Although we imagine that Fight Club’s Tyler Durden would probably enjoy a tall glass of beer — and the occasional cheap whiskey — the actor who played him in the iconic 1999 film apparently opts for something a bit more delicate. Brad Pitt just teamed up with former Tanqueray master distiller Tom Nichol and owners of the Southern Rhône-based Château de Beaucastel winery, the Perrin family, on a new gin called The Gardener. To do so, the Oscar-winning actor headed to the French Riviera for inspiration while also aiming to evoke the breezy, relaxed vibe of the Mediterranean coastline.
Celebrity-owned spirits have a bad reputation among passionate enthusiasts and purists — that is, unless they actually taste good. For every new vodka that’s backed by yet another famous person, there are outliers. Whiskeys such as Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door and Peyton Manning’s Sweetens Cove are still top-notch, as are tequila options from George Clooney (Casamigos) and Michael Jordan (Cincoro). However, it’s typically been difficult for celebrity-backed brands to churn out products that are actually good (whether or not they’re popular is a different story altogether). That said, the world of celeb-owned gin has had a better track record than most. From Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation to Walton Goggins’ Mulholland to Charles Barkley’s Vulcan — even Snoop’s Indoggo Gin is pretty good — the nature of gin offers so much more room for creativity and personal input.
Made in the heart of the French Riviera and certified organic, Pitt’s The Gardener is a wheat-based London Dry gin made in copper stills. Harnessing flavors from botanicals such as juniper, liquorice, angelica root, lemon, and coriander, the spirit also taps locally-grown fruit such as bitter bigarade oranges, sweet oranges, and pink grapefruit. It’s presented in a beautiful aqueous-inspired bottle.
This is not Pitt’s first alcohol endeavor. He also owns the Château Miraval winery, where he’s partnered with the Perrin family in the past. The Gardener gin will debut during the 2023 Cannes Film Festival next week. For now, head over to the brand’s website to learn more.
