FROM SMOOTH SIPPING TEQUILA BY THE ROCK TO FIZZY, ARTFULLY ILLUSTRATED RTD COCKTAILS WITH BLAKE, THE SPIRITS INDUSTRY IS BRIMMING WITH CELEBRITY CREATORS. GEORGE CLOONEY MIGHT HAVE MADE THE TREND FAMOUS WITH HIS 2018 BILLION-DOLLAR SALE OF CASAMIGOS, BUT HOLLYWOOD’S ELITE HAVE LONG BEEN TRYING THEIR HANDS IN ADULT BEVERAGE ALCHEMY (DAN AYKROYD HAS BEEN IN THE GAME SINCE 2008!). POUR A GLASS AND TOAST TO THESE SPIRITED STANDOUTS WITH SERIOUS STAR POWER BY AMANDA McCOY AND EVAN MONROE

TEQUILA

EVA LONGORIA Casa Del Sol

It began with a simple question: “Tequila is the number one spirit drank by women, and I’m like, ‘Where’s that? Where’s that tequila?’” noted the actress, producer, director, and proud daughter of Mexican-American parents in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. In fact, the ruler of agave in Aztec folklore was a woman, the goddess Mayahuel. So in 2021, Longoria co-launched Casa Del Sol, a female-fronted line of luxury sipping tequilas, crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave, hand-selected from rich clay soil in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The collective includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo, plus the brand’s flagship: the newly released Angel’s Reserve, a delicate blend of añejo and extra añejo aged in French Oak and XO Cognac barrels, boasting notes of honey, toffee, butterscotch, and dried fruit. $65-$200 range. casadelsoltequila.com

LEBRON JAMES

LOBO 1707

Here’s what happens when you mingle with the world’s richest and brightest, you find the opportunity for a truly unique partnership. Such was the case in 2020 when LeBron James met with actor and entrepreneur Diego Osorio to discuss Osorio’s latest spirit creation, Lobos 1707. Named after the Spanish word for “wolves” (which also provided the name of the iconic ‘80s band, Los Lobos), Lobos 1707 is an artisanal collection of tequilas crafted from Blue Weber agave in several styles: mezcal, extra añejo, reposado and joven. Osorio’s original vision was to replicate a Spanish tequila-making process that traces back 500 years. Today, that means aging pure agave in Pedro Ximenez wine barrels, a tip of the hat to the way tequila first made its voyage to Europe, housed in Spanish wine barrels. As for the basketball superstar’s involvement, LeBron was first introduced to Osorio via mutual friend Paul Wachter (himself a superstar in the realm of finance). LeBron had previously expressed his interest in adult libations via a fascination with fi ne wines, but Osorio impressed him so much that he quickly wanted to invest in his tequila. Now their partnership can be enjoyed throughout North America. $45 to $165 range. lobos1707.com

DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON TEREMANA

The former wrestling czar turned actor, producer, and social media maven is also a serial entrepreneur with his hands in several projects, from athletic wear and vitamin-packed energy drinks to his libation of choice: tequila. Teremana (meaning: spirit of the earth) launched in March 2020 and has since been on a tear, amassing over 800,000 followers on the ‘gram (though, to be fair, it’s still far behind Johnson’s 34 million) and selling 915,000 cases in 2022. The brand spans three 100% agave expressions, blanco, reposado, and an oaky añejo, all crafted in the peaks of the Jalisco Highlands and distilled in handmade copper stills. Prices ring in at a digestible $32-$40 range. teremana.com

KENDALL JENNER

818 TEQUILA

Controversy prone as it might be, the Kendall Jenner-fronted tequila has proven wildly successful; in fact, bottles sold out within four hours of 818’s original 2021 release. Named after the San Fernando Valley area code where the now-27-year-old grew up, the Jalisco-born spirit is crafted of 100% hand-plucked Blue Weber agave that’s baked in brick ovens before laid in French oak barrels for aging. It’s available in four expressions, including the traditional blanco, reposado, and añejo varieties, plus a top-end Eight Reserve housed in a sculptural ceramic bottle in the shape of, fittingly, a numerical eight. It’s an eight-year-aged añejo that offers vanilla, clove, and cinnamon on the nose followed by a bouquet of cooked agave, vanilla, dried berries, and praline on the palate. $50-$200 range. drink818.com

