7 Athletes and Sports Celebrities Who Have Their Own Alcohol Brands

Sports and spirits may not be the most obvious combination, but many athletes have proven it’s a match made in heaven. Athletes’ extensive networks and competitive spirits make them a natural fit for the high-risk, fan-driven world of wine and spirits.

Of course, they’re not the only celebrities to do so: In recent months, a number of celebrities have gotten into the alcohol business, with Cate Blanchett launching a sake line and Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston celebrating the fifth anniversary of their mezcal line.

So whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a cocktail connoisseur, or simply interested in the latest endeavors of some of the biggest names in sport (it’s Olympics time, so we get that), this list offers something for everyone.

1. Alex Morgan

• Brand: Volley
• Drink: Tequila Seltzer

Soccer star Alex Morgan, best known as captain of the U.S. national team, has had great success with Volley Tequila Seltzer. Announcing that she’d become co-owner of the brand late last year, she vowed to fight the lack of transparency and authenticity in the ingredient lists of popular spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. Made with 100% blue agave tequila, Volley is made with organic juices (zesty lime, sharp grapefruit, tropical mango, and spicy ginger, respectively) and nothing artificial is added. Who says your juice can’t have a little kick?

2. LeBron James

• Brand: Lobos 1707
• Drink: Tequila

Basketball legends LeBron James, Draymond Green and Anthony Davis have teamed up off the court to invest in Lobos 1707 Tequila, and so far it’s going strong. Lobos, which means “wolf” in Spanish, symbolizes the fierce team spirit and camaraderie among its athletes, and this luxurious liquid has been well-received around the world. Aged using a proprietary solera system, this tequila delivers a smooth, complex profile that even the toughest defenses can’t resist.

3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

• Brand: Teremana
• Drink: Tequila

Professional wrestler turned ultra-talented entrepreneur Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has brought a real big splash to the industry with Teremana Tequila. Distilled in small batches in Jalisco, Mexico, Teremana (meaning spirit of the earth) takes its influences and imprints seriously, not only caring about the land it sources its agave from, but also the painstaking process it goes through to create a superior tequila. and A sustainable tequila with a clean taste and bright citrus and hints of vanilla (perfect for those who like their spirits a little bolder).

4. Cristie Kerr

• Brand: Cristie Kerr Wines and Kerr Cellars Winery
• Alcohol: Wine

Golf champion Cristie Kerr is trying her hand at Bordeaux- and Burgundy-style winemaking in California with Napa-based Kerr Cellars. Though she produces only 80 cases of older vintages, her wines are as elegant and refined as a well-hit putt, and they’ve earned acclaim for their complexity and flavor, including the 2022 Kerr Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and 2021 Yountville Malbec.

5. Michael Jordan

• Brand: Shinkoro
• Drink: Tequila

Perhaps the most sports-backed spirit on this list, Cincoro was launched by Michael Jordan, Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens, and Celtics co-owners Wyck Grousbeck and Emilia Fazzalari. The five team members craft tequilas worthy of their reputation, nearly synonymous with excellence. All four core products (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo) have won multiple awards, and the Reposado is a real game-changer for those who aren’t already tequila fans (it’s incredibly smooth, slightly sweet, and has notes of caramel vanilla and white chocolate).

6. Danica Patrick

• Brand: Somnium
• Alcohol: Wine

Racing star turned entrepreneur Danica Patrick has transitioned from racing to vineyards. Somnium, Latin for “dream,” is a reminder that Patrick has turned dreams into reality. Her Napa Valley winery is her own; something to be proud of. Since planting her first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in 2011, small-batch vintages have been well-received by critics (especially 2014), and the winery has expanded to include a gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc and a new “Danica Rosé” (in partnership with the Margnatto family, whose winemaking traditions date back to the 1790s).

7. Scottie Pippen

• Brand: Digits
• Liquor: Bourbon

NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is known for his large hands, so in a rather unexpected play, he decided to fire up and name a bourbon after his hands. And the name is a huge hit. Made from a blend of high-quality corn, rye, and barley, this bourbon is refined through a unique distillation process that results in a very smooth, not-too-sweet whiskey. The newest bourbon in the blend is aged for five years, with barrels sourced from Indiana and Tennessee and aged at Savage & Cooke on historic Mare Island in California. Essentially, he shoots and he scores.