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These Celebrities Made Big Forays Into The Beverage Industry – Were They A Hit Or A Miss?

Updated: Jul 13, 2023By Emma VernerCelebrity News
This article originally appeared on Investing.com. It has been republished here with permission.
Penelope Cruz © Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images Penelope Cruz © Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

For decades, actors, musicians, and athletes have been leveraging their celebrity status to make money through different avenues. One of the most historically profitable industries has been the beverage industry, where unlikely names have ventured out on their own to create everything from luxury water brands to alcoholic beverages for people on a diet. 

Celebrities often create their own brands and are shocked when the ventures are judged by the same harsh standards as the rest of the non-famous industry. There are some celebrity drinks that get excellent reviews like Coppola’s winery, or Danny DeVito’s Limoncello, while others fizzle, despite having the famous face attached to them. Let’s take a look at the hits and misses of the celebrity beverage world.

1. Kate Hudson

Brand: King St. Vodka
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$24.99/ 750ml*

Kate Hudson may be the daughter of Hollywood royalty, but she is a star in her own rite, with smash-hit films like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Almost Famous under her belt. With parents like Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, it’s no surprise that she caught the acting bug at an early age, opting for the silver screen instead of college. 

King St. Vodka - Kate Hudson @unsobered / Facebook.com King St. Vodka - Kate Hudson @unsobered / Facebook.com

After years of acting in everything from blockbuster romantic comedies to action movies based-on-a-true-story, Hudson has branched out into the beverage industry with a new vodka. This “female-led craft vodka,” as Totalwine.com describes it, is gluten-free and made from alkaline water and GMO-free corn, which is right up Hudson’s alley, as she is known for being very health- and eco-conscious. The distilling of King St. Vodka is done under Ian Cutler, a Master Distiller in Santa Barbara. 

The spirit comes with a beautifully designed floral label, made to appeal to women who are the majority drinkers of the low-calorie liquor. Hudson just might be able to cash in by specifically targeting women, unlike companies like Smirnoff and Grey Goose that have more of a masculine image. 

2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Brand: Teremana Tequila
Affiliation: Owner
Price Per Unit: $29.99/ 750ml*

Former WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson finally has another business venture under his very large belt. Johnson has worn many hats over the course of his storied career, playing football both in America and Canada before wrestling, and then leaving wrestling to begin a successful acting career that has launched him into the spotlight time and time again. 

Teremana Tequila - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson @101Liquors / Facebook.com Teremana Tequila - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson @101Liquors / Facebook.com

When he’s not in action flicks like Jumanji or tearjerkers like Disney’s The Game Plan, “The Rock” is producing films of his own or cooking up other business ideas, like his Teremana Tequila brand, a tequila marketed towards the health-conscious consumer. The word Teremana is a combination of Latin and Polynesian languages and means “Spirit of the Earth”.

Judging from consumer reviews on sites like Google (where people gave it 4.7/5 stars) and Drizly (4/5), people seem to love Teremana Tequila. Flaviar.com gave it an 8.3/10, saying that people “adore” its “vanilla, citrus, [and] zesty notes.” The Tequila is distilled in the Jalisco Highlands in Mexico.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker

Brand: Invivo X
Affiliation:
Brand Owner
Price Per Unit:
$17/ 750ml*

Sarah Jessica Parker, who catapulted to stardom with her role in the HBO series Sex and the City, playing a young, fashionable ingenue with a couture addiction, has now branched into the world of winemaking with her recent collaboration with wine company Invivo. The new line is called Invivo X, and is an exciting way to give the New Zealand winery some attention stateside. 

Invivo X - Sarah Jessica Parker @InvivoXSJP/Facebook.com Invivo X - Sarah Jessica Parker @InvivoXSJP/Facebook.com

Parker certainly is not in need of another revenue stream after the smash hit that was the Warner Bros.-produced Sex and the City film, which made over $400 million at the box office, on a budget of $65 million. Instead, this wine is most likely a passion project, and at such an affordable price point, it’s certainly worth a try.

