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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Looking to add a touch of personality to your handbag, keys or phone? Check out this shortlist of eight adorable purse […]
Lady Gaga already had the ring, but now she’s got the red carpet photos with Michael Polansky to make their engagement official. While at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival to support the premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux, the 38-year-old superstar faced cameras with her fiancé by her side, marking the couple’s red carpet […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Lionel Messi has been taking a break from the field after sustaining an injury during the 2024 Copa America finals against […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
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.
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.
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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 celebrate Queen Bey’s birthday, I secured an advance tasting of SirDavis Whisky and whipped up four of the signature cocktails (yes, they’re easy to make and cute to look at).
Keep reading for details on SirDavis and a step-by-step cocktail hour, Beyoncé-style.
The Hidden History of SirDavis Whisky: An Ode to Black Distillers
The story of SirDavis Whisky begins with Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather, Davis Hogue. According to online records, Hogue was born in Alabama around 1871. Online records show that Hogue was married with approximately six children, one of whom was Beyoncé’s paternal grandmother, Lou Helen Knowles. U.S. Census records indicate that Hodge was a farmer, but he was also a moonshiner, as Beyoncé revealed last month.
“When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated,” she explained. “SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy.”
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.
ReserveBar
SirDavis American Rye Whisky
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.
A Step-by-Step Guide to 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 made with two ounces of whisky, an ounce of sweet vermouth, a quarter ounce of honey syrup and two dashes of Angostura bitters. The Mint Julep mixes pressed blackberries, fresh mint leaves and honey syrup with lots of crushed ice.
SirDavis Whisky Cocktails
Leslie Kirchhoff
My favorite of the four? The Honey Bee takes gets a gold medal from me, but not because it’s one of the easiest drinks to make with the least ingredients. The acidity of the lemon perfectly balances the whisky without overpowering the cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 oz. SirDavis American Whisky
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Honey Syrup
Garnish: Honeycomb
Honey syrup is a main ingredient in several SirDavis cocktails, and it’s easy to make: add two parts honey and one part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved and let it cool before transferring it into an airtight container.
To make your Honey Bee, add the liquid ingredients to a tin cocktail shaker (add ice last). Shake and pour into a glass and garnish with honeycomb (or lemon wedge as I did).
Keep reading for details on retail locations that carry SirDavis Whisky.
Where to Buy SirDavis Whisky Online & In Stores
SirDavis Whisky is officially available at retail locations such as ReserveBar, Total Wine & More, Caskers, GoPuff, BevMo!, Spec’s, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
The brand is available in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Washington D.C. and in select retail locations in London, Paris and Tokyo. Additional markets will be added in the coming months.
Jet-setting soon? You can find SirDavis at DFS duty-free shops in select airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Travelers can also enjoy specialty SirDavis tastings at DFS stores located inside JFK and LAX.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Pharrell Williams’ new collaboration is gearing up for liftoff,= ahead of his animated biopic due in theaters next month. The Grammy-winning producer teamed with Lego to create the Over the Moon set announced on Tuesday (Sept. 3).
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“Growing up, I was obsessed with space and the infinite possibilities it represents,” Pharrell said in a statement. “This partnership aims to inspire creativity and inclusivity. With my Lego Over the Moon set I want everyone to feel seen and empowered to imagine their own stories. The spaceship is blasting off, and you’re in the pilot seat.”
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Lego
LEGO EXCLUSIVE
Over the Moon with Pharrell Williams
The Lego x Pharrell Over the Moon Builder Set ($109.99) is a black-and-gold space shuttle powered by a colorful jet stream. The celestial set, designed to “inspire creativity and curiosity,” features seven ranges of minifigure skin tones, the largest range of any Lego product. A total of 51 different minifigure heads are included and more than 30 of them were designed exclusively for the set.
“Our values for over 90 years have been rooted in creativity, curiosity and imagination. Pharrell is unique in his ability to draw on those qualities to influence his art. A true icon of our time, he never fails to innovate and inspire his audience, through any of his many endeavors” said Julia Goldin, chief marketing and product officer for Lego Group. “Through our partnership, we want to inspire people of all ages to unlock their own limitless potential through Lego Play. This is a shared mission, and we’re excited to take off today.”
Lego Over the Moon is available for pre-orderontheLegowebsite and will be released on Sept. 20.
In addition to the exclusive set, Pharrell and Lego are launching the Lego Build the Change global challenge through his non-profit organization, Yellow.
Piece by Piece, featuring Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, Timbaland, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg, debuts in theaters on Oct. 11.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Sept. 4 is Beyoncé’s birthday! If you’re a BeyHive member and can’t get enough of all things Beyoncé, we’ve put together the ultimate Beyoncé gift guide just for you. Each item featured in this video is inspired by the queen herself, capturing the essence of everything she does.
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If your birthday is around the corner and you want to celebrate alongside Beyoncé, here’s a great way to get started. You can start off your gift search with this 300-piece Poker Set for just $19.94, inspired by Beyonce’s hit “Texas Hold Em,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year.
Beyoncé fans, you might already know that she swears by the $600 Dyson Blow Dryer. But don’t worry, the Billboard team found a great dupe: the Conair The Knot Dr. All-in-One Smoothing Dryer Brush. For those looking to achieve Beyoncés flawless hairstyle on a budget, you can grab this 2-in-1 brush and dryer for just $30, and get that Beyoncé-inspired look without breaking the bank.
