Drew Barrymore is coming out with her own brand of pinot grigio, joining a number of other stars who have taken drinking to a business level. From Justin Timberlake’s 901 tequila to Marilyn Manson’s Mansinthe, see more stars’ alcohol ventures.
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Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice is the sort of woman who can both flip tables and create her own brand of sparkling wine with ease. The reality star felt the need to create her own brand of bellini, a cocktail made with prosecco and peach nectar, because, as she put it, “It can be hard to find peach nectar, so I decided to make a pre-bottled mixed bellini myself—and I named it Fabellini.”
On her official website, former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel, the creator of Skinnygirl Cocktails, is described as a “renowned natural foods chef, mixologist, New York Times bestselling author, and star of Bethenny Ever After.” It’s only natural then, that such an entrepreneur created a brand of low-calorie spirits, including “margarita, sangria, white cranberry cosmo, wine, and vodka.” For those who want to go the whole nine yards, Skinnygirl workout videos, face and body products, undergarments, and self-help books also are available.
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With the arrival of Donald Trump’s own brand of “super premium” vodka (which came with the promising tagline, “Success distilled”) in 2006, the mogul promised that it would become the most requested drink in America. It didn’t. Six years later, production on the vodka had stopped completely, reportedly “because the company failed to meet the threshold requirements.”
Inspired by his 1978 hit song, “Old Whiskey River,” Willie Nelson’s brand of bourbon was made just the way he likes it: “smooth, sweet, and mellow.” Though we’re not sure how work-intensive the creative process was for the country star. According to the bourbon’s website, the extent of Nelson’s involvement in its creation was just taste-testing samples while on the road, and giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down verdict.
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You’ll have to shell out $160 for a bottle of former NFL wide receiver and current ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson’s new brand of wine, KJ1. The wine is a “super premium” 2007 Cabernet from Eastern Oregon, according to Deadspin, and the former athlete has assured consumers that he’s a longtime fan. “I’ve enjoyed wine for years and for me, cabernet is king,” Johnson said in a statement.
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After Lorraine Bracco played Tony Soprano’s psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, on HBO’s hit series, The Sopranos, it’s understandable that she would want to take on another, possibly less stressful role: wine entrepreneur. The actress launched her own Bracco Wines label in 2006, which included eight different varieties of wine, including pinot grigio and primitivo. Bracco is such a lover of wine, apparently, that she even named her daughter after one: Margaux, after Chateau Margaux.
Drew Barrymore’s had plenty of reason to smile lately: she’s happily engaged to a handsome art consultant, is reportedly expecting her first child—and now she boasts her own wine label too. The actress’s Barrymore 2011 Pinot Grigio has already won a gold medal at Le Challenge International du Vin, France’s largest international wine competition, and will hit New York stores May 3 (though anyone can order a bottle online for $20 a pop). “I love wine, and it’s always fun when you can do something in your work life that you love in your personal life,” Barrymore told Wine Spectator magazine. What does the pinot grigio taste like? Apparently, like Drew’s “personality,” according to the wine’s promotional materials: “A fan of crisp, fruity white wine, Barrymore has created a wine that reflects her style and personality: fresh, dynamic and fun.”
The three brothers who once sent pre-teen girls into fits of hysteria are now catering to their legal fans … and possibly trying to get them drunk. The ‘90s sensation Hanson is about to come out with their own beer, which the pop trio reportedly revealed during a concert and discussion at the Oxford Union in late Nov. 2011. The siblings—Isaac, 31, Taylor, 28, and Zac, 26—are naming their new booze after their 1997 breakout and lyrically puzzling hit “MMMbop.” According to reports, their MMMhop beer is an India pale ale due out early next year, according to the Daily Express. "It's vital our fans trust in everything Hanson do,” youngest Zac said. “We are soon going to be selling our own beer. I'm not joking – Mmmhop IPA anyone?"
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In 1999, Kid Rock stepped onto the music scene with his stringy blond hair and wife beater tank, rapping about "the shots of Jack and the caps of meth." Clearly, he was a man who indulged in a few questionable substances. After getting involved in multiple altercations, Pamela Anderson's on-again-off-again man admitted he should have been treated for alcoholism. "I think [the judge] probably should have sent me to Alcoholics Anonymous because I do have a drinking problem," he told Q magazine in 2009. Nevertheless, that same year, the rapper decided to debut his own brand of beer, American Badass Redneck Lager. "I want this to be like the beer I drink," Kid Rock explained. "You grab it, you share it with your friends, it's refreshing, it's cold, it gives you a good buzz. Done." But those who tried it were not impressed. "The taste is terrible with slick thin sugary sweetness, corn, a sense of skunk, floral hops, and an all too timid level of spicy hops," one reviewer said. Another bluntly asked: "Does Kid Rock just stick his finger in every can off the line?"
