Drinking with the Stars! Are the Celebrity Endorsed Tipples as Delish as They Say They Are?

From George Clooney’s Tequila to Jay-Z’s cognac, drinking with the stars has never looked or tasted so good. But do their offerings live up to the hype? We take a closer look…

Celebrity endorsements are nothing new. As brand ambassadors, a celebrity seen using, wearing, drinking or eating a product results in an upswing in sales, whether as a paid promotion or otherwise.

Today, celebrities don’t just endorse products, they make their own. Cast your eye to the perfume counter and you’ll see what we mean. You can buy perfume ‘made’ by everyone from Britney Spears to Kylie. And the cologne section is much the same.

The latest celebrity product is alcohol. No longer content with advertising the latest fizz coming to the market, celebrities have created their own. From upmarket whisky to tequila, it seems that everyone is getting in on the act.

Are these drinks any good? Should you be drinking with the stars?

Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Brut Gold Champagne | Jay-Z

Is Jay-Z the best rapper of all time? And who is Becky with the good hair? He certainly looms large when it comes to skills and impact, just as there is no denying that Jay-Z is not short on business acumen. 

Like many celebrities, he continues to grow his empire with diversification which is why finding Jay Z products in the alcohol aisle. Except you won’t. Many alcoholic products of celebrities are not available in the local off licence, a bit like the £500 magnum of Jay Z’s Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Gold Champagne. 

It’s everything you would expect of the champagne championed by the King of Rap. Made from three grape varieties, it has a crisp but delicate finish that is delightfully creamy.

Haig | David Beckham

If you enjoy a tot of the finest whisky, you'll love Haig. Once a dynamo on the football field, David Beckham, like Jay-Z, is proving a dynamo in the business world too. The Haig Club is a Scotch whisky brand, with several tipples in its original range.

In 2014, David Beckham lent his name, image and input as a whisky drinker to bring Haig to a prominent younger market. The single malt whisky with no age definition comes in a delightful blue bottle.

Is it worth the price tag? A decent whisky will always come with a matching price tag and there’s no reason to shy away from any of the whiskies from the Haig distilleries. And that includes the Haig Clubman Whisky. Of course, the brand – and the drink – don’t suffer from the Beckham brand advertising that comes with it.

Crystal Head Aurora Vodka | Dan Aykroyd

He has an impressive film career, starting with a spot on the low budget but regular Saturday night show called Saturday Night Live. It wasn’t expected to be a marvel in the ratings but it defied the very low expectations and is still enjoying success today. 

Ghostbusters put his film career on track and, although there were a few box office flops along the way, he has remained a popular choice for many different characters across a range of genres.

In 2007, he conceived the idea of Crystal head vodka, a solution to a problem that bothered Aykroyd – and that was additive-free vodka. He made his own, which proved a success.

But it was a slow journey. The crystal head design of the bottle took some time to create and get right. Eventually, it came to fruition with the Crystal Head vodka brand firmly established in the marketplace.

Aurora is the second variety to be made, with English wheat providing the drier, spicier notes. There is also the rainbow coloured crystal head bottle in support of the LGBTQ+ community too. 

Worth the £60+ per bottle? Most definitely.

 

Casamigos Reposado Tequila | George Clooney

Another celebrity that has been on our screens, large and small, since his very early days on American medical serial ER. As well as being an award-winning actor, he is also a well-known humanitarian and activist for various causes. 

His tequila is also well-known too for his tequila. Made by the company he co-founded in 2013 with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, Casamigos has since been bought by drinks giant Diageo.

Set up by accident, Clooney and Gerber were on a mission to find a tequila they could drink all day, any day but without getting a hangover. They couldn’t find one so they made one of their own. 

Even though they sold the company in 2017, they are still heavily involved, with rumours that Clooney and Gerber still taste every batch of tequila. Clooney says it was never about the money but the product.

It’s a beautiful drink, a tequila of a light amber that slips down easily and smoothly. It comes with a not-too-over-the-top price tag too, a drink worthy of a place in your drinks cabinet any day of the week.

And there’s more…

Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door bourbon whisky to schmooze your friends with and 50 Cent’s Cognac is also a delight to behold. Lenny Kravitz also has a few lines of champagne to choose from if you like a quality fizz and then there is Ryan Reynolds Aviation American Gin, the best gin hands down according to the man himself (although he's just sold it!).

And then there are wines of the right and famous, delightful additions to your next dinner party. But that’s another blog for another day…