Celebrities With Super Successful Alcohol Brands: See Who’s Made the Booze Business Work

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Celebrities With Super Successful Alcohol Brands: See Who's Made the Booze Business Work

Bottom’s up! It’s no secret that many celebrities like to drink alcohol, but some have taken that infatuation a step further by launching their own spirit brands. What’s more? These entrepreneurial stars tend to make a pretty penny thanks to their wines, whiskeys and more. For Nina Dobrev, getting to work with her close pal Julianne Hough on their passion project was the real icing on the cake. "It’s so much more exciting when you create a company with your best friend. It’s made this experience so much more enjoyable and exciting to have someone to share it with," Dobrev told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2021 about launching Fresh Vine Wines with the dancer. "At the end of the day, life is about sharing things with people you love, laughing and enjoying every single moment, the highs and the lows. It’s been such a high with Julianne." The duo decided to work on making health-conscious wines because of their shared lifestyles. "Nina and I are total polar opposites but we have the same values and a lot of the same interests. One of those things is that we’re very active. We try to live a healthy, sustainable life," Hough noted to THR in May 2021. It was through brainstorming what they thought was lacking elsewhere in the wine world that the pair came up with their own concept. [jwplayer lAy7O4Vv-zhNYySv2] "We thought, how do we still enjoy and have pleasure in life while not constantly counting calories or taking away from the enjoyment of life. At the same time, how do we not feel guilty or physically terrible?" the Dancing With the Stars alum added at the time. "And how do we create something enjoyable and sustainable? That’s when we were realized nobody’s really doing this." The Vampire Diaries alum wasn't alone in branching out into a new business venture after her time on the CW show. Her former costars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder also decided to turn their real-life bond into something exciting, which eventually became Brother's Bond Bourbon. "The reality is we would finish shooting and we'd go to the bar or we'd go to our homes or whatever, but we'd always kick back and have a bourbon so we developed this love for bourbon," Wesley told Entertainment Weekly in April 2021 about creating the whiskey brand based off of their fictional characters' connection to the drink. Wesley admitted that it was the perfect reunion for him and Somerhalder after wrapping up their time on The Vampire Diaries in 2017. "So we fell in love with it. And when the show ended, we finally had some time and we really put this thing together. We're just so proud of it," he told EW. Scroll down to see which famous faces are also the forces behind some super successful alcohol brands: [podcast_block]

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Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton

The couple announced in April 2022 that they’ve been “stirring up more than just trouble” recently while working on their new alcohol brand, MF Libations. The Walking Dead star revealed the first two spirits, MF Bonfire Rye and MF Blackberry Gin, via social media.

“We have literally bottled ‘Mischief’ with our newest venture, @mflibations, and today seemed like the perfect day to give the heads up to all of our fellow troublemakers!” Burton wrote in her own Instagram announcement. “We have made products that we personally love and we are so ready to put them out into the world … Friends, we are so MF-ing proud to introduce MF LIBATIONS!💖.”

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Ciara

“At my 1st sip of #TenToOne, I was immediately transported! It’s quality & taste is exceptional!” the singer wrote via Twitter in October 2021, announcing her new business venture. “Excited to join Marc Farrell on this journey as an Investor, Co-Owner, & Director of #TenToOne & introduce new audiences to the versatility of rum.”

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Eva Longoria

"I’m so excited to officially announce the launch of @casadelsoltequila. As a Mexican American woman, it is always my mission to uplift voices of women and celebrate my heritage, so that others may be inspired by the limitless genius and artistry that is rich in our communities," the actress wrote on Instagram in September 2021. "I am so proud to be a co-founder of a brand with authentic Mexican roots with a strong female influence."

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Mariah Carey

"Introducing 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗛 🦋 Two years in the making. Truly a cause for celebration!!! 🍸🍸 @goblackirish," the singer captioned an Instagram photo of her posing with a bottle of her whiskey on the beach in August 2021.