Judging from consumer reviews on sites like Google (where people gave it a 4.7/5 stars) and Drizly (4/5), people seem to love Teremana Tequila. Flaviar.com gave it an 8.3/10, saying that it people “adore” its “vanilla, citrus, [and] zesty notes.” The Tequila is distilled in the Jalisco Highlands in Mexico.

4. Chris Noth

Brand: Ambhar Tequila
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$42.99/ 750ml*

Sarah Jessica Parker’s on-screen lover, nicknamed “Big” in the Sex and the City series, has also made a foray into the beverage industry with a brand of his own. Noth founded Ambhar Tequila in 2008, creating a higher-priced product to compete with the likes of Patrón or Espolón. 

Ambhar Tequila - Chris Noth @masterofmalt / Facebook.com Ambhar Tequila - Chris Noth @masterofmalt / Facebook.com

On Totalwine.com, Ambhar Tequila Anejo has a 5/5-star rating. Ambhar is a subsidiary of Santo Spirits, Inc., and it is made from 100% blue agave grown in Mexico. The Anejo is aged for two years (at least) in oak bourbon barrels. The tequila is a “fine spirit” with “subtle flavor notes” and a little sweetness, according to one review. 

Chris Noth is perhaps best known for his role on the long-running show Law & Order on NBC. In the show he played Mike Logan, an NYPD detective, from 1990 until 1995, when he was fired for creative differences. Since then, he’s also played Julianna Margulies’ husband on The Good Wife. 

5. Kendall Jenner

Brand: 818 Tequila
Affiliation: Owner
Price Per Unit: $40*

If you follow the Jenners or Kardashians on social media, then you’ve probably seen something about 818 Tequila, which is Kendall Jenner’s tequila brand. The supermodel is venturing into the world of alcohol distribution, and her 818 is made from 100% Blue Weber Agaves, picked in Jalisco, Mexico.

Kendall Jenner - 818 Tequila @kendallkeek / Twitter.com Kendall Jenner - 818 Tequila @kendallkeek / Twitter.com

Jenner got her name for the brand from the 818 area code. Several cities in California, including Glendale, San Fernando, and others, are covered by the area code. 818 has gotten pretty good reviews so far, with Uproxx saying that it was, overall, a “great expression” with a “dessert-like quality.” 

6. Dan Aykroyd

Brand: Crystal Head Vodka
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$49.99/ 750ml*

Dan Aykroyd is by far best known for his work in blockbuster comedies such as Blues Brothers, where he starred alongside John Belushi, as well as Ghostbusters, which were both stemming from original concepts he came up with during his time working on Saturday Night Live. 

Crystal Head Vodka - Dan Aykroyd @properwhiskeyrus / Facebook.com Crystal Head Vodka - Dan Aykroyd @properwhiskeyrus / Facebook.com

In addition to his comedic genius, Aykroyd is something of a business aficionado as well. While his Crystal Head Vodka brand has been selling like hotcakes, he is also one of the founders of the music venue chain House of Blues, which is now a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment. 

Crystal Head Vodka is also known for its unique packaging, which is a surprisingly detailed, transparent skull. Made by Globefill, Inc. the website says that it is a “Pure Spirit” that is “unique” because of what the company doesn’t “add.” The ABV of Crystal Head is 40%, and the vodka is 80-proof. 

7. Bethenny Frankel

Brand: Skinnygirl
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$20/ 750ml vodka*

While most people recognize Bethenny Frankel from The Real Housewives of New York City, she actually got her start on the show The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, which was a spin-off of the original contest show The Apprentice. Frankel has excelled in the world of reality TV, even helming three of her own spin-off series to varying degrees of success. 

Skinnygirl - Bethenny Frankel @MelissaOnline / Twitter.com Skinnygirl - Bethenny Frankel @MelissaOnline / Twitter.com

Outside of her work on Bravo, Bethenny has become somewhat of a business magnate, launching her Skinnygirl brand of cocktails after the success of her self-help book Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting. 

In addition to a line of low-calorie drinks (margaritas, wine, and vodkas), Frankel also published a book in 2014, called Skinnygirl Cocktails: 100 Fun and Flirty Guilt-Free Recipes. According to the taste-testers at Thrillist, the best Skinnygirl Cocktail is “Sangria,” followed by Sweet’arita, Pina Colada, Spicy Lime Margarita, and Mojitos.

