8 Worst Celebrity-Owned Liquor Brands - Tasting Table

"It's easy to be a little snobby about celebrity-owned liquor brands. These famous people usually compete with little knowledge compared to distilleries with decades, or even centuries, of experience. The reality is that some of them are quite impressive, especially with some notable bourbon brands. Others, however, lack any type of quality. They seemingly exist on the back of their celebrity-backing and significant marketing. I'm here to root out these brands and explain why it's best to avoid them."

"I chose these brands mostly based on my personal experience, but also drew from the accounts of other Tasting Table writers, while looking at review scores from respected websites. I only included a few rules, mainly that the brand still had to be active with at least part celebrity ownership, rather than simply just endorsement. My own experience with spirits, and especially whiskey, is vast."

"A fancy bottle is one of them. Pappy Van Winkle may well be the most sought-after bourbon in the world, but its bottles are very modest. That's because they know the only thing that will give you a lasting legacy is what's in the bottle. Some brands (definitely not all) seem like they try to lure you in with the bottle design and marketing instead. With this Canadian-style whiskey first released in 2016, the craftsmanship just isn't there."

Celebrity-owned liquor brands vary widely in quality, with some delivering impressive bourbons while others rely on fame and marketing rather than craftsmanship. Selection criteria required active brands with partial celebrity ownership and consideration of review scores; whiskey-tasting expertise informed judgments. Fancy packaging can signal emphasis on appearance over spirit quality. Drake's Virginia Black, a Canadian-style whiskey first released in 2016, demonstrates these issues: the craftsmanship is lacking, the nose is sweet but one-dimensional with shallow caramel and vanilla and a little cinnamon spice. Celebrity spirits can be tempting to fans but may not justify their price.

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