Episode 488: July 18, 2014

Celebrity-branded spirits are a big trend these days, and the whisky world is no exception. Last week, we reported on the lawsuit filed by John Wayne’s heirs against Duke University seeking to protect the family’s trademark rights to produce a “Duke Bourbon” featuring the late actor. It’s a little easier when the brand is based on a character instead of the actor, though…and this week, we’ll hear from two entrepreneurs who have done just that. Michael Howard of Prairie Creek Beverages in Dallas is behind the J.R. Ewing Bourbon named after the legendary “Dallas” villain, and Ed Caan of Riviera Imports worked with Paramount Pictures on Ron Burgundy Great Odin’s Raven Scotch as part of last winter’s “Anchorman 2” premiere. He’ll tell us what Paramount executives originally wanted to call the whisky, too.

We’ll also have the latest on the pending sale of Whyte & Mackay, along with word that distillers just down the road from J.R.’s Southfork Ranch have won a zoning battle for their new distillery site. David Beckham, Simon Fuller, and Diageo have launched their Haig Club single grain Scotch in London, and The Famous Grouse releases a special bottling for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Finally, we’ll look at ideas for summer whisky cocktails with bartender Jeff Bell of PDT in New York City.

Links: J.R. Ewing Private Reserve | Ron Burgundy Scotch Whisky | Competition & Markets Authority | Diageo | United Spirits | Whyte & Mackay | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Firestone & Robertson | Irish Distillers | The Famous Grouse | Glasgow 2014 | GlenDronach | Jim Beam | Ardnamurchan | PDT | Johnnie Walker