8. Jon Bon Jovi

Brand: Hampton Water
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$19.99/ 750ml*

Jon Bon Jovi is one of the most beloved rock stars alive today, and has the Grammy awards to prove it. Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr., the musician has sold over 130 million albums worldwide. And if it weren’t enough, he even transitioned to acting for a while, with roles in hits such as Ally McBeal. 

Hampton Water - Jon Bon Jovi @WineSpectator / Facebook.com Hampton Water - Jon Bon Jovi @WineSpectator / Facebook.com

He then went on to own a professional soccer team, the Philadelphia Soul, for a while, before entering the beverage industry with his French rosé brand cheekily-called Hampton Water. People Magazine even ranked Bon Jovi one of the “50 Most Beautiful People In The World”. What can’t this man do?

Hampton Water Wine has a 4/5-star rating on Wine.com  and a 4.4/5-star rating on Totalwine.com, indicating that people not only love Bon Jovi for his musical and looks, they also love his taste in wine. Wine Spectator gave it a 90-point rating. Hampton Water is made in the French Mediterranean from Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Grenache grapes. 

9. Martha Stewart

Brand: Martha Stewart Wine Company
Affiliation: Owner
Price Per Unit: $12.99-24.99/ 750ml*

While Martha Stewart rose to fame with her cooking and lifestyle shows, first Martha Stewart Living and then simply Martha, she truly made her fortune from the branding and business ventures she began after she achieved celebrity status. 

Martha Stewart Wine Company - Martha Stewart @jewel985 / Facebook.com Martha Stewart Wine Company - Martha Stewart @jewel985 / Facebook.com

According to Wine Insiders, these Martha Stewart Wine Co. wines are “curated, tasted, and approved” by the famous homemaker. Stewart’s wine picks “embody” her “great tastes.” You not only can buy single bottles, they also ship in six-packs. An example of two of Martha’s top favorites from 2019 at the Calvari Organic Pinot Grigio and the Tericus Vinho Branco Tejo. 

What many don’t know about the star who has lived much of her life in the public eye, is that she began her career as a model, and even appeared in a commercial for Unilever. Her modeling helped put her through school at Barnard, where she studied both history and architectural history. 

10. Neil Patrick Harris

Brand: Heineken Light
Affiliation:
Collaborator
Price Per Unit:
$16.99/ 12 pack*

Neil Patrick Harris is one of the few examples of a child actor who managed to sustain a career in show business well into adulthood. The Doogie Howser, M.D. star was also one of the first openly gay actors in Hollywood, paving the way for other stars to be honest about their sexuality with the public without fear of recourse. 

Heineken Light - Neil Patrick harris @96DaysLeft / Twitter.com Heineken Light - Neil Patrick harris @96DaysLeft / Twitter.com

Since his days playing the precocious child physician, Harris has done everything from starring on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch to playing the ironically chauvinist character of Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. Neil Patrick Harris was able to leverage his likable image to ink a lucrative deal with Heineken, promoting their light beer, which compares taste-wise to other light beers such as Coors. 

Heineken Light featured Neil Patrick Harris in a number of ads from 2014 to 2016, with Harris joking that he’s “Alpha Male Adjacent.” The light beers are brewed in Holland for twenty-eight days, but they differ from regular Heinekens because they have just ninety-nine calories. Heineken calls it the “light beer with big flavor.”   

11. Beyoncé

Brand: Wtrmln Wtr
Affiliation:
Investor
Price Per Unit:
$44.99/ 12 pack*

Beyoncé is a force of nature, and so when she puts her energy into something, you know it’s going to be a smash hit. She has recently focused on, and invested in Wtrmln Wtr, a cold-pressed juice company that’s seeking to turn the beverage industry on its head. Not only is the company woman-owned, but it’s selling a product that’s genuinely healthy as watermelon is low calorie but chock-full of nutrients.