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Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo

The couple announced their partnership with the Real family to create a new tequila brand, Calirosa, in July 2021. “Calirosa Tequila is more than a partnership,” the Maroon 5 frontman wrote via Instagram at the time. “It’s a bridge between two families in the hopes of bringing something truly special into the marketplace to be enjoyed for generations to come. Salud!!!!!!!” Prinsloo added: “Here we gooooooo!!!! I’m so excited.”

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Jamie Foxx

"@brownsugarbourbon makes life sweet," Foxx wrote via Instagram about his brown sugar flavored whiskey in June 2021.

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Vera Wang

"June 1, 2021.  What a difference a year makes..... Ushering in my birthday month with my brand new PROSECCO!  #VeraWangPARTY," the designer captioned a photo of herself via Instagram in June 2021.

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Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg teamed up with 19 Crimes wine in March 2021 to create his very own blend, the first California based wine for the brand.

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Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev

The former Dancing With the Stars pro and the Vampire Diaries alum teamed up on a business venture, launching Fresh Vine Wines in March 2021. The California-based brand kicked off with cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot noir and rosé — all of which are low-carb, keto-friendly and low in sugar.

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Kendall Jenner

Fans may have spotted a bottle of 818 Tequila in certain Kardashian social media posts leading up to the big announcement. "For almost 4 years I’ve been on a journey to create the best tasting tequila. After dozens of blind taste tests, trips to our distillery, entering into world tasting competitions anonymously and WINNING...3.5 years later I think we've done it," Jenner wrote in an Instagram post in February 2021.

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Thomas Rhett

Bottoms up! The country singer revealed in January 2021 that he and his cousin, Jeff Worn, owned a new brand of tequila. “Extremely excited to share our new tequila Dos Primos, Spanish for “Two Cousins,” with y’all! This tequila is something @teamskillet and I have been working on for almost 3 years. Beyond proud of how it turned out,” he tweeted. “We can’t wait for y’all to try it.”

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Travis Scott

Scott revealed the existence of his tequila-seltzer in December 2020, writing on Instagram that he'd "been working on this for a minute."

The one-of-a-kind blue agave drink comes in three different flavors: lime, pineapple and strawberry.

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Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter invested in Bespoken Spirits in October 2020, a whiskey brand that finds success in using technology that makes the liquor taste like it was aged to perfection, when really it required no aging at all.

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Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley

The Vampire Diaries fans rejoice! The two costars who played brothers in The CW hit series, announced their new partnership in September 2020. "Laughter strengthens all bonds," was the introduction Brother's Bond Bourbon gave on Instagram.

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Cara Delevingne and Poppy Delevingne

Together with their sister, Chloe Delevingne, this model duo launched their own Prosecco in August 2020. "Being a Delevingne means loving Prosecco," Cara wrote on Instagram as she announced the venture. "That is why @PoppyDelevingne @Cdelevingne and I are so excited to announce the launch of our first business together - a Prosecco called @della_vite." According to the model, the moniker means "of the vine" in Italian.

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Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan's road to helping develop Cincoro was years in the making. The tequila brand is even a favorite of Jordan's, you can see him enjoying it during The Last Dance docuseries. The series launched on Netflix in July 2020.

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Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power

The duo unveiled Avaline, a line of clean, vegan-friendly wines, in July 2020. The collection consists of a blended white as well as a rosé and got its moniker thanks to a baby name generator. "We had so many sessions searching for the name, it was crazy. There are literally hundreds of thousands of wines out there, so all the names were taken," the Holiday star told InStyle at the time. "I have pages and pages of baby names that we went through and this one was the one where we were both like, 'Yeah, that's it.'"

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Jon Wolfe

The country star created his Juan Lobo tequila brand after touring the United States for years in search of the perfect tequila. He eventually decided to make his own. "It really started over eight years ago with a nickname. My fans in South Texas affectionately gave me the nickname, Juan Lobo, which is my name in Spanish. I always thought it would be a great name for a brand of some kind someday, but didn’t perceive it to be a tequila brand," he told Digital Journal in June 2020. "The convergence of my love for tequila and my love for that nickname became the birth of Juan Lobo Tequila." The spirit is made of 100 percent pure blue agave and distilled in copper pots for the ultimate taste.

