Retired soccer megastar David Beckham is teaming with drinks giant Diageo to launch Haig Club, a single grain Scotch that will cost around $65 a bottle.
Beckham will serve as “brand ambassador,” helping lure new drinkers to an old category that is undergoing a renaissance.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but celebs often get an equity stake in addition to cash for their endorsement.
Beckham joins the list of celebs who either back or own their own spirits brands:
- George Clooney, Casamigos tequila
The A-lister partnered with friend and restaurateur Rande Gerber to produce Casamigos, which roughly translates to “House of Friends.”
- Justin Timberlake, Sauza 901 tequila
The singer teamed with the maker of Jim Beam for Sauza 901, a nod to his hometown area code in Memphis, Tenn.
- Bill Murray, Slovenia vodka
After shilling for Suntory whiskey as an aging actor in “Lost in Translation,” Murray became a real investor in Slovenia vodka alongside professional dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.
- Dan Akroid, Crystal Head vodka
Fellow “Ghostbuster” Akroid — obsessed by the legend of the crystal skulls — started his own vodka brand that is filtered through Herkimer diamond crystals and comes in a bottle shaped like a skull.
- Danny DeVito, Limoncello
The noticeably intoxicated actor admitted to being drunk on limoncello during a TV appearance. He decided to turn lemons into his own premium Danny DeVito’s Limoncello.
- Sean “Diddy” Combs, DeLeon Vodka
The rap entrepreneur struck a 50/50 partnership with Diageo to purchase DeLeon, an upmarket tequila, in hopes of replicating their earlier success with Ciroc vodka.
- Bruce Willis, Sobieski vodka
The “Die Hard” star agreed to license his image to Polish vodka brand Sobieski in exchange for shares in parent company Belvedere SA. The deal soured when the stock fell in value, and Willis demanded cash instead.
- Bethenny Frankel, Skinnygirl Margaritas
The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star launched the Skinnygirl margaritas brand, then sold it to Jim Beam for the reported astronomical sum of $120 million.
- Marilyn Manson, Absinthe Mansinthe
Leave it to the shock rocker to come up with a strange concoction made from grain alcohol and herbs like wormwood, green anise and fennel seed.