Celebrities Who Launched Liquor Brands

What's the next move when your name starts to fall off the A list? For a lot of celebrities, it's alcohol. But these celebs aren't landing in rehab -- instead, they're headed straight to the bank with branded liquors and wines.

The latest to join the liquor entrepreneur ranks of Diddy and Dan Ackroyd is teeny rocker trio Hanson (who are all now of age). The Hanson brothers recently announced plans to release their own MMMHop IPA. In an equally random venture, retired NBA star Yao Ming announced this week that he has created his own wine label, Yao Family Wines, developed exclusively for the booming Chinese wine market.

Sound ridiculous? Some, like Marilyn Manson's self-branded absinthe Mansinthe, are, but other stars, like former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar have turned hocking booze into a million-dollar payoff. Inspired by Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Cabo Wabo Tequila was created in 1996. In 2007, Hagar sold 80 percent of his stake in the company to Campari/Skyy for $80 million. In 2010, Hagar sold his remaining share to the company for an additional $11 million, while still maintaining ownership of the Cantina brand and restaurants.

Check out some of the famous faces behind the booze.

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Comments

[DA5050]

01:50 PM on 12/19/2011

And we can't forget washington redskins own George Starkes' "Head Hog" beer around 1980.Big Cellar ...I mean seller.very drinkable though.

[beobnoxious]

10:43 PM on 12/17/2011

Yao ming didnt play for long allready retired and look at shack still going strong I bet Jordan could still make a comeback

[Sally Snave]

01:21 PM on 12/08/2011

I guess they are not popular enough to be listed................that's rude! : )

[Sally Snave]

01:20 PM on 12/08/2011

Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch, also have their own Vodka!!!

[zakonz]

12:40 PM on 12/08/2011

Yes it is so good they call it Devito Muscatel.
They rub horses down with it.

[tepextex99]

12:05 PM on 12/08/2011

Another one,tho it doesnt exist anymore, is Smothers Brothers Wine from the early 80's.

[bds6543]

10:38 AM on 12/08/2011

DeVito needs to launch a DIET PROGRAM, and get off the booze obsession and focus his attention to his PORKER HOOD..

[pnut166]

10:38 AM on 12/08/2011

Absinthe is NOT still illegal in the U.S. Only formulas containing thujone (wormwood) are.

[gloucesterrev]

10:30 AM on 12/08/2011

Danny DeVito's slapped his name on a bunch of mediocre bars and restaurants, so it makes sense he'd shill a below-average limoncella. Then again, private labeling alcoholic beverages is almost as cheap and easy as getting into the fragrance business. Just keep in mind that all of the high-quality boutique wineries and distillers are already spoken for - what's left over is the grade-B product that somehow get's a premium price.

[gloucesterrev]

10:41 AM on 12/08/2011

And no, I'm not hating on Danny - I think he's hilarious and artistically is one of the more independent thinkers in Hollywood. However when it takes him almost a year to visit one of his new (very average) restaurants, I tend not to think of him as a culinary force.

[tug33]

10:28 AM on 12/08/2011

why does everyone pick on the donald

[clarephl]

10:12 AM on 12/08/2011

Someone gave me a bottle of Devito's Limoncella ... didn't like it ... too low in alcohol muted lemon flavors . I make my own from home grown lemons use higher alcohol spirit much much much better .
Everyone should try to make it .. very easy..

[patrick carpenter]

05:27 PM on 12/07/2011

Absinthe is not illegal in the US, the ban on it was lifted in 2007, though of course some states and local governments may control its sale.

[deweydecimal]

12:19 PM on 12/07/2011

Never buying anything shilled by a man who changed his name something reminiscent of a three year old's name for one's nether regions.

[BuckyJamesDio]

01:56 PM on 12/06/2011

Also missing: Caduceus Vineyards run by Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle.

[maegnasbelegurth]

10:49 AM on 12/08/2011

Was just about to say the same thing!

[FlashyCat]

10:20 AM on 12/06/2011

Where's Armadale?