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE  

901 SILVER

Justin Timberlake has partnered with Sauza to gift the world a smooth and light tequila named after Memphis, Tennessee, the pop star’s hometown. Crafted with pure Blue Weber agave from Jalisco, Mexico, 901 Silver is an 80-proof spirit with crisp citrus notes. 901 Silver began in 2018, and has proven a big hit with the world’s spirit tastemakers, grabbing the Silver Medal (appropriately) at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This tequila’s brisk and fruity flavor is especially pure, having been distilled three times before making its way to your favorite watering hole or favored high-end liquor store. Within its complex profile, 901 Silver also carries hints of pepper and floral textures. Inspired by Timberlake’s treasured memories of Mexico, 901 Silver is widely available in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. $30. drizly.com

NICK JONAS AND JOHN  VARVATOS VILLA ONE

Bringing together two of the world’s biggest stars their respective fields Nick Jonas and John Varvatos Villa One is an ultra-premium 100% blue agave tequila which, like 901 Silver (also on this list), comes from both the Highland and Lowland areas of Jalisco, Mexico. Slow-cooked in copper pots and utilizing twice-filtered artesian water (drawn from the grounds of the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery), Villa One is aged in American oak barrels, then given lower-temperature toasting than is traditional in tequila making. This gives it the flavor that the spirit’s creators describe as “herbaceous, earthy Lowland notes with the sweeter, fruity notes of Highland agave, resulting in a distinct, rounded profile.” Villa One is the creation of Master Distiller Arturo Fuentes (known as the “Godfather of Tequila”). Fuentes is no stranger to crafting high-end spirits, having also created cognacs and champagne (along with tequila, obviously) during his 30-plus years in the biz. Available in three expressions (silver, reposado, and añejo), Villa One has operated in partnership with the revered non-profit, Stand Up to Cancer. $40 to $55 range. villaonetequila.com

PEYTON MANNING

SWEETENS COVE

Backed by a varsity roster of celebrity investors including sports royalty Andy Roddick and the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning this Tennessee straight bourbon was inspired by the Sweetens Cove Golf Course, a folksy, nine-hole icon tucked into the verdant hills of the Appalachian Mountains. The course has long hosted a cherished ritual: before the first tee, players toast with a shot of bourbon, and upon purchasing the club in 2019, Manning and co. decided the hallowed greens demanded its own drink. After recruiting Marianne Eaves (a bourbon maestro and Kentucky’s first female master distiller), Sweetens Cove Bourbon officially debuted in 2020 and has since racked up accolades like playoff wins. Three expressions span the ‘21 blended bourbon release, Speyside cask finish Scotch, and the fan-favorite Kennesse, finished with toasted sugar maple wood. $60-$300 range. sweetenscovespirits.com

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY

LONGBRANCH BOURBON

From his very first utterance of “all right, all right, all right” in 1993’s seminal Austin-set fi lm, Dazed and Confused, the state of Texas and Matthew McConaughey have been inextricably linked. Then it should be no surprise to discover that Mr. J.K. Livin’ (to the less McConaughey conversant, those first two letters stand for “just keep,” a personal mantra of the man) has created a bourbon that is suffused with the smoky flavor and spirit of the Lone Star state. Long branch is a small-batch bourbon made with Wild Turkey that has been filtered through mesquite charcoal after having been aged for eight years. The name came from the long branch trees that are peppered across the state, and reflect McConaughey’s desire to create a liquor that is “as tough as a long branch tree, but as smooth as a glass of Kentucky sunshine.” This 86-proof whiskey has been a hit with consumers and critics alike, and every bottle sold comes with a donation made to the Trail Conservancy. $40. longbranchbourbon.com

BLAKE LIVELY

BETTY BOOZE

In 2021, the Gossip Girl mega-star launched Betty Buzz, a line of premium, sparkling beverages crafted with fresh fruits, organic herbs, and spices, a perfect base for mixing liquor (or say, Aviation Gin, perhaps). This summer, she officially joined her hubbie as a spirits mogul with the rollout of Betty Booze, a platoon of fizzy, RTD canned cocktails with the same commitment to all-natural ingredients, Lively simply adds the hard stuff this time. The line spans four flavors including a fanfavorite sparkling tequila with lime shiso all clocking in at 4.5% ABV. Naturally, she took to Instagram to share her motivation behind the boozy Betty: @bettybuzz, Good for all ages and preferences. Zero alcohol. @bettybooze, For those who want the alcohol. Because that’s what hosts do. We make something for everyone. And not usually ourselves. Wait, I’m describing moms now.” bettybooze.com

