BOTTLERAIDERS – Over a decade after its debut in 2011, “Game of Thrones” has recaptured the public’s attention with the highly anticipated second season of “House of the Dragon.” Though Emilia Clarke — the actress who plays Daenerys Targaryen — does not appear in the new show, her star power has found other ways into the headlines.
On Wednesday, Pegasus Distillerie announced Clarke as its new Global Brand Ambassador. Founded in Meursault, France, the distillery was conceived by master distiller Maxime Girardin as a tribute to the historied Burgundy region. Though the exact details of the partnership haven’t been elaborated on, we’re sure to see Clarke sipping on all manner of French spirits in months to come.
“As an actress, I pour my all into my craft, and Pegasus lends similar care and attention to detail into every bottle they produce,” Clarke said in a news release. “They create spirits in small batches prioritizing the finest organic ingredients and hand-picked botanicals and citruses from the surrounding regions. To me, this is French luxury at its finest.”
All the brand’s products revolve around a loose astronomy theme. In addition to its flagship Pegasus Vodka, the distiller produces an Orion Gin made with locally harvested thyme, verbena, orange mint and monarda alongside an Eau d’Or Liqueur made with citrus and orange blossoms.
Commemorating its entry into the American market, Pegasus recently elevated its inspirations to meteoric heights. In April, the distiller unveiled a vodka aged inside Italian terracotta pots that contained a suspended meteorite at their center. Brimming with the “unrivaled taste and structure” of chondrite, a mineral unique to meteorites, the admittedly gimmicky liquor went on sale at $200.
“I am so pleased to welcome Emilia Clarke to the Pegasus family,” Girardin said. “In many ways, I see her as an égérie, a muse – her elegance, stamina, and joie de vivre embody Pegasus’ core values and speak to the brand’s mission of savoring life to the fullest whilst creating lasting memories.”
Clarke isn’t the first in the “Game of Thrones” family to throw their hat into the alcohol market. In 2023, co-star Jason Momoa teamed up with fashion designer Blake Halvorson to launch the sustainably-produced Meili Vodka. A few months later, actor James Cosmo — portrayer of the brooding Jeor Mormont — launched a blended