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Danica Patrick

"This has been a dream project that has included drinking a ton of rośe and traveling to france. How rough🤣," the former race car driver said when announcing the launch of her wine on Instagram in June 2020. "The taste is amazing and the bottle..... well you can see, is beautiful. I am already planning on making them into flower and candle holders. 🙌🏼 summer is here. Drink up." Patrick describes her wine as "an authentic French rośe from Provence."

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Mary J. Blige

In June 2020, the Grammy winner announced the debut of her Sun Goddess wine collection, which took her three years to perfect. The collection was curated by Mary and Fantinel Winery, a famous Italian wine grower, and consists of a pinot grigio ramato and a sauvignon blanc. "I hope this brings you some joy during these trying times," the "Just Fine" songstress explained on Instagram. "I hope you love it and it makes you smile."

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Justin Hartley

The This Is Us star announced his role as partner of Revel Spirits in May 2020. "Looking forward to introducing my new friends to my old ones," Hartley posted on Instagram to promote his new agave-based venture.

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Post Malone

The "Sunflower" rapper announced in May 2020 that he is slated to launch a French rosé called Maison No. 9 by summer 2020. The musician worked with medaled winemaker Alexis Cornu to try grape varietals and sample blends, according to a press release. "The result is an affordable, delicious rosé that speaks to the modern consumer, with a brand that speaks their language."

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Luke Bryan

Bryan launched Two Lane Brewing, named for the two-lane roads of his childhood spent in Leesburg, Georgia​​​​, in February 2020.

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Chris Harrison and Tropical Rosé

The Bachelor host got into the booze business in February 2020 when he partnered with Seagram's to create Tropical Rosé, a new flavor in the brand’s Escapes line. At the time, he described the libation as “light and sweet” on his social media and noted that he was “hands on” in creating the flavor, which includes notes of passionfruit and dragon fruit. Furthermore, the packaging features pale pink details, a Bachelor-inspired beachy landscape and, of course, Harrison’s face.

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

"Crafting Teremana is a true labor of love that takes many years of hard work by some special people. In the small Mexican town where we make Teremana, harvesting Blue Weber agave is a time-honored tradition passed down throughout generations of the proud jimador. And for that, we are grateful," the company announced at its inception in early 2020. Johnson was inspired by Teremana because Tere comes from the Latin "terra," meaning earth and Mana the Polynesian word meaning spirit.

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Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson's inspiration for King St. Vodka was all about adding more female leadership in the vodka business. The brand stands out because it's gluten-free, and it uses alkaline water, and it is distilled seven times in small batches. It launched in November 2019.

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Miles Teller and The Long Drink

The Whiplash star became a co-owner of The Long Drink, a Finnish liquor brand, in October 2019 not long after tasting it in New York and falling in love with it. He even traveled to Finland in 2019 in an effort to understand the beverage’s roots. The libation is made with grapefruit, gin and juniper berries, creating a thirst-quenching and complex taste with the convenience of a can. “Long drink,” as it is locally known, has long been Finland’s most popular alcoholic beverage, and The Long Drink introduced it to American markets for the first time.

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Nick Offerman and Lagavulin Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Parks and Rec alum pulled a move Ron Swanson would undoubtedly approve of and released his own whisky in October 2019. The spirit, which has been aged for 11 years, boasts the signature Lagavulin peatiness with extra spices and notes of dried fruit. “I have traveled the world and sampled many attempts at pleasing nectars, but it is solely this distillation of Islay — a tiny, charismatic Scottish isle — that has claimed my palate,” the actor said in a statement. “Yea, and my heart into the bargain.”

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Sarah Jessica Parker and Invivo X, SJP

Though her Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw, was a Cosmopolitan fan, the actress unveiled her own Sauvignon Blanc wine in September 2019. “It’s a little bigger than most Sauvignon Blancs, it’s not maybe quite as high, or pointy,” Parker told Food & Wine of the drink. “I think it’s beautifully balanced, but it’s a little fuller-figured lady. It’s super fragrant and it seems to be very nimble.” The Divorce star is scheduled to release her own rosé in 2020.

