Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has entered the world of premium spirits, releasing SirDavis whiskey in partnership with drinks giant Moët Hennessy, which has been looking to strengthen its presence in the US whiskey market for some time.
According to a release, Beyonce sought out Moët Hennessy to help craft her perfect blend, and the drinks company assigned highly decorated Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden, who has worked on Scotch whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, to lead the task.
SirDavis is named after Davis Hogue, Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather; a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. Hogue stashed his whisky bottles in the empty knots of cedar trees – now, four generations later, Beyoncé’s whisky will grace the shelves of high-end retailers including Selfridges, Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, Hedonism and Berry Bros.
“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” says 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.”
The bespoke mash bill (composed of 51% rye and 49% malted barley) used in SirDavis is, according to Lumsden, one of the rarest in the world of American whiskey. The team also strived to impart “an elegant mouthfeel and texture reminiscent of Japanese and Scotch whiskies” alongside the “robust and deep flavours” more typical of classic American rye.
