13 alcohol brands you didn't know were backed by celebrities

Canadian R&B artist Drake is involved in much more than his clothing line OVO and being the Toronto Raptors ambassador; he also launched Virginia Black Whiskey. The ‘decadent American’ liquor is a collaboration between the rapper and Brent Hocking, creator of DeLeón tequila.

Singer-songwriter-actor Justin Timberlake co-founded his own version of Sauza tequila in 2009, according to Forbes. Branded Sauza 901, it’s named after Timberlake’s hometown area code in Memphis, Tennessee, and for the hour when the party really gets started.
Timberlake’s co-creation took home a gold medal from the esteemed San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012.
(InStyle)

George Clooney co-founded Casamigos tequila with his friends Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman after they set out to create a great-tasting tequila that you could drink neat and that didn’t burn when you swallowed it, reports CNBC. The trio recently sold the for $1 billion to London-based alcoholic beverage company Diageo. (Yahoo)

While not strictly an owner, Matthew McConaughey inked a multi-year deal in 2016 to become Wild Turkey Bourbon brand’s creative director — meaning he will direct and star in a global ad campaign for the fifth-largest bourbon label in the U.S. according to Impact Databank. (People)

Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd launched his Crystal Head Vodka in North America in 2009, and it was promptly banned from being sold in Ontario due to its lifelike human skull glass packaging. Made with Newfoundland water and Canadian wheat and corn, the vodka was allowed back on Ontario liquor store shelves in October 2011. (Canadian Press)

Australian rockers AC/DC partnered with Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in 2016 to release Thunderstruck tequila, named after their epic 1990 track. The spirit will be available in blanco, reposado and anejo varieties.

Retired soccer superstar David Beckham recently teamed up with entrepreneur Simon Fuller and London-based Diageo to promote single grain scotch whisky Haig Club. Sold in a distinctive blue bottle, the whisky is light and sweet, and manufactured in Cameron Bridge distillery near Fife, Scotland. (Haig Club)

John Paul Jones DeJoria is an American entrepreneur best know for co-founding tress-taming Paul Mitchell hair products, but he also purchased brand rights to the Patrón Spirits Company with partner Martin Crowley in 1989. Since then, Patrón tequila has acquired the status of an expensive, sophisticated liquor commonly referenced in popular culture. (Canadian Press)

What exactly is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs not involved in? Back in 2007, the rapper-businessman took over U.S. marketing and promotion for CÎROC vodka in a nearly $100 million deal, with the proceeds from sales being split equally between partner British Diageo. The high-end, grape-distilled spirit is manufactured in France. (Canadian Press)

Bethenny Frankel is definitely the most entrepreneurial — and highest paid — Real Housewife. The reality television star sold her low-calorie alcoholic drink company Skinnygirl five years ago to Beam Global (now Beam Suntory) for $100 million, Forbes reports. But instead of taking a lump sum for the purchase, Frankel brokered a deal where she keeps making money if Skinnygirl alcohol products sell well. (Canadian Press)

Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar is no novice in the alcohol business. He had a great run with his own Cabo Wabo tequila, which he sold off in two stages to Gruppo Campari spirit company for a total of $91 million by 2010. Then, he launched Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum in Hawaii in November 2011. It’s distilled on Maui by Hali’imaile Distilling Company. (Canadian Press)

In 2017, Magic Mike broke into the alcohol business. Stripper-turned-Hollywood-leading-man Channing Tatum says he tasted vodkas from around 25 different distilleries before settling on Born and Bred, which ‘leaves a cool taste in your mouth.’ The actor produces this potato vodka in partnership with Idaho-based Grand Teton Distillery.

Rapper Armando Christian Pérez aka Pitbull aka Mr. Worldwide owns a majority equity stake in Voli 305 Vodka and is also the brand’s global spokesperson. The vodka, made and distilled in Miami using Florida corn, previously came in a ‘lite’ version with fewer calories endorsed by Fergie, formerly of The Black Eyed Peas. (Twitter)