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Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas announced his partnership with Villa One Tequila in August 2019. "Villa One came together over Nick and John’s love for tequila and experiencing #LifeAsItShouldBe with friends old and new, one glass at a time," the company posted on Instagram at the time.  

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Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul

"We had the time of our lives while shooting Breaking Bad and truly built a very special bond. Knowing that we couldn’t share the screen for quite a while - our thoughts turned to a new project," the costars revealed when announcing Dos Hombres in July 2019.

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John Legend and LVE Wines

The LVE wine collection includes a still rosé, a chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a red blend and a sparkling rosé that launched in June 2019. "I'm so excited to add some sparkle to the 2019 Summer of LVE!” the “All of Me” singer said in a statement in honor of the latest libation’s debut. “LVE Sparkling Rosé is the perfect addition to your summer celebrations.” The new drink is made with grapes that were selected from a blend of vineyards in well-known grape growing regions of France, like the Loire and Languedoc, which creates its unique and fruity flavor.

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Katie Maloney, Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute and Witches of WeHo Wine

The Vanderpump Rules costars launched their Witches of WeHo wine label in February 2019 with a pinot grigio made using “the tears of your exes.” A rosé consisting of the “blushes of your crushes” debuted in June 2019. Just in time for summer, this blend of Grenache and Sangiovese grapes brings together two of the most fruity and delicious varieties for a rosé that is made for all-day consumption by the pool or anywhere else you relax.

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Chris Noth

The Sex and the City star joined the Ambhar team in 2018. "People keep asking me why I bought into Ambhar Tequila — Simple. I drink it. So... why not?" the actor wrote on Instagram about the partnership.

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50 Cent and Le Chemin Du Roi Champagne

The Grammy winner launched his pricey champagne label in August 2018 and the line of brut, rosé and blanc de blancs retails for $199, $325 and $999 respectively. The brand’s moniker translates to “the king’s path” and each bottle features a 14 karat gold-plated emblem resembling the king chess piece. In November 2019, the “Candy Shop” rapper unveiled his latest spirit — Branson Cognac.

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Martha Stewart

Stewart launched Martha Stewart Wine Co. in April 2017 to help others learn more about different wine options from around the world and successfully be able to pair bottles with favorite meals.

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Justin Timberlake and Sauza 901

The “Say Something” singer first launched his tequila in 2009, but joined the big leagues in 2014 when he relaunched his spirit of choice with Sauza Liquors. Now known as Sauza 901, the triple-distilled liquor consistently receives solid customer reviews and is often lauded for its smooth quality. “I have spent the last several years creating a premium brand that captures the passion I have for tequila,” Timberlake has said.

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G-Eazy and Stillhouse

The “No Limit” rapper joined Stillhouse as a partner and co-creative creative director in 2017, which just so happened to be the label’s strongest year yet. In fact, in early 2018 Stillhouse, which has a clear whiskey portfolio of six varieties as well as an aged black bourbon, announced distribution expansion. It is now available for purchase nationwide. In addition to winning numerous awards, Stillhouse spirits come in an unbreakable stainless steel can.

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David Beckham and Haig Club Whiskey

The soccer star set his sights on the spirit business in 2014 when he and British entrepreneur Simon Fuller partnered with alcohol giant Diageo to release a single grain scotch whiskey in a regal blue bottle. Though reviews for Haig Club have been mixed, Beckham is said to have made millions from the partnership – one of the most lucrative of his career.

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Jon Bon Jovi and Hampton Water

The musician launched Hampton Water with his son Jesse Bongiovi in early 2018, and the wine has already been ranked the Top Rosé of 2018 by Wine Spectator, and the No. 83 wine in the world. “It’s an incredible honor to be on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2018, let alone ranked as the top rosé,” the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer said in a press release shared with Us Weekly. “It’s a true testament to all of our hard work and I could not be more proud to share our excitement for, and love of, Hampton Water with people all over the world.”

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Conor McGregor and Proper No. 12 Whiskey

The MMA champ’s whiskey has proven to be so popular that it’s virtually sold out, despite a supply meant to last six months hitting the market in September 2018. Though McGregor apologized to consumers for the shortage, he wasn’t exactly surprised. “I call it liquid gold,” the Dublin native told Entrepreneur of the drink in November.