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When Mariah Carey stepped onto the stage at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival to accept an award, her teetering, giggling, and rambling were proof enough that the diva was—as she explained—"a little bit, um…" Just a few weeks after her drunk acceptance speech, Carey announced her own brand of Champagne, Angel Hint of Pink by MC. The bubbly—made in Champagne-capital Reims, France—has limited annual production and costs up to $290,000 per bottle so it only makes rounds at special events. Recently, Carey served it to her lambs at the launch party for her latest holiday album, Merry Christmas II You. Those lucky enough to have tasted Carey's Champagne seem so few and far between that it's difficult to get a review of the indulgent drink—but is there any way it's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars?
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Though his double platinum 2003 album was called Chicken-n-Beer, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges decided to go harder with his alcoholic endeavor and explore his true love: cognac. To create a label, Ludacris told Honey magazine that he loves "cognac so much that instead of just endorsing another product or putting my name on something, I took it upon myself to actually meet with a business partner and go out to Cognac, France, and blend my own." The rapper said his Conjure Cognac is "the best quality cognac … but I wanted to offer it at a price at which you would buy a regular quality cognac." He added: "Conjure means to conjure your imagination and conjure good times." Unfortunately, the spirit conjured up mediocre reviews, with one critic noting though its bottle is "superb," it's best if used as a mixer. Another said, "The end result can only be described as out of balance."
It's difficult to determine who likes her white wine the most among the Real Housewives in Bravo's repertoire, but Ramona Singer of Real Housewives: New York took her love of pinot grigio to the next level. In one episode, Singer told a waiter of the wine: " Put it in my vein!" But despite her obsession, Singer said she found a hole in the market. "Seriously, there wasn't a pinot grigio that I truly loved inside and out," she told PopEater. "I kept changing my brands every six months. It all of a sudden dawned on me, I should develop my own pinot grigio!" Her new line launched this month, giving us all a chance to celebrate " turtle time" anytime! Though no one has been raving about 2010 Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio, its un-Housewives price tag has earned it high marks.
It seemed appropriate when rapper Lil' Jon launched his Crunk!!! Energy Drink several years ago, but fans were shocked when he then proceeded to move into the wine business. After establishing Little Jonathan's Winery, even Lil' John admitted that he's "not like an expert ... I just like the taste." The rapper wanted to take a more serious approach to beverage production the second time around. "My full name is Jonathan," he explained. "The wine is more nature: I wanted to not just have a direct connection, but make it just a little bit more upscale than regular 'Lil Jon.' ... This is not no ghetto Boone's Farm; this is some real wine." But not everyone agreed. Wine reviewer Scott Spolverino said it was "mellow," "smooth," and "pretty decent." While some anonymous Epicurious.com reviewers said it was as "smooth as Michael Corleone eating dinner with an Irish cop" and another said it had a "cheap nose."
Just five years after she sang her way to the top in Grease, Aussie actress Olivia Newton-John co-founded Koala Blue with Pat Farrar in 1983. At first, the company created a women's sportswear clothing line, but eventually, they were forced to declare bankruptcy and relaunch Koala Blue with another purpose in 2002—drinking. Their goal was to bring "a taste of Australia," where their wine is manufactured, to the market. Now, the woman best known as Sandy and her partner have earned praise for their rebranded venture. Wine.com said their Shiraz is "a wine for all occasions." But Newton-John is keeping things local, stating plainly on her website: "We do not seek to conquer the world."
It was only a matter a time before oversexed rapper Lil' Kim decided to become a business woman as well. The artist teamed up with Three Olives Vodka in 2010 to debut their Purple label. "Since I'm Queen Bee and purple is the color of royalty, I'm thrilled Three Olives has asked me to bring my flavor to the sexy 'O-Face' campaign," the saucy Lil' Kim explained. "I want to be universal, and that's the one thing I feel also about Three Olives Vodka is that everyone can enjoy it," she told YRB magazine. "Except for those who can't drink… under 18." At least Lil' Kim likes to be inclusive, even if she is confused about the drinking age. And one reviewer, who had the opportunity to give the "How Many Licks?" rapper's vodka a try, said it fittingly "tastes just like a grape popsicle."
