.png)
Many have already dubbed Queen B's entry into spirits the celebrity whiskey release of the year. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter's SirDavid rye made the headlines worldwide on 20 August, bracing her branding but also starting speculations about the origin and the credits behind the American malted rye whisky. One thing is for sure: the industry is engaged.
The brand name SirDavis was inspired by the singer's paternal great-grandfather, Davis Hogue, a farmer and moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. Hogue would hide whiskey bottles in empty knots of cedar trees for friends to find and enjoy during the alcohol ban throughout the US. Beyoncé's fondness for Japanese whisky and this discovery inspired her to create her own label.
For the whisky, Beyoncé sourced the expertise of Dr Bill Lumsden, director of whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, both owned by Moët Hennessy, who stated: “This is not my whiskey; this is her whiskey." The developing team met multiple times to create the recipe comprising 51% rye and 49% malted barley. Historically, rye was the first grain distilled into whiskey in North America.
"I think together we've risen to something that I'm hugely excited about. And I think whisky drinkers are going to be blown away because it's really quite different from anything I've tasted before," said Lumsden.
All Images by SirDavis
Sir Davis Whisky is Moët Hennessy’s first spirit brand made from scratch in the US. The Hennessy Cognac owner acquired the Woodinville Whiskey Company in 2017 and owns a share of WhistlePig. The connection to the latter has sparked speculations about whether at least some of the whisky comes from WhistlePig.
But, according to the brand, SirDavis was made by third-party producer MGP Ingredients, which represents brands and companies such as Lux Row Distillers, Penelope Bourbon, and Limestone Branch Distillery. The whisky is finished, blended, and bottled in Texas, where Beyoncé was born.
The rye whisky was initially aged in American oak barrels and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The whisky is offered at 44% ABV and has a recommended retail price of US$89 (£79). SirDavis is non-chill-filtered and does not include caramel colouring.
The bottle was designed in collaboration with the singer herself and Stranger & Stranger, also known for their work with Compass Box whisky. The ribbed glass features a black medallion with a bronzed horse, chosen to symbolise strength, respect, and Beyoncé’s Texas roots.
The whisky was available for pre-order on the brand's website, sirdavis.com, from 20 August 2024. Other retailers worldwide also took pre-orders, promising shipping after 4 September 2024, when the whisky is/was officially launched, which is also Beyoncé's birthday.
SirDavis is also due to open its brand home and visitor centre in 2025 in Houston, Texas, offering Moët Hennessy a chance to cement its legacy on US soil further.
For whisky enthusiasts, it is clear that Beyoncé has sought to gather some of the best and most well-known business partners from the whisky world for her new venture. Even the biggest critics of celebrity spirits brands have to admit that Sir Davis has researched and invested big bucks to set the brand up for success as well as it could have.
Thank you for reading The Whisky Ardvark. Please make sure to check out some of our other informative articles and news stories listed below.
Comments