Beyonce - Wtrmln Wtr ©DFree / Shutterstock.com | @wtrmln.wtr / Facebook.com Beyonce - Wtrmln Wtr ©DFree / Shutterstock.com | @wtrmln.wtr / Facebook.com

The vowel-less drink is made of nothing but cold-pressed, juiced fresh watermelon, filtered water, and a squeeze of lemon. You can find Wtrmln Wtr at stores like Whole Foods, Costco, Kroger, Walmart, Costco, and more. The water contains potassium, the amino acid L-citrulline, and the antioxidant lycopene, which can help with muscle-building and cell-protection.

Pursuing a watermelon drink might sound off-brand for the pop star as she’s known for her “Lemonade” album, but she certainly has an eye for success. After all, she recently took on the role of Nala in Disney’s new CGI adaptation of The Lion King, which made over a billion dollars at the box office. 

12. Nick Jonas

Brand: Villa One Tequila
Affiliation:
Owner
Price Per Unit:
$39.77/ 750ml*

Nick Jonas got his start in theater acting at a very young age and then catapulted to stardom as a member of the band the Jonas Brothers, a band he formed with his two older brothers Kevin and Joe. The trio became so big that they even got their own show on the Disney Channel, the holy grail of kids programming.

Villa One Tequila - Nick Jonas @jbrosnews / Twitter.com Villa One Tequila - Nick Jonas @jbrosnews / Twitter.com

These days, Nick has taken a step back from and making music, instead focusing on acting and other ventures such as his alcohol brand, Villa One Tequila. He had a role in Columbia Pictures’ Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which made nearly a billion dollars at the box office.

Flaviar.com gave Villa One Tequila a 7.6/10 rating, indicating an above-average tequila. Villa One is distilled at the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos Distillery, located in Mexico. Jonas recommends the Tequila on ice with club soda, chocolate bitters, and an orange wedge (though he quickly added you can take it as a shot, too).

13. Justin Timberlake

Brand: Bai
Affiliation:
Investor
Price Per Unit:
$18.99/ 12 pack*

Justin Timberlake is yet another multi-talented celebrity on this list. Getting his start as early as possible as a Mouseketeer, Timberlake continued his rise to fame as the lead vocalist for the hit nineties boy band NSYNC, before launching his own solo music career. He has maintained that boy-band image despite the band breaking up, and has leveraged that image to make a lucrative advertising deal with Bai, a brand of “antioxidant-infused” drinks. 

Bai - Justin Timberlake @fox31denver / Facebook.com Bai - Justin Timberlake @fox31denver / Facebook.com

Bai Antioxidant Drinks are, as Stack.com called them, a “massive upgrade” over high-sugar beverages like soda and full-sugar Gatorade. Bai uses sweeteners in place of sugar, and, though they are safe, you should avoid “over-consum[ing] them.” Dr. Pepper Snapple Group bought Bai for $1.7 billion in November of 2020.

Timberlake then went on to have a successful acting career, appearing in films as varied as The Social Network, which is the story of how Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook, to Friends With Benefits, which is a romantic comedy about two friends who try to have an intimate relationship without defining it, only to fall in love. 

14. Matthew McConaughey

Brand: Wild Turkey Longbranch
Affiliation:
Creative Director
Price Per Unit:
$63.99/ L*

Matthew McConaughey is well known for his affable personality and Texas twang as he utters his catchphrase “All right, all right, all right”. Serving as the creative director for the brand, the actor partnered up with whiskey brand Wild Turkey to create his own signature liquor, which he termed “Longbranch”.

Wild Turkey Longbranch - Matthew McConaughey @stouthousesa / Facebook.com Wild Turkey Longbranch - Matthew McConaughey @stouthousesa / Facebook.com

This 86-proof (43% ABV) has caramel, syrup, spicy, and smoky flavor notes. It is made in America at the Wild Turkey Distillery, and Flaviar.com gave it a 7.6/10. Wild Turkey Small Batch Bourbon’s Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery actually offers tours. It’s an official part of the American Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon Trails.

McConaughey got his start with the 1993 indie film Dazed and Confused, which saw critical acclaim and was even ranked third by MDE in their list of fifty best high school movies. He then went on to more dramatic roles, such as that in the historical slave drama Amistad and the dark murder mystery HBO series True Detective.