Of course controversial musician Marilyn Manson would choose absinthe—the high proof spirit that was long-banned in many countries, including the United States—for his alcoholic venture. Manson is proud of his green-toned Mansinthe, which he launched in 2007. It's produced in Switzerland, contains wormwood, and boasts a whopping 66.6 percent proof. The rocker said that he first fell for the rumored hallucinogenic beverage while ringing in 2000 with Johnny Depp in the south of France. "We were ready for the apocalypse, and when it didn't come, we were disappointed, so we drank more absinthe and set off fireworks," Manson explained to AFP. "Since then, I don't drink booze, I drink absinthe." Despite his attraction to the dangerous drink, Manson claims he's no alcoholic. "They told me that the definition of an alcoholic is someone who drinks, screws up their life and knows it, but continues doing it," he told The Mirror. "Well I screwed up my life up before I drank!" One daring individual, who decided to give Mansinthe a taste, was pleasantly surprised, saying, "I actually can't wait to finish off the bottle so I can have a reason to buy more!" And others agree—the spirit earned a gold medal at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
He may not be able to stick to a moniker, but P. Diddy (as the rapper is currently known) supports only one type of vodka—Ciroc. He owns 50 percent of the company and is obsessively loyal to the brand. According to the New York Post, Diddy brings cases of it to video shoots. Like many of his other business ventures, Ciroc has been successful, but not without controversy. In 2010, Diddy started a spirited war after making disparaging remarks about other non-Ciroc vodkas. While at Soho nightclub Greenhouse, Diddy famously told guests, "If you're not drinking Ciroc, you're drinking pee pee." Martin Silver, whose company makes the popular Georgi vodka, took offense and responded by filling a toilet bowl with Ciroc vodka and attempting to deliver it to the rap mogul's office. Despite the shaky scandal, Diddy's vodka has earned praise for its smooth quality—it was named one of the top spirits of 2003 by Wine Enthusiast.
After conquering the music world—both as a member of 'N Sync and as a solo artist—and the fashion world with William Rast, Justin Timberlake moved toward the party circuit. But instead of becoming a boozed-up celebrity, he decided to go the entrepreneurial route. Timberlake launched 901 Tequila in 2009 as part of an exclusive line available in just New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and St. Louis. "901 is that time of night when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning. It is also a subtle nod to his hometown," the singer's spokesperson told People, referring to the area code of Timberlake's hometown of Memphis. And like Timberlake's other ventures, the spirit brought rave reviews. "It's actually a really nice product," said self-proclaimed "tequila geek" Dave Kaplan. "It has a nice richness to it, a full-body mouth feel, a nice finish."
Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar opened Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico in 1992, and by 2007, after adding his own line of premium tequilas by the same name, the venture had earned $60 million in revenue. Hagar told Business Week that his first introduction to tequila was "like many people … probably around the toilet." But during a 1982 visit to Cabo San Lucas, he tasted premium blanco tequila. "It changed my life," he added. Now, Hagar has become the Martha Stewart of tequila, a process, he says, that happened organically. "I had no intention of starting a tequila business," Hagar said. "I just wanted this to be the best tequila in the world and sell it in the bar. Period." And seemingly, he's come close. Hagar's Cabo Wabo Reposado earned the highest level of points from Wine Enthusiast, the highest recommendation from Spirit Journal, and Anthony Dias Blue of Bon Appetit magazine named Cabo Wabo Tequila one of the top three tequilas in the world.
Danny DeVito's drunken television appearance on The View in 2006 is arguably better known than any role he's since played. In his still-boozy state, the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star admitted to the ABC hosts that he had spent the previous night drinking with George Clooney and that it was the last seven limoncellos that did him in. Soon after, DeVito decided to create his own line of the spirit, flew to Italy, and Danny DeVito's Premium Limoncello was born. "We're in a particular spot because the supply is low and the demand is high," the comedian told New Jersey Monthly. "We can't make it fast enough." Not only is it apparently quite delicious—receiving a gold medal from the International Review of Spirits Awards—but DeVito's limoncello also boasts the first scratch-and-sniff alcohol label ever!
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While you may have called Dan Aykroyd if there's something strange in your neighborhood, he's not exactly the first actor you'd imagine taking shots with. Nevertheless, the Ghostbusters star's Crystal Head Vodka has racked up nearly $50 million in North American sales as of 2010—thanks, in part, to its spooky packaging. "Lots of times I hear that people buy Crystal Head Vodka for the bottle—that's great but please crack that skull open," Aykroyd told Drink Spirits. He described the 80-proof vodka as the world's purest of its kind and told Vanity Fair that they "wanted to go back to the old style of vodka-making—which is just the water and the mash with no additives. So we went to Newfoundland, which is 1,000 miles away from the Erie Plume, which causes acid rain in New York State … we're dealing with water from the original glacial ponds." And if that doesn't impress you, perhaps Aykroyd's comedic approach will.
