Beyoncé Tapped a Whiskey Legend to Create a Bottle That’s Actually Worth Buying

(Whiskey) Formation

Many whiskeys claim to reinvent the wheel, but Beyoncé’s new hooch, SirDavis, is unlike any whiskey I’ve encountered before. It has a very impressive pedigree, its makeup and production are highly unusual, and it’s even got an interesting backstory that doesn’t feel forced in any way.

The money behind the release comes from Moët Hennessy, the world’s largest spirits maker and — as the “MH” in LVMH — the largest luxury brand in the world. It seems Moët Hennessy spared no expense in the creation of SirDavis, as the company tapped perhaps the most creative and accomplished master distiller from its vast portfolio of brands, Dr. Bill Lumsden.

Lumsden is a five-time International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year and has spent the last quarter century as the head of distilling and whisky creation at both Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, two premium Scotch brands that are known for producing some of the most innovative and special takes on the spirit. (Particularly Ardbeg.)

Technically, SirDavis is classified as an American rye whiskey, but it’s far different from your average rye.

There’s no corn in the mashbill, with the recipe instead going for a mix of 51 percent rye and 49 percent malted barley. That high percentage of malted barley is very strange for a rye, and it comes from Beyoncé’s personal taste, as apparently the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer is a huge Japanese whisky enthusiast.