![CELEBRITY TEQUILAS](https://cdn.magzter.com/1461950688/1658425391/articles/qCWKP7MCJ1658729447825/CELEBRITY-TEQUILAS.jpg)
While celebrity sponsorship of products is nothing new, the spirits world has seen a spike W in household names endorsing tequila. The likes of George Clooney, LeBron James, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Justin Timberlake, and many other famous faces are all trying their hand at Mexico's national spirit. It's easy to assume this is just an all-star cast shilling mediocre product. But rest assured, we've come a long way from Margaritaville: The quality is high.
Tequila has been around for centuries but only boomed relatively recently. Market figures from Impact Databank show a soaring growth in the tequila industry over the past 30-plus years. In 1987, the spirit represented a mere 4 million cases among United States liquor imports. By 2007, that figure ballooned to 11 million cases. And in 2021, tequila was a nearly $8 billion industry in the U.S., accounting for more than 24 million cases.
It's fitting that people who attract money and attention with their names might be attracted to a tequila investment. But a few other factors make this trend even more interesting. First, its upscale focus. Many of these celebrity tequilas prioritize quality and pedigree at the emerging high-end of the category.
Tequila has a wide quality spectrum. At the entry level are mixtos, which can obtain as little as 51% of their fermented sugar from blue agave: The plant that forms the foundation and flavor of quality tequila. The rest typically comes from glucose and fructose, usually sourced from cane sugar or corn. Superpremium tequila is made with 100% blue agave, which is what nearly all these celebrity quaffs do.
After that, there are several levels of aging, and with each stage comes a higher price. Michael Jordan's top marque, Cincoro Founder's Series Extra Añejo (sometimes called "Black Bottle"), is an extra-aged rendition that goes for $5,000-nearly enough to buy season tickets for the Chicago Bulls.
Denne historien er fra September 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![New Zealand's Success Story](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/fhF2R9kE21725454233158/NEW-ZEALANDS-SUCCESS-STORY.jpg)
New Zealand's Success Story
From small beginnings, the country’s wines have ascended to global prominence
![Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/bNgAfgoAD1725454072713/WINE-IS-HEALTHIEST-CHOICE-FOR-DRINKERS.jpg)
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers
Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
![In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/jj6M57hNe1725453580139/IN-PURSUIT-OF-THE-PERFECT-CRUST.jpg)
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
![SEAVEY VINEYARD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/bGoO4sdEM1725453374573/SEAVEY-VINEYARD.jpg)
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
![CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/W1voV3Nji1725453151377/CALIFORNIA-RHONES-SHOW-THEIR-RANGE.jpg)
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
![Tuscany Comes of Age](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/y_LzD2lfQ1725452659318/TUSCANY-COMES-OF-AGE.jpg)
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
![The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1814904/Aw63FoIv61725450436666/THE-ABSOLUTE-BEST-PLACES-TO-EAT-AND-DRINK-IN-AMERICA.jpg)
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
![Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/mK92qb18o1720683188524/crp_wine-wine-spectator-cabernet-wine-tasting-New-Orleans-New-Orleans-Marriott-Jon-Batiste-New-Orleans-Jazz-Las-Vegas-wine-industry.jpg)
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
![Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/bnZk3qduE1720682575283/crp_Williams-Selyem-Pinot-Noir-Daou-Gallo-Family-wine-wine-sells-US-wineWine-Spectator-winelabels-Constellation-brands-Meiomi-winery-Robert-Mondavi-winery-Sea-Smoke-Winerie-Chardonnay-vineyard-Santa-Barbara-County-Bob-Davids-California-wineries-California.jpg)
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
![Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13242/1744787/30JZIYK5-1720681622927/crp_Barzelay-California-Lazy-Bear-restaurants-restaurants-awards-foodie-California-wines-best-restastaurants-San-Francisco-Mission-District-restaurant-San-Francisco-restaurants-David-Barzelay.jpg)
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.