Beyoncé Tapped a Whiskey Legend to Create a Bottle That’s Actually Worth Buying

Historically, celebrity spirit brands have been nothing to write home about. They’ve grown exponentially in recent years following the wild success of early adopters like Sammy Hagar and George Clooney, with most being nothing more than cynical cash grabs attempting to make a quick buck on the latest trend.

But there are exceptions.

Country singer Chris Stapleton’s collab with Buffalo Trace Distillery, Traveller Whiskey, is a thoughtful and tasty dram that’s also quite affordable — and it’s got the awards to prove it.

Now, arguably the biggest star to ever set foot in the celebrity spirits realm — Queen Bey herself — has just launched a whiskey of her own.

So how does Beyoncé’s new whiskey venture stack up against other celebrity spirits? Well, based on what we know about it so far, we could be looking at something incredibly unique and special.

SirDavis

SirDavis Whisky

• $89 at SirDavis

(Whiskey) Formation

Many whiskeys claim to reinvent the wheel, but Beyoncé’s new hooch, SirDavis, is unlike any whiskey I’ve encountered before. It has a very impressive pedigree, its makeup and production are highly unusual, and it’s even got an interesting backstory that doesn’t feel forced in any way.

The money behind the release comes from Moët Hennessy, the world’s largest spirits maker and — as the “MH” in LVMH — the largest luxury brand in the world. It seems Moët Hennessy spared no expense in the creation of SirDavis, as the company tapped perhaps the most creative and accomplished master distiller from its vast portfolio of brands, Dr. Bill Lumsden.

Lumsden is a five-time International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year and has spent the last quarter century as the head of distilling and whisky creation at both Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, two premium Scotch brands that are known for producing some of the most innovative and special takes on the spirit. (Particularly Ardbeg.)

Technically, SirDavis is classified as an American rye whiskey, but it’s far different from your average rye.

Mason Poole, Julian Dakdouk

There’s no corn in the mashbill, with the recipe instead going for a mix of 51 percent rye and 49 percent malted barley. That high percentage of malted barley is very strange for a rye, and it comes from Beyoncé’s personal taste, as apparently the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer is a huge Japanese whisky enthusiast.

Another unique international wrinkle about this American whiskey is that it’s finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, a technique normally employed by very rich single-malt Scotch whisky — not American rye.

Lumsden came up with the unique mashbill and maturation process for SirDavis with the goal of creating a new style of whiskey that would combine the bold flavors of an American rye with the mouthfeel of a single-malt Japanese whisky or Scotch.

Becky with the Good Whiskey

You may find it strange that Beyoncé, of all people, would launch a whiskey brand, but to hear her tell it, she seems pre-destined to have done so.

The whiskey is named after Davis Hogue, the singer’s great-grandfather who was a Prohibition-era moonshiner in the American South. “Sir Davis” was known for stashing whiskey bottles inside the knots of cedar trees to be retrieved by his customers.

Atiba Jefferson

Beyoncé’s discovery of this fun little knot in her family tree (no pun intended) led her to believe she was “fated” to enter the hooch business herself. (LVMH also owns a 50 percent stake in Armand de Brignac, the ultra-premium champagne brand founded by Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z.)

“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” the “Drunk in Love” singer said in a statement. “When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whiskey was fated.”

Pricing and Availability

SirDavis Whisky (the brand uses the Japanese/Scotch-style spelling without the “e”) is based in Beyoncé’s hometown of Houston, TX and is bottled at 88 proof with no age statement. The whiskey’s tasting notes, according to the brand, include toffee, baking spices, biscuits and citrus with a honeyed finish that tastes of golden raisins and cherries.

The bottle is set to hit US retailers and select international cities next month, with an SRP of $89 — so it’s not cheap by any stretch, but isn’t astronomical either. If you’re curious to get your hands on a bottle, you can pre-order SirDavis now directly from the brand’s website.

SirDavis

SirDavis Whisky

Specs

ABV	44%
Age	N/A
SRP	$89

• $89 at SirDavis

Related Topics