CAMERON DIAZ

AVALINES

Though she’s famously retired from the big screen, the affable A-lister soldiers on in the lifestyle space via Avaline, a collective of all natural wines she co-launched alongside good friend and serial entrepreneur Katherine Power. Diaz is a vocal advocate of the 80/20 rule (i.e. 80% of her diet is clean and nutritious, while leaving room for the fun stuff, such as wine). According to its site, Avaline’s seed was planted when Diaz and Power were catching up over a glass of vino, only to discover they didn’t know and couldn’t easily ascertain what went into their favorite vice. Thus, Avaline was born, crafted from organically farmed grapes and free of undisclosed extras, like added colors, concentrates, and unnecessary sugars. There are six labels available across red, white, sparkling, and rosé varietals. Starting at $24. drinkavaline.com

DAN AYKROYD CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA

Among 21st century celebrity spirits, Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka stands out as a bit of an elder statesman, having entered the game all the way back in 2008. The product of a collaboration between Aykroyd (of the original Ghostbusters and seemingly about 25% of all other major studio comedies from 1980 to 1992) and acclaimed artist John Alexander, the brand combines a pair of fascinations for both men: fi ne Canadian vodka and the legend of the 13 skulls. The latter is a kind of modern myth that traces back to the beginning of the 20th century, and legend has it that ancient native civilizations used 13 mystical skulls with supernatural abilities to heal the sick, grant wishes to the needy, and even open the fabric of space and time to other dimensions. Sadly, no bottle of Crystal Head Vodka contains these metaphysical powers, but it is an unusually pure, seven-times-filtered vodka in a crystal skull bottle, which is cool enough on its own. $50 to $130 range. crystalheadvodka.com

KATE HUDSON  KING ST. VODKA

The story behind this small-batch sipper begins when the Hollywood sweetheart noticed a vexing void in the vodka industry: a lack of female-fronted brands. Hudson then teamed up with master distiller and spirits industry veteran Ian Cutler to craft King St., named after the actress’ Manhattan address. The process uses non-GMO corn and alkaline water for a gluten-free, ultra-smooth pour that boasts just a kiss of sweet vanilla. The graphic floral bottle art aligns with Hudson’s persona: feminine, playful, approachable. $27. kingstvodka.com

CHANNING TATUM BORN AND BRED CRAFT VODKA

Born and Bred Craft Vodka differs from many recent celebrity spirits by operating on the belief that many of the best liquors can be found right here in the United States. The inspired invention of longtime friends and creative partners, Channing Tatum and Jack Maloney, this vodka is a small-batch liquor born from glacial mountain water and Idaho potatoes. Operating out of the Grand Teton Distillery in Driggs, Idaho, it’s an unusually pure vodka, having been filtered 20 times before it makes it into the stylishly rustic bottles. Tatum views Born and Bred as a genuine passion project, and he wanted his and Maloney’s brand to reflect the kind of heartland American values that raised them. Tatum particularly thought of his own humble Alabama upbringing when coming up with the vision for the sauce. He particularly credits the fi ne farm ingredients, harvested from the volcanic soil of the Snake River Plain in southern Idaho, in really helping Born and Bred Craft Vodka to capture “the spirit of the South.” $17. bornandbred.com

BRUNO MARS SELVAREY RUM

SelvaRey Rum is a premium rum creation from Bruno Mars and some of the best Peruvian rum makers on the planet. Forged from sugarcane plucked from the vibrant soils of the Peruvian rain forest, it is then aged for five years in American oak barrels and available in several styles: chocolate, coconut, and white rum. There’s also an Owner’s Reserve expression that’s a blend of tropically spiced rums aged between 15 and 25 years. Bruno Mars views these rums as the perfect way of capturing the “spirit of celebration,” and he was equally drawn by the creators’ and manufacturers’ commitment to sustainability. SelvaRey Rum works with the Rainforest Alliance to make sure that its sugarcane growth is both sustainable and carbon neutral, and its packaging uses all recycled materials. $30 to $200 range. selvarey.com

RYAN REYNOLDS AVIATION GIN

In 2018, the Deadpool star famously bought a hefty stake in Oregon-based startup Aviation Gin, noting “I’ve tried every gin on the planet and Aviation is, hands down, the best.” Touted as a fulfilling passion project for the recreational tippler, the venture also turned out to be a sound business investment; two years later, the company sold for $610 million to British spirits giant Diageo (the proprietors of Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray). Reynolds still maintains an ongoing ownership interest in the botanical spirit, crafted from a blend of cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and orange peel. $27. aviationgin.com