The Celebrity Tequila Index
January 03, 2014
Celebrities seem to think this tequila craze is a whole thing, so they're partnering with brands or launching their own. On this page I'll try to keep track of them all.
Clyne, Roger
Roger Clyne's Mexican Moonshine [website]
"Arizona-based recording artist Roger Clyne has, for the past fifteen years, created a fan-focused community that meshes music with all forms of merriment infused with southwestern culture and mythologies. To that end, he created the award-winning MexicanMoonshine line of fine tequila, which has just released its third marque, Añejo."
Clooney, George and Gerber, Rande
Casamigos [website]
"The tequila's name, Casamigos, was inspired by their homes in Mexico, and it is expected to be sold at "a reasonable price point." Casamigos will apparently be a tequila that Gerber and Clooney have been enjoying for years." They are about to embark on a distribution tour.
Diddy, P
DeLeon Tequila [website]
"Sean “Diddy” Combs is expanding his empire into the tequila market — and has partnered with high-end DeLeon Tequila to do so. The mogul, who has turned his Ciroc Vodka into a $100 million franchise, has just sealed a deal to partner with DeLeon, which was founded by Brent Hocking in 2008 and was introduced to the US market on Cinco de Mayo, 2009. " Update: It has been called a joint venture and acquisition, "a 50/50 global partnership between Diageo and Combs Wine & Spirits."
Friedman, Kinky
Man in Black Tequila [website]
"Richard S. "Kinky" Friedman is an American Texas Country singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. The Tequila line includes a Platinum, Reposado, Anejo and a six-year-old Extra Anejo Tequila – “Tequila Noir”."
Gibbons, Billy (ZZ Top)
Pura Vida Tequila [website]
"Pura Vida Tequila was founded by Texas business man Stewart Skloss and ZZ Top lead man Billy Gibbons. After scouring the tequila distilleries in Jalisco, they settled upon the small family owned Vivanco and associates. The Vivancos only use hand selected and estate grown agave in their tequilas at NOM 1414. "
Hagar, Sammy
Cabo Wabo Tequila [website].
Former Van Halen frontman founded and then sold this tequila brand to Skyy Spirits/Grupo Campari.
"Cabo Wabo Tequila was born in 1996 on the back roads of Guadalajara by legendary musician and tequila aficionado, Sammy Hagar. After searching for a tequila exceptional enough to serve inside his cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Sammy partnered with a tequila-making family with over 80 years of experience. Today, the agave used to make Cabo Wabo Tequila is grown, cultivated and harvested by this same family."
Jane, Jesse (Cindy Taylor)
Diosa Tequila [website]
"Former model and current adult film star Jesse Jane has launched her own tequila brand, Diosa (a spanish word meaning ‘Goddess’). Marketed as being ‘an orgy of flavours’, the tequila was created in collaboration with an unnamed mexican tequila manuifacturer and comes in four different flavours – Apple, Mango, Almond and Cafe Caramel. As Jesse Jane is a contract performer with Digital Playground (who own her stage name) she intends to market this new brand of tequila under her real name, Cindy Taylor."
Keith, Toby
Wild Shot Mezcal [website]
"'Blame It On The Worm' is Wild Shot's slogan, and the image of Toby himself with a worm pinched between smiling teeth adorns the site's homepage. Wild Shot Mezcal comes in Silver and Reposado variations. Distributed nationwide and available at all of Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill locations, Wild Shot is quickly becoming a leading brand in one of the fastest growing beverage market segments."
Neil, Vince
Tres Rios Tequila [website]
This tequila was launched in 2007 by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil but it's unclear if it is still on the market.
Tatuado by Vince Neil [website]
January 2014. It seems this brand has launched but doesn't really have a website yet.
Rivera, Jenni
Jenni Rivera La Gran SeñoraTequila
Santana, Carlos
Casa Noble Tequila [website]
"Music icon and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Carlos Santana has joined the Board and is now one of the owners of the brand."
Timberlake, Justin
901 Tequila [website].
"So when Justin Timberlake, who has a passion for tequila, was looking for something truly special, he simply couldn’t find it. And so he decided to create his own hand-crafted Silver Tequila. He chose the Tequilera Newton distillery in Jalisco, Mexico to help transform a 60 year-old recipe into 901."
Update 1/9/14: The tequila is being re-branded as Sauza 901. "Sauza 901 is jointly owned by Mr. Timberlake and [Jim] Beam, though financial terms of that partnership weren’t disclosed. Beam said the tequila’s flavor will be unchanged from Mr. Timberlake’s original product."
Valladolid, Marcela
Tequila Hacienda De La Flor [website]
Celebrity chef, author and the host of the Food Network show "Mexican Made Easy" is behind an organic tequila brand. Soft launched December 2012.
Xzibit
Tequila Bonita [website].
"The company was founded in 2010 by Chris Brown. The Bonita Spirits Company had an opportunity to send Xzibit one of the bottles from their very first production run. Xzibit (Alvin Joiner) is a multiplatinum recording artist, actor and television personality, born in Detroit, Michigan. Xzibit and Chris Brown are now partners in Bonita Tequila.
Together they have created the first tequila in the world to undergo a 5x distillation process, followed by a proprietary 3x cold-filtration method. Bonita Platinum is 100% organic.
If you know of others (where the celebrities are partners/owners, rather than just doing ads) please do let me know.
My favorite
"Justin Timberlake, who has a passion for tequila...so he decided to create his own..." HA HA HA HA
Yeah, I'm sure Justin was out there with the beakers formulizing a recipe!
Thanks Camper.... good humor
Posted by: Brian K | January 11, 2013 at 03:23 PM
I'd also add ZZ Top and Pura Vida
Posted by: Chris milligan | January 11, 2013 at 03:54 PM
Yes - will add. Thanks!
Posted by: Camper English | January 11, 2013 at 05:02 PM