High-spirited Naming: American Celebrities and their Tequila Brands

¡Tequila! Love it or hate it—and this native Texan namer doesn’t know too many people who fall into the later category—this world famous Mexican agave-distilled spirit has an impressive legacy. It’s rooted within the culture, the land, and the people of Mexico.

Americans can thank one person in particular, Don Cenobio Sauza, the “Father of Tequila,” for first exporting it to our country in 1873. Little did he know that 150 years later tequila would be one of the most popular spirits in the U.S.

In fact, tequila has become so popular that American celebrities, from actors and musicians to sports legends, want a shot at the lucrative action. Let’s take a look at the current landscape of celebrity-tequila brand names.

First, an Important Note about Tequila Naming

Names of tequila brands are carefully guided and guarded by Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (TRC). It’s known to fast-track approval for high quality brands that underscore the product’s rich cultural heritage.¹

In 1974, the government of Mexico took ownership of the very name “Tequila,” a place-name from the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The only spirits classified as tequila are ones made with blue agave in specific regions of Mexico.²

24 Names of Celebrity Tequila Brands *

818: Area code within Los Angeles, hometown of Kendall Jenner (celebrity)

Calirosa: California nickname + rose color of the wine; Adam Levine (musician) and Behati Prinsloo (model)

Casamigos: Invented, home + friends; longtime friends George Clooney (actor), Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman

Casa Del Sol: “House of the sun;” Eva Longoria (actor)

Casa Noble: Noble, like a tequila or man of noble character; Carlos Santana (part owner)

Cincoro: “Cinco” meaning five + “oro” meaning gold or gold standard; Michael Jordan, (former) owner of the Hornets, Emilia Fazzalari and Wyc Grousbeck of the Celtics, Jeanie Buss of the Lakers, and Wes Edens of the Bucks

Código 1530: Name meaning “codes and customs;” George Strait (musician)

Dos Hombres (Mezcal): “Two men or guys” (slang); Breaking Bad costars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston

Dos Primos: “Two cousins;” Jeff Worn & Thomas Rhett (American country singer-songwriter)

Flecha Azul: “Blue arrow;” backed by Mark Wahlberg (actor)

Gran Coramino: “Great heart;” Kevin Hart (co-founder & actor)

JAJA Tequila: “HAHA and LOL in Spanish,” represents having fun; brothers Maurice Tebele, social media influencer Elliot Tebele, and childhood friend Martin Hoffstein

Juan Lobo: Juan “John” + Lobo “Wolf;” nickname for John Wolfe (country singer)

Lobos 1707: “Wolves;” LeBron James (pro basketball player)

Nocheluna (Sotol): “Night moon;” Lenny Kravitz (musician)

Pantalones: “Pants;” Couple Matthew McConaughey (actor) and Camila Alves (model, designer)

Próspero: Fortunate, prosperous; Rita Ora (note: not an American celebrity, but a British singer-songwriter and TV actress, included on this list to represent one of the few women-celebs in this industry)

Santo: Saint, holy; Sammy Hagar (musician) and Guy Fieri (TV food-related celebrity)

Sauza 901: Area code for Memphis, Tennessee, hometown of Justin Timberlake (actor, musician)

Teremana: “Spirit of the earth;” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (actor)

Tesla (Mezcal): An extension of the Tesla brand, named after Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943), the Serbian-American engineer, futurist, and inventor; Elon Musk

Villa One: Nick Jonas (musician/actor) and John Varvatos (fashion)

Thunderstruck: AC/DC (band)

Wild Shot (Mezcal): Toby Keith (country singer)

* This is a representative list of celebrity tequila brands, unless otherwise noted. Mezcal and Sotol, also agave-distilled spirits, have different (less strict) rules and regulations around production and branding. A few are included in the list. 

A Few Observations & Opinions

Admittedly, I haven’t tried any of the tequila brands on this list. While I enjoy tequila, I’m actually a big fan of Sotol. So, Lenny Kravitz’s Nocheluna would top my to-try list.

Next on my list would be Eva Longoria’s Casa Del Sol. Why? Well, you probably noticed, but there’s only three solo women celebrity-tequila entrepreneurs (out of 24) on the list: Eva Longoria, Rita Ora, and Kendall Jenner.

Of the three, I would gravitate to Casa Del Sol to support a woman-founder with Mexican (Tejano) heritage who uplifts other women in the male-dominated tequila industry. There’s a mission and an authenticity I can get behind. I also love Casa Del Sol’s story behind the brand name.

Casa Del Sol is a luxury sipping Tequila, inspired by the magic of golden hour and the legend of the Aztec goddess of agave, Mayahuel.

Tequila is a romantic, ritual spirit steeped in tradition and mysticism. Legend has it that in order to protect herself and her lover, the God of Wind, from her spiteful grandmother, Mayahuel created an agave with long green spires that could defend them. Enraged by their defiance, her grandmother wielded a bolt of lightning and burnt the agave to the ground. What was left amongst the ashes was a single green spire, at the base of which was a piña filled with the sweet nectar of agave, completing Mayahuel’s transformation into the Goddess of Tequila.

Every brand on the list includes “our story” on its website. A lot are very similar—talking about quality, heritage, family, and friends. I like how Casa Del Sol draws us into its narrative with a legend that connects to its mission around uplifting the voices of women.

Furthermore, it makes me think of a line that stuck with me from my research for this post. It’s written on the website of a non-celebrity woman-owned tequila brand, Curamia.  Speaking to their tequila, the Curamia founders described it as “a beautiful tequila that stands out in a sea of brands synonymous with mediocrity and machismo in the U.S.”

Parting Thoughts About Celebrity Tequila Brands

I have no doubt there are some excellent tequilas on this list. I wonder if the celebrity name behind the tequila helps or hinders the brand?

Some celebrities and their stories are prominently featured on a brand’s website. Other celebs are more subtly featured, and websites highlight the local master distiller and families who grow, harvest, and process the agave. Still, some others emphasize more of a partnership.

However, as a namer originally from Texas, going on names alone: I admit I like Matthew McConnaghey & Camila Alves’s Pantalones brand for the sheer cheeky fun of it. Pun forever intended. Served up with salt and lime, please.

Bonus!

Should the mood strike, check out 51 of the best songs about tequila. Note #19 called “Codigo” by George Strait who sings about his very own tequila brand mentioned above:

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¹Guidelines to Register a New Tequila Brand Name, by author and master tequila taster, Daniela Baldenebro

² Wikipedia: Tequila: Early history