Beyoncé enters spirits world with SirDavis Whisky

From Destiny’s Child to a multi-award-winning solo career, singer Beyoncé is hoping to recreate her musical success with her American whiskey brand SirDavis.

Moët Hennessy, a subsidiary of LVMH, teamed up with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create SirDavis, a new American whiskey brand. The brand name pays tribute to Davis Hogue, Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer and moonshiner in the American south during Prohibition. During this time, when alcohol was banned throughout the US, Hogue would stash whiskey bottles in empty knots of cedar trees for friends to find and enjoy. This discovery, combined with an affection for Japanese whisky, is what inspired Beyoncé to create her own spirit. “I’ve always been drawn to the power and the confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” said Beyoncé. “When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. “SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy. In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whiskey that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category. You can taste it better than I could ever tell you – welcome, SirDavis.” Dr Bill Lumsden, director of whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, both owned by Moët Hennessy, was called upon to co-create SirDavis with Beyoncé. “This is not my whiskey; this is her whiskey,” Lumsden said. “Cameron [George, US brand ambassador and educator, Ardbeg] and I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting with her many times to bring this to life. That first meeting, we spent a whole afternoon tasting whisky together.” Bottled at 44% ABV, SirDavis is made from a mash bill comprising 51% rye and 49% malted barley. The liquid undergoes two rounds of maturation. The whiskey is initially aged in American oak barrels before spending time in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. It is non-chill-filtered and includes no caramel colouring. Tasting notes include aromas of tangy Seville oranges, raisins, clove, cinnamon, ginger, toffee and Demerara sugar. On the palate, the whiskey delivers notes of toffee, spices, cinnamon, clove and classic rye, leading to malty and biscuit notes with vibrant citrus on top. Towards the finish, drinkers will find hints of honey, sultanas and ripe cherries. International rollout With an RRP of US$89 (£79 in the UK), SirDavis is available to pre-order in the US from today (20 August) via sirdavis.com. The whiskey will be available via US retailers from 4 September across California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington DC. From 4 September, SirDavis will also be available to purchase from select retailers in London, Paris and Tokyo, and Duty Free stores in international airports including LAX, JFK and SFO. George said: “When we started thinking about what the product is going to be, she led the charge. It had to be an American whiskey. Well, what’s the most historic American grain, the first grain that we started distilling here in the US? Rye. So it had to be a rye whiskey and then folding in malted barley. “So again, there’s historical precedence, but then we’ve made it in our own unique way. So it’s a little bit about having respect and reverence for the category, but then also her putting her own interpretation, her own feel, to the classic traditions of the category as well.” Brand home coming 2025 The Texas Hold ‘Em singer was also heavily involved in the design of the SirDavis bottle. The ribbed glass features a black medallion with a bronzed horse, chosen to symbolise strength, respect, and Beyoncé’s Texas roots. SirDavis is created by third-party producer MGP Ingredients, and it is finished, blended and bottled in Texas – also linking to Beyoncé’s roots. Furthermore, the SirDavis brand home will open in Houston in 2025. Lumsden said: “We are currently establishing a brand home in Houston, which of course is her hometown, and that’s where the Sherry casks will be finished, it’s where the bottling will be done, so there’ll be a brand home facility.” SirDavis 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 also owns a share of WhistlePig. Asked whether the development of the SirDavis brand home presented an opportunity to put further roots down in the US, Lumsden replied: “I would say so.”