Why a sip of George Clooney is so very seductive
As more and more stars launch designer drinks ...but a dram of David Beckham fails to score
THEY’VE already got everything from clothing lines to fragrances. Now celebrities have found a new, and unlikely, way to boost their fortunes – by putting their names to spirits such as rum, vodka and tequila. With the Irish drinks industry worth €2billion a year, it can be a lucrative sideline, but are their tipples any good? Mail on Sunday expert OLLY SMITH puts them to the test…
GEORGE CLOONEY Casamigos Blanco Tequila £54.90
WORLDWIDE sales of tequila have soared in recent years, and if this brilliant bottle has anything to do with it, I can see why. Clooney and his business partner Rande Gerber spent two years working with a Mexican distillery to perfect the flavours and this has immense fragrance, with fresh herby and vanilla aromas leaping out of the glass.
I would always sip this neat – no mixer, no salt, no lime, nothing – the flavours are just too intense and good to mix.
The palate is deliciously fruity with a sweet core, and a powerful, long-lasting flavour. The only quibble is the price – but if George is buying, I’m drinking. 9/10
DAVID BECKHAM Clubman Haig scotch £21.95
LIKE Becks, the bottle looks great; smart and striking. The whisky itself struck me as very simple, easy to drink and light, totally inoffensive and so a good way to entice new whisky drinkers. This doesn’t have the impact to hit the back of the net and score that decisive goal but the presentation bottle is decent, and for the price it’s a friendly option for Beckham fans. With soda, it will do for a refreshing, simple sipper. 4/10
DAN ACKROYD Crystal Head Vodka €59.99
IF YOU presented me with a vodka filtered through ‘Herkimer diamonds’ and served in a crystal skull I’d think you were either nuts or it was a marketing gimmick.
Don’t be fooled. Dan ‘Ghostbusters’ Ackroyd, who conceived and founded this brand with artist John Alexander in 2007, has crafted a vodka with precision, purity and freshness. Expect a glossy, svelte texture and an upbeat spicy finish inside a striking bottle. The vodka has been quadruple-distilled from Ontario grains and filtered seven times with Newfoundland water. Serve ice-cold. 8/10
SEAN COMBS Ciroc Vodka €49.99
WITH a 50-50 profit split apparently in place for this deal, I’ve no doubt rapper Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy) will do fine from his ‘strategic alliance’ with drinks giant Diageo. With a light and easy fruity intensity, there’s a satisfying warming crescendo to the finish of this spirit distilled from French wine grapes. Light and summery, this is a decent option with tonic or martini, thanks to its freshness. The price feels a tad steep but the spirit is appealing enough to coax you gently into the rhythm of a summery cocktail. 6/10
NANCY DELL’OLIO Limonbello £29.90
LIGHT, fragrant and lemony with a zesty finish, this surprised me. I could see myself enjoying a few cocktails using this and dreaming of sunny Sicily where the lemons for it come from. Nancy, below, claims this is her baby and, with agave syrup in the mix, this is indeed from an old Dell’Olio family recipe described as organic and sugar-free. Useful in a range of summery cocktails or just sip it neat after dinner for a simple lemony refresher. A pleasant surprise. 6/10
MOTöRHEAD Vodka £32.50
WöW! By the gothic design adorning the bottle, I expected this vodka to be the hand grenade of regret in this line-up. On the contrary – it reaffirmed the old maxim ‘never judge an album by its cover’.
The hard-living band, who have also produced their own wine and beer, can be commended for a tipple that is quaffable and easy enough to sip if you’re in the mood for rocking out. It is said to have been selected by Lemmy and the band while on tour. This good, clean vodka from Malmköping in Sweden is perhaps more of a simpler solo note than a full band, but with five-star reviews on Amazon, fans clearly love it. 6/10
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS Atlantico Reserva Rum €49.99
FROM the Dominican Republic, this rum has an impressive history of awards, and with its aromas of butterscotch and sultanas, I was initially enticed. But for me the oak influence here comes across a little too powerfully, almost verging on vanilla fudge. If you have a sweet tooth, this could be for you.
Described as a ‘partnership’ with Miami-based Atlantico Rum, there is a coda of spice on the palate but the headline for me was of simplicity around a profile that reminded me of maple syrup or sweet caramel. So while it’s not a top ten hit, it’s a solid effort from Enrique, above, if you prefer your rum on the easier side, and could even be good for backing up the harmonies in fruity cocktails. 5/10
THE POGUES Irish Whiskey €35
They say this is the spirit of the band, bottled. It’s made in small batches in handmade copper stills at West Cork Distillers in Skibbereen. It is best enjoyed in cocktails or Irish coffee, as drinking it neat can leave you hostage to one of the many intense flavours – variously described as caramel sauce; saccharin; French toast; raw hazelnuts; cloves; lemon pith – which can linger too long on the tongue. Its tartness can be an asset however when mixing, so it’s not all bad. Perhaps best described as a cashing in. But then, isn’t that a wonderfully punk thing to do. 6/10