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Diddy and Ciroc Vodka

Diageo first partnered with the “Last Night” rapper in 2007, bringing him on to help develop the Ciroc vodka brand. According to Fortune, Ciroc’s net sales have grown from just under 50,000 cases at the time the partnership was announced to a nearly 2-million case brand today. In fact, that first venture was so successful that Diageo and Diddy debuted another alcoholic beverage, DeLeón Tequila, in 2014.

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Dan Aykroyd and Crystal Head Vodka

Though Aykroyd might not seem like a celebrity who would have his own alcohol brand, the Ghostbusters star first debuted his award-winning spirit, Crystal Head Vodka, in 2008, and has since appeared in lengthy advertisements for the Canadian-produced drink. To set itself apart from other vodkas on the market, Crystal Head is sold in, what else, a skull-shaped bottle designed by artist John Alexander.

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George Clooney and Casamigos Tequila

While the Money Monster actor and his business partner, Rande Gerber, technically sold Casamigos to Diageo in 2017, it would be wrong not to include them on this list. What initially began as a private collection of tequilas meant just for Gerber and Clooney's friends and family grew to a business worth about $1 billion, which is what Diageo reportedly paid for the brand, which the ER alum is still involved with.

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and Miraval Rosé

The onetime couple found themselves in a partnership with a winemaking family after they purchased Château Miraval in France in 2008. The former pair’s vineyard produces the award-winning Miraval rosé (among other wines), and served as the backdrop for the their 2014 wedding. Though the vineyard’s fate was up in the air after Pitt and Jolie’s acrimonious split in 2016, it is still functioning and producing wine. In fact, Charles Perrin, the vintner on the estate, told French publication Agence France Presse in 2017 that Miraval “is an investment for their family and their children,” intimating the vineyard will not be sold in light of the stars’ divorce.

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Bethenny Frankel and Skinnygirl

The Real Housewives of New York star founded Skinnygirl – a line of low-calorie alcoholic beverages – in 2011, and sold it for a reported $100 million a few years later. Though she’s technically no longer in complete control of her booze empire, Frankel is still helping to create new Skinnygirl products, including jeans and a beauty line.

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Ryan Reynolds and Aviation Gin

The Deadpool star purchased Aviation Gin in February 2018 and often draws attention to the brand in some pretty clever ways. In the past, the Canadian actor has crafted hilarious out-of-office email replies in the name of his liquor company, and has even sipped the spirit with his “twin brother,” Gordon. “Aviation is the best tasting gin in the world,” Reynolds said in a statement after making the purchase. “Once I tried it, I knew I wanted to get involved with the company in a big way.”

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Dave Matthews and Dreaming Tree Wines

The “Ants Marching” singer founded Dreaming Tree Wines, named after a song on the Dave Matthews Band's 1998 album, Before These Crowded Streets, in 2011. The label, which was created with award-winning Sonoma County winemaker Sean McKenzie, produces five different libations and all of them are eco-friendly and affordable.

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Drake and Virginia Black Whiskey

The Canada native launched his own whiskey brand, Virginia Black, in September 2016, and it proceeded to break the record for largest first-day sales in Ontario immediately following its release. The “In My Feelings” rapper has since starred in a commercial for the spirit alongside his father, Dennis Graham, and announced plans to take the company public in 2018.

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Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey Bourbon

In 2016, Wild Turkey named the Oscar winner its creative director. Two years later, the Magic Mike star collaborated with master distiller Eddie Russel to launch Wild Turkey Longbranch, a bourbon filtered with Texas mesquite and oak charcoals. “Longbranch, in its simplest form, is an extended hand, inviting a friend into your family,” the actor said in a statement at the time, according to Fortune. “So the branch that was extended to me from the Russells was a long one, one that reached from Kentucky to Texas and back again. I offered the Mesquite from my great state to add to their legendary Kentucky whiskey and together we made Longbranch.” Reviews for the spirit are generally positive.