Lewis Hamilton Pours $40 ‘Tequila’ for the World – Look at F1 Drivers and Their Million Dollar Drinks Ventures

Most F1 drivers have off-track hobbies pretty similar to racing. Whether it’s Norris and Verstappen having a go at sim racing, or it’s Fernando Alonso having a jolly time karting. Their realm of hobbies usually involves driving some way or the other! But there’s one thing that fuels their engines off-track much more! A lot of F1 drivers have become connoisseurs in the realm of beverages! From the classic Andretti Winery to Jody Sheckter’s farm, the drivers sure love the drink – Kimi Raikkonen is still wondering why he couldn’t enjoy his!

Jokes aside, the Formula 1 stars sure know how to entice their fan’s tastebuds. Taking inspiration from Ricciardo and Bottas, a new entrant is looking to add a twist to the mix! After dabbling in the world of fashion and entertainment, Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on the beverage industry – with his non-alcoholic tequila brand – Almave.

What is Lewis Hamilton’s Almave Tequila all about?

Lewis Hamilton has come up with a unique way for him to enjoy the flavor of tequila – and still go out and race! The Brit has come up with a non-alcoholic spirit, which swears to resemble the essence of tequila. It’s made from blue agave, a plant known for its health benefits, found in Jalisco, Mexico. Set to launch this Thursday, shared a statement with WWD, “I’ve always loved tequila for its taste. But there are times when I don’t want the alcohol part of the deal and I know that there is a growing group of people who want the same,” – the seven-time world champion observed a growing niche for the product, and is aiming to bring it at an affordable price to consumers.

Reflecting on his desires with the brand, Hamilton was vocal that he wanted to provide an authentic twist on the classic by retaining the classic methods of creating the beverage. He added, “With Almave, we’re all about offering a high-quality option that doesn’t compromise on the craft and flavors of tequila and provides a truly authentic nonalcoholic blue agave experience. We’ve held on to the legacy and tequila-making traditions, but what we’ve come up [with] is a spirit that’s totally unique.”

To fulfill his vision of providing an innovative drink while maintaining the essence behind it, Hamilton has teamed up with Ivan Saladan, a master distiller at Casa Lumbre, a Mexican spirit manufacturer. The blue agave is the ‘special sauce’ as one would say, owing to its benefits as a source of probiotics and insulin. The maestro spoke on his partnership with Hamilton, “Lewis has always inspired me so when he approached us to work on Almave together, it was an easy ‘yes.’ Only someone with a true passion for innovation and creativity can achieve what he has. It was such a pleasure to bring our collective vision to life.”

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Fans who are eager to try Lewis Hamilton’s Almave Tequila have two options. Almave Ámbar – designed for sipping, and the Almave Blanco – is a mixer. The Ámbar is priced at $39.99 and the Blanco at $35.99 for a 700-ml bottle. They expect to hit international shores as well as local retailers and bars in the United States in 2024.

Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez: Current F1 drivers and their boozy ventures

Now that Lewis Hamilton has joined the mixologists on the grid with a non-alcoholic entrant, let’s take a look at the interesting concoctions undertaken by the current grid! Our first stop? Valtteri Bottas and Tifanny Cromwell’s Lovechild – Oath Gin. The Finnish driver set out on a thrilling adventure with his Olympic cyclist girlfriend, teaming up with Blue Coast Brewery – a French beer company. The brand produces high-quality gin, which is infused with oats! Yes, you heard that right! – a must-try indeed.

Speaking of Australians involved with boozy adventures, the Honey Badger entered the foray with ace winemaker, St Hugo. The pair released a limited-edition collab once again this year, monikered the DR3 X St Hugo series. He’s worked on two series prior, the DR3 X St Hugo South Australian Shiraz 2021, as well as the Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. The list does not end there, as Sergio Perez partnered with a big-shot tequila company in 2022, even gifting the entire Red Bull team with a bottle at the end of the season!

Sergio Perez partnered up with Patron last year, and it came as no surprise. The Mexicans sure love their tequila! Patron is known to be one of the few brands that makes Tequila without additives, preserving the kick that the people have come to love. The blend is created by 2,500 people using authentic production techniques at the Hacienda Patron in Jalisco, Mexico. With his love for the product, it’s only fitting that he gives Hamilton’s Almave a shot before the 2023 Mexican GP!

Former F1 drivers and their collaborations with Liquor Brands

There’s no question that the current grid has a love for spirits and beverages, but did you know that the relationship between drivers and spirits is as old as any? Let’s take a look at what former f1 drivers got up to!

The entry of Andretti into Formula 1 has been the talk of the town for a while now, but Mario Andretti made his entry into the Wine industry back in 1996. After hanging his gloves, Andretti decided to partner up with old sponsor and friend Joe Antonini to create the winery in Napa, California. It’s not just drinking for one former F1 driver though. Whilst Jody Sheckter produces a variety of English sparking lines, he has also dabbled in foods like mozzarella that come from the buffalo on his farm!

The story does not end there, the 2009 world champion who drove for Brawn GP, teamed up with George Koutsaki to create a whisky called Coachbuilt. The name itself resembles the similarities that exist between whisky blending and the creation of a bespoke vehicle. What’s more interesting is the fact that the pair met when Button launched his car company, Radford.

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Now that we’ve taken a look at what the current grid is blending as well as how the veterans did it, one thing is for sure! Formula 1 drivers sure love to have a good time. Whether it’s celebrating after a race with a bottle of Patron, or getting amped before the race with a glass of Lewis Hamilton’s Almave Tequila, the F1 drivers have got you covered!