5 Celebs Who Are Surprisingly Knowledgeable About Booze
It’s easy to forget that actors and musicians can be knowledgeable of certain topics that are outside of their wheelhouse. Think of Harrison Ford, who’s a professional carpenter, or Patrick Dempsey, who’s a professional juggler. Wine, beer and spirits also fall into this realm and certain celebrities really know their stuff—some more than others. Here are five famous folks who happen to know a thing or two about your favorite libations.
George Clooney
As if he doesn’t have enough credits to his name, actor George Clooney went ahead and added tequila-maker. Clooney partnered with old friend Rande Gerber to create a tequila that he thought wasn’t on the market yet, and the result was Casamigos. Gerber told The New York Observer the idea came from time spent in Mexico doing what else, but drinking tequila. “We were trying lots of different favorites recommended to us by bartenders, but there was never one that was perfect for us,” Gerber said. “At the time we were building our houses in Mexico, and George said ‘Hey, why don’t we just make our own?’ It was never a plan to get into the liquor business. It was out of our desire to drink the best and smoothest tequila, which we couldn’t find, so we just made it for ourselves.”
Dan Akroyd
Did you know that the beloved Ghostbuster and Blues Brother is tied to the cool skull vodka bottle? Yes, Dan Aykroyd is behind Crystal Head Vodka: The quadruple-distilled and seven times filtered spirit made with glacial meltwater is a smooth-drinking vodka and its sales won’t quit.
Drew Barrymore
From child star to wild child to movie mogul to mom to wine-maker, the surprise twists in the career of actress Drew Barrymore seem to lead down a path of great success. And that includes making wine. She collaborated with winemaker Carmel Road on Barrymore Wines, her first foray into the market.
“I just love wine,” Barrymore told The Huffington Post. “And it was the right thing to do for me to start with a pinot grigio because I think that’s where my wine journey as a wine drinker started—was drinking Pinot Grigio with my girlfriends.”
Mindy Kaling
Maybe calling Mindy Kaling a wine expert is a bit of a stretch. But when she joined friend Marissa A. Ross’ “Wine Time” video series to review Pinot Noir, Kaling took it a step further by dressing like Paul Giamatti’s character Miles from Sideways. Her insight isn’t astounding: “it’s sweet”; “it’s a real pretty red”; “it stings my mouth.” She even refuses to chug the bottle—but she is predictably charming and hilarious.
Mike D
Who’d have thought that a Beastie Boy who fought for our right to party would turn into a true-blue oenophile? Yes, Mike D has his wine game on lock and has proved that he knows a thing or two about grapes and still has a lot to learn.
The rapper told Food & Wine: “I try to be cognizant of what I don’t know. That’s when you get the most out of an experience, I think. But the truth is that wine is like music—it’s completely subjective and experiential. So your experience is just as valid as mine, or that of someone who has tasted far more wine than you or I have.”
Written by Cindy Augustine of Liquor.com