Combining celebrity with spirits is trending in Hollywood. George Clooney is part-owner in Casamigos, Ryan Reynolds has a hand in Aviation Gin, and Matthew McConaughey represents his home state of Texas through Wild Turkey’s Longbranch Bourbon. And these A-listers don’t just represent the brand, they have put their money (quite literally) where their mouth is, dabbling in alcohol ownership.
Jeremy Renner, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Hawkeye in the Marvel Universe, and of course a fellow Renoite, joined the ranks when he started working with Sweet Grass Vodka in July of 2023, becoming part-owner with Jarrod and Alicia Swanger.
"It's something I have been wanting to do for a long time, but I am very picky about anything I brand with,” Renner says about getting into the spirits game. “It has to fit perfectly or I just don't do it. I do this because it represents a lot of who I am. It's got to just be an easy layup for me that way. It has got to be congruent with my morals, so I am lucky that the brand really fits me."
In addition to his behind-the-scenes efforts, Renner has also become the face of the brand, gracing ad campaigns and social media posts for the Charleston-based vodka company. He even embarked on a cross-country tour promoting the brand in 2023.
The vodka is 100% potato-based and made from the Swanger’s Polish family recipe. Sweet Grass Vodka prides itself on not using artificial ingredients in the distilling process. And, while the brand is rooted in South Carolina, recent distribution has brought Sweet Grass Vodka to Renner’s hometown—Reno, Nev.—as of January.
“Their mission is rooted in community and shared experience, which is why the second I tried it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it,” Renner says.
The vodka gets its name from its distilling process. In addition to using 100% continuously distilled potato vodka from Charleston, every bottle also contains a single strand of South Carolina grass to bring a piece of Charleston to consumers around the world. “Our vodka is free of additives, artificial flavors, gluten-free, and made from only potatoes, water, and yeast,” says Jarrod, the brand’s CEO.
In addition to South Carolina and Nevada, where the owners are based, Sweet Grass Vodka is also distributed across the Southeast, Texas, and Illinois, as well as available direct to consumers through the website.
When Jeremy joined Sweet Grass, the Swangers had already been operating the company for a couple of years. They met Jeremy through his agency in 2021, and there was an instant connection. “He shares a lot of the core values of our brand including the power of experience, highest quality craftsmanship, and above all, family,” Jarrod says.
"I have found that my time is a little bit more valuable now after my accident,” Jeremy reflects. “We were already working together before the accident. But I just felt like, I was really clear about how I want to spend my time, and who I want to spend my time with. This to me feels like family.
Sweet Grass Espresso ‘Tini
Ingredients:
1 oz. Sweet Grass Vodka
1 oz. coffee
1 oz. Tawny Port wine
1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
3 coffee beans (for garnish)
Directions:
Combine Sweet Grass Vodka, coffee, Tawny Port, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until combined and double strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.
Cupid’s Cosmopolitan
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Sweet Grass Vodka
¾ oz. lime juice
½ oz. pomegranate juice
¾ oz. dry curaçao
Directions:
Combine Sweet Grass Vodka, lime, pomegranate, and dry curaçao in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until combined and double strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lime wheel.
“Their mission is rooted in community and shared experience, which is why the second I tried it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it," - Jeremy Renner