In 2004, Beyoncé was still part of the group Destiny’s Child, and Beyoncé had a song called “Bootylicious.” Twenty years ago, the word “bootylicious” was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. To honor this moment in Beyoncé history and elevate your own grammar and vocabulary, treat yourself to an Oxford Dictionary this year.
Enhance your gift guide with a must-have portable fan — an essential that Beyoncé herself can’t live without. Get ready to let your hair down and channel your inner Queen Bey. To complete the vibe, consider adding a Beyoncé-themed book to your collection. It’s also a great way to revamp your Beyoncé knowledge. This family-friendly book comes with cute illustrations of her story, and it’s less than $5.
For skincare enthusiasts, the Farmacy Hydrating Face Mask is another must-have. This cream-textured mask may not only help you achieve a dewy glow, but also channels Beyoncé’s essence with its honey potion scent — great for any dedicated BeyHive member. Inspired by her song “Pure Honey,” this mask offers a spa-like experience at home. One Amazon user said, “The warming sensation upon application feels like a spa treatment at home, and as it transforms into a creamy texture, I can feel my skin drinking in all the nourishing goodness.”
If you’re a devoted Funko Pop! collector, add the Michael Jackson Funko Pop! to your cart. Beyoncé has always admired Michael Jackson, one of her childhood idols. Beyoncé, who fans believe may be headed for a rock era next, also loves Prince. So why not add this Prince Official Purple Rain Live T-Shirt to your cart and celebrate her musical influences?
Following the release of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, you can’t go by without adding a classic pair of Levi’s jeans to your cart. You can get these bootcut high-rise jeans and channel the Cowboy Carter style in no time.
For more product recommendations, check out these Beyoncé-approved cowboy boots, Beyoncé’s Exclusive Renaissance Tour Merch, and tour-approved duffle bag inspired by Beyoncé’s backup dancers.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Oversized water bottles have become one of the trendiest accessories you can own, typically in the form of a Stanley Cup, but now, a new beverage brand is vying for the top spot.
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Owala has quickly taken over in popularity due to its 40 oz tumblers‘ striking similarity to Stanley, in addition to a more affordable price point and features that beat out its competitor’s. Now, Amazon has dropped its own exclusive collection featuring colorways you can only find through the online retailer. There are six shades to choose from — Foggy Tide, Bunny Hop, Iced Tea, The Great Blue, Watermelon Breeze and Brave Adventures — that range from neutral to bold neon shades you can stock up on for just $38 (compared to Stanley’s $45).
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You won’t just be showing off a stylish color contrasting exterior, either. The stainless steel tumblers also come with a triple-insulated interior that can help keep beverages cold for up to 40 hours. That’s more than triple the amount of time Stanley’s Quencher is advertised to maintain a cold temperature, which may be due to the fact it has a double-wall vacuum insulation.
Keep reading to shop the Amazon-exclusive Owala tumblers.
Amazon
Owala Insulated Travel Tumbler (Foggy Tide)
Reviewers can’t stop praising Owala’s 40 oz tumblers — especially over how well it “keeps ice like a gem.” With a triple layer insulation, the tumbler uses a stainless steel material and vacuum-sealed top to keep your drinks at optimal temperatures for longer periods of time.
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Owala Insulated Travel Tumbler (Bunny Hop)
This colorway doesn’t just give off a more delicate vibe with its pastel shade, the tumbler will also prevent any accidental spills by using a leakproof lid that’s also splash-resistant. You can also switch up how you drink your water, since the straw’s removable and the lid can flip open.
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Owala Insulated Travel Tumbler (Iced Tea)
For a more simple look, the Iced Tea Owala tumbler comes with hues of gray and white with pops of brown on the straw and logo. The opening is also wide enough to add ice and clean easily. You can throw the lid in the dishwasher, but the cup should be washed by hand, according to the brand.
Amazon
Owala Insulated Travel Tumbler (The Great Blue)
Bring a pop of color to your hydration with this insulated tumbler. It combines blue with a hint of lime green for a chic contrasting appearance. You can also use the built-in handle for a seamless drinking experience.
TikTok user @justadadvideos put Owala, Stanely and Yeti to the test in a video that has gained more than 158,000 views and showcases whether each tumbler is leakproof.
“Who leaks the most water[?]” the caption asks.
After tipping each one over, Owala was the only tumbler to keep water inside, and it wasn’t until the user opened the lid of the Owala tumbler that water began to rush out.
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best cookware deals, dorm essentials and music coolers.
Grotesquerie‘s arrival is less than a month away, and the official trailer for Ryan Murphy‘s upcoming drama series dropped on Wednesday (Sept. 4). In the nearly three-minute clip — which features an introduction from Travis Kelce — Niecy Nash-Betts’ character, Detective Lois Tryon, opens the clip by warning, “Something hellish is here.” She tries to get […]
There may be singing, dancing and eye-catching numbers in Joker: Folie à Deux, but Lady Gaga wouldn’t call it a musical. While speaking at the Venice International Film Festival Wednesday (Sept. 4) about the upcoming sequel — in which she makes her debut as Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck — the pop star […]
As the self-proclaimed Hot Girl Coach, Megan Thee Stallion is ready to see a strong Black woman take the wheel as President of the United States. And in her cover story with Billboard published Wednesday (Sept. 4), the 29-year-old rapper emphasizes that people need to get out and vote in order for Democratic candidate Kamala […]