that’s as fun and wild as one of the Maggie May singer’s performances. We’re sure there’s bound to be a bottle in the wings before he takes to Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in this year’s legend slot.
The spirit has gone through double distillation and been aged in charred bourbon casks. The result? Layers of sweet and jammy fruity notes round off with the butteriness of oak.
Buy now £34.95, Master of Malt
Lagavulin 11 Year Old Offerman Edition Guinness Cask Finish
Star power: Nick Offerman
It may not be his brand exactly, but acting legend Nick Offerman has a long-standing relationship with Scottish distiller Lagavulin. This one came about in 2019, inspired by his Parks & Rec character Ron Swanson, who called whisky the "nectar of the gods".
The bottle, which bears Swanson's likeness, contains a spirit that has been aged in Guinness beer casks for 11 years, taking on subtle notes of the black stuff: think dark chocolate, roasted coffee and smooth caramel.
Buy now £250.00, The Whisky Exchange
Red Bank Whisky
Star power: Kiefer Sutherland
Co-founded by English-born actor Kiefer Sutherland, Red Bank Whisky pits itself as a premium Canadian whiskey. The blended spirit is a medley of rye, corn and wheat whiskies, with some aged in new American oak barrels and others in ex-bourbon barrels to create the new world whisky flavour.
As you might imagine, all that time sitting around in wooden barrels has left the spirit with a sweet and oaky profile.
Buy now £44.95, The Whisky Exchange
Heaven's Door Tennessee Bourbon
Star power: Bob Dylan
Knock, knock, knock on Dylan's door for a taste of his Tennessee bourbon. The spirit, which is of course named after the icon’s hit 1983 track Knockin' on Heaven's Door, has collected several awards since its launch in 2018, proving it can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Expect notes of vanilla, warm bread and toasty oak swirling in the bottle.
Buy now £66.95, The Whisky Exchange
Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon
Star power: Matthew McConaughey
Full of sweetness and smoke, this bottle of Wild Turkey is the result of two men’s efforts: the brand’s Master Distiller Eddie Russell and the brand’s Creative Director – Wolf of Wall Street actor Matthew McConaughey.
Dangerously easier to glug down than Scotch, this bourbon is rich and rounded, refined with wood from Kentucky and Texas, both the creator’s home states. The small batch bourbon is an excellent choice for gifting, for both long-time bourbon fans as well as those just starting out on their journey.
Buy now £33.25, The Whisky Exchange
Haig Club Clubman
Star power: David Beckham
Brand Beckham added to its usual football and fashion ventures when, in 2014, David became a Haig Club partner, owned by Diageo. The drink is aimed to appeal to a new market of whisky drinkers, which will help with Golden Balls on side (not to mention his 75m Instagram followers).
It’s a departure from the old-fashioned perception of whisky, housed in a square blue bottle, made from single grain and aged in old American bourbon casks.
Buy now £18.44, ASDA
