Celebrities tapped for RTD cocktail brand

Stars including Sarah Jessica Parker, John Cena and Vanessa Hudgens have created bottled cocktails under the Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits brand.

Debut brand Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits has tapped a number of celebrities to launch signature ready-to-drink (RTD) canned and bottled cocktails for the company.

The stars include the likes of Sex and the City actor Sarah Jessica Parker; professional wrestler John Cena; US actors Ashley Benson, Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens; and American rapper Jordan Terrell Carter, known professionally as Playboi Carti.

Cara Kamenev, Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits chief executive officer, said: “We’ve been focused on sourcing high-proof, premium spirits with the best natural ingredients to elevate the Thomas Ashbourne portfolio above the pre-made cocktail standard.

“With the help of our celebrity partners, each flavour profile was meticulously crafted and demanded the highest standards in taste, quality and sophistication. We’re here to dispel the myth that bespoke, high-end cocktails can only be enjoyed in certain settings, by certain people.

“Our brand will provide consumers a high-quality beverage comparable only to the best bar-made cocktails that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.”

Parker created The Perfect Cosmo, a serve she was known to sip on Sex and the City. The Perfect Cosmo is a blend of cranberry, freshly squeezed lime, strawberry vodka and triple sec, delivering a ‘perfectly balanced finish’.

She said: “I’ve tasted some pretty extraordinary cocktails over the years and in my travels, but our Thomas Ashbourne Perfect Cosmo is up there among the very best. We took the process very seriously; tasting different recipes, exploring a variety of ingredients, and seeing how flavours can come together like art.

“This particular cocktail, while being closely associated to a well-known character I’ve played for many years, is also a personal favourite in my own life. I hope others find it as enjoyable and refreshing as we do.”

Meanwhile, Cena was responsible for The Classic Old Fashioned, a mix of Bourbon and sweet maplewood, with aromas of caramel and notes of orange bitters.

He added: “To me, the Thomas Ashbourne brand vision is to be the world’s most trusted bartender. I’m partial to an Old Fashioned, but all of the incredible craft cocktails from Thomas Ashbourne embrace a social lifestyle of fun, conversation, and memorable moments with quality, convenience and unparalleled consistency.”

Benson, Dawson and Hudgens came together to produce The Margalicious Margarita, containing Tequila and triple sec with citrus notes, while Playboi Carti looked to ‘reimagine the wine category’ with The Hardscatto, a spirit-based cocktail with vodka, Muscat Blanc grapes, peach, apricot and elderflower.

The drinks will be available for RRP US$15.99 per 375ml bottle, and RRP US$25.99 for a 200ml four-pack of cans.

All four Thomas Ashbourne cocktails can be purchased in US states California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Washington and New York from May this year, and sit at an ABV varying between 20% and 25%.

Thomas Ashbourne gained a number of Gold and Silver accolades at the DB & SB Spring Blind Tasting 2022.