Beyoncé is not the only celebrity involved with this distinctive and tasty whisk(e)y.

Don’t judge a whiskey by its bottle—though in this case both bottle and whiskey are quite appealing.

The spirits world is abuzz about the latest celebrity whiskey to come down the well-worn celeb-booze pike, and with good reason. It’s the first whiskey of its kind from one of the brightest lights in the industry. A star since before the turn of the millennium who just keeps going, with each new release another piece added to a glorious mosaic of a singular career. And this time, Beyoncé’s selected him to help lead her newest business venture.

Of course, I’m kvelling about Dr. Bill Lumsden, Moët Hennessy’s “director of whisky creation,” who’s almost as big in Scotch whisky circles as Beyoncé, his collaborator on SirDavis American Whisky, is in, um, just about every other circle. Dr. Bill is in charge of two very different Moët-owned brands—Glenmorangie, a sweet, creamy Speyside malt, and Ardbeg, a big, bold and smoky peated malt from Islay. Lumsden is affectionately called “the mad scientist of whisky” because he never stops experimenting with malting techniques, aging methods, cask finishes, you name it. Hardly a year goes by without at least a couple of new Glenmo and Ardbeg expressions, sporting names like A Tale Of The Forest and Heavy Vapours, many of them tweaking the signature flavor profiles to a greater or lesser degree.

Lumsden, hailing from Scotland, possesses a distinct accent that underscores his heritage. He shares a love for lesser-known pop music remixes, including one of a Prince song. Despite his musical tastes, Lumsden had never ventured into crafting American whiskey, until he crossed paths with Beyoncé. Known widely by her first name, Beyoncé, or Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for formalities, took inspiration from her great-grandfather, a Prohibition-era moonshiner, to create her own whiskey. Drawing on her influence, she enlisted Lumsden to bring this vision to life.

The product of their collaboration is SirDavis, a standout whiskey exceeding mere adequacies and presenting itself as one of the year’s most compelling tastings. Its unique makeup consists of 51% rye and 49% malted barley, deviating from typical American recipes. This no-age-statement whiskey was finished in sherry casks, likely contributing nuances reminiscent of either Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez, and is bottled at 44% ABV.

Although typically skeptical of celebrity-endorsed spirits, I admit that SirDavis aligns with Lumsden’s high standards and aptly honors Beyoncé. Labeled as “American Whisky,” the spelling hints at a Scotch influence, distinguishing it from typical American whiskeys. Initial tasting notes include dark fruits, clove, and roasted nuts, courtesy of the barley and sherry, while the rye introduces a spicy backend, blending seamlessly with the other elements.

Is it a rye whiskey for Scotch lovers? A single malt for rye fans? A dram to convert whiskey agnostics who bought it for the Beyoncé connection? Yes, yes, and yes. At $90 for a (very attractive) bottle, it’s not cheap, but it’s beautifully packaged…and it tastes great while Cowboy Carter is on.

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