Kenny Chesney Debuts New Rum Brand

Country crooner debuts his spirit just in time for summer

By Alesandra Dubin Jun 05, 2013 7:45 PMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Here's what you know about Kenny Chesney: He's sold zillions of copies of his country albums, and he was once married to Renée Zellweger. But you should know this now too: The crooner is out with a new rum brand just in time for your summer bashes. Yeehaw!

Chesney is the creative force behind Blue Chair Bay Rum, and his people are careful to point out this isn't a mere celebrity endorsement: It's the star's personal brand, a premium blend made at one of the oldest distilleries in the Caribbean and aged in casks on Barbados' shores.

He's a hands-on entrepreneur, picking the spirits and flavors, and he's been involved with the brand, bottle and logo design from day one, working along with Mike Booth, one of the world's big-time rum blenders.

Why the name? Blue Chair Bay Rum was inspired by something Chesney said with his arms outstretched on his boat on a killer Caribbean day. (Jealous? We are!) He'd wanted to create a real island rum that he'd want to drink himself.

Chesney also worked with master mixologist Jonathan Pogash to create signature cocktails meant to transport folks to the singer's ideal of a simpler island life.

Try "Sixth Gear," with Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum, ginger beer, light beer and a dash of bitters. Or the "Sailor's Soul," with his coconut spiced rum, a muddled strawberry, lemon wedge, agave nectars and bitters.

Mmmmm. Now he's singing our song.