ENGLISH ACTRESS AND HARRY POTTER ROYALTY EMMA WATSON TEAMED WITH HER BROTHER ON AN HERBAL INFUSED, SUPERSTAR SPIRIT INSPIRED BY THE FAMED FRENCH WINEMAKING REGION OF BURGUNDY, AND IT’S PRIME FOR REFRESHING SUMMER SIPPERS
BY WILL HARRIS
She may be 35 years old as of this writing, but for those who watched her grow up on the silver screen while playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, it still somehow feels a little bit odd to think that Emma Watson should be old enough to be promoting her own line of gin.
Actually, it’s not strictly hers: Renais Gin is a co-endeavor with Watson’s brother, Alex. Between the two of them, however, they’ve spent the past couple of years building the brand into a formidable force in the gin market, raising a £4.95 million investment to support further international expansion and its continued growth in the U.S. market.
“It’s been an exciting year for Renais, and this new raise is a key milestone in the brand’s growth,” Alex Watson told The Spirits Business. “The raise will support expansion in the U.S. off the back of our successful California and New York launch, as well as our continued focus on content and community engagement. As consumers’ preference for premiumization and a desire to drink less but better continues to grow, we are in a unique position in the gin category to capture their attention and tell our story of heritage, craftsmanship, and provenance.”
Renais Gin is infused with natural botanicals, including juniper berries, cubeb berries, Kimmeridgian stone, acacia honey, linden flower, and grand cru grapes. When given a taste test by the website Drinkhacker, it earned a rave review.
“On the palate, the gin is a power house,” wrote Christopher Null. “Fans of modern, more gossamer gins will laugh in the face of Renais. Powerful notes of juniper, rosemary, and thyme give the gin an immediate punch of green herbs, as piney as a walk amongst the evergreens can be. The drinker is in for some surprises, however, as a brisk citrus quality soon becomes clear, followed by a growing, insistent sweetness. The acacia honey in the mix is no joke, providing a soothing backbone against which the aggressive herbal notes can find some rest. The finish is lightly sweet and tinged with florals again, making for a spirit that is delightful on its own but also a natural companion with tonic.”
Beyond Drinkhacker’s remarks, Renais also won a gold medal at the Gin Masters 2024 competition.
“Our dad has been in the wine business for a very long time, and we’ve both kind of grown up very much around that for the past 30 years,” Alex told People in 2024. “We’ve spoken before about how to honor that and carry it forward.”
“Getting to spend time with my dad and my sister doing this is honestly so cool. I’ll always be very grateful for this period of time and the nature of this project,” he continued. “At the same time, there’s creative differences. I think it’s good because Emma and I stay in our own lanes, but she is definitely a bit of a perfectionist, which can be quite challenging. I’m probably a bit more pragmatic, so we butt heads there occasionally, but generally it’s just very lovely.”
Renais