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Cheers to Beyoncé! SirDavis American Rye Whisky became available online and in select stores on Wednesday (Sept. 4), coinciding with Queen Bey’s 43rd birthday.
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The release marks a new chapter for the multi-platinum selling singer who in the last two years, gave us Renaissance and Cowboy Carter, embarked on a world tour with merch to match, debuted the Renaissance tour film and introduced the world to Cécred— all before revealing her latest venture.
In classic Beyoncé form, the announcement of SirDavis Whisky surprised most fans, but the Houston native may have dropped an Easter egg on the Cowboy Carter track “II Hands to Heaven” where she sings: “Bottle in my hand, the whiskey up high.”
To commemorate Beyoncé’s birthday, I had the opportunity to partake in an early sampling of SirDavis Whisky and prepared four of their signature cocktails (which are both simple to make and visually appealing).
Read on for more about SirDavis and how to host a cocktail hour inspired by Beyoncé.
The origins of SirDavis Whisky trace back to Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather, Davis Hogue. According to online records, Hogue was born in Alabama around 1871 and was recorded as having around six children, one of whom was Beyoncé’s paternal grandmother, Lou Helen Knowles. U.S. Census records reveal that Hodge was not only a farmer but also dabbled in moonshining, a fact Beyoncé shared recently.
“Discovering my great-grandfather’s moonshine background made my personal affinity for whisky seem predestined,” she stated. “SirDavis is my tribute to him, creating a new legacy we both share.”
Though whisky has its American roots in Tennessee, it has a long and complicated history with Alabama. The state outlawed alcohol in the early 1900s, nearly a decade before federal prohibition laws went into place. For a century, whisky was illegal in Alabama making it even harder for Black distillers like Beyoncé’s grandfather to make it without risking arrest.
It took 100 years, but Alabama’s first legally distilled whisky was finally released in 2015. SirDavis Whisky, however, is headquartered in Beyoncé’s hometown of Houston, highlighting both her family’s Alabama and Texas ancestry in one bottle.
$89.99
Housed in a beautiful, ribbed glass bottle, SirDavis offers a nod to Texas in the form of a golden horse centered on the front. The recipe blends a “distinctive grain selection of 51 percent rye and a 49 percent malted barley” matured in sherry casks similar to the way Japanese and Scotch whiskies are made.
Although I’m far from a connoisseur, I’ve attended my share of tastings and can appreciate a nice, smooth rye whisky. Per the product description, SirDavis offers a “rich and buttery toffee flavor” which I can attest to, along with hints of honey, cinnamon and clove, a subtle but lingering taste of cherries with a dash of spice that dances on the palette.
See below for directions on how to make SirDavis cocktails.
Based on the packaging alone, SirDavis was made to stand out. The 88-proof whisky from Beyoncé and Moët Hennessy, mingles well with fruity cocktails, pairs perfectly with lemon and it’s smooth enough to enjoy by itself (I would recommend sipping slowly though, SirDavis packs a punch).
Following along with the recipes on the brand’s website, I made four cocktails including the Honey Bee, Hot Toddy, Mint Julep and The Houston.
To complete the vintage vibe of the bottle, I used these ribbed cocktail glasses and glass coffee mugs from Amazon and a couple of cocktail glasses from my own collection. The cocktail ingredients are available at just about any grocery store, but I purchased everything on Amazon Fresh including vermouth, blackberries, honey, lemon juice, cocktail sticks and garnish. The Hot Toddy needs just a handful of ingredients: SirDavis Whisky, hot water, lemon juice, honey and Angostura aromatic bitters.
The Houston is crafted from two ounces of whisky, one ounce of sweet vermouth, a quarter ounce of honey syrup, and two dashes of Angostura bitters. The Mint Julep is a blend of pressed blackberries, fresh mint leaves, and honey syrup, served over a generous amount of crushed ice.
Out of the four, the Honey Bee wins my top spot, not just for its simplicity and minimal ingredients. The sharpness of the lemon flawlessly offsets the whisky, enhancing rather than dominating the drink.
Ingredients:
2 oz. SirDavis American Whisky
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Honey Syrup
Garnish: Honeycomb
Honey syrup, a crucial component in various SirDavis cocktails, is simple to prepare. Combine two parts honey with one part water in a saucepan over medium heat. Mix until the honey dissolves, allow it to cool, then store it in a sealed container.
To create your Honey Bee cocktail, first pour the liquid elements into a cocktail shaker, then add ice. Shake well and strain into a glass, finishing with a honeycomb or lemon wedge garnish as desired.
For more information on where to purchase SirDavis Whisky, continue reading.
SirDavis Whisky can now be found at shops including ReserveBar, Total Wine & More, and Caskers, along with GoPuff, BevMo!, Spec’s, and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. Available regions include California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Washington D.C., as well as select locations in London, Paris, and Tokyo. More markets are expected to be introduced soon.
Are you ready to jet off soon? Look for SirDavis at DFS duty-free shops in various airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport. While at JFK and LAX, travelers can partake in exclusive SirDavis tastings available within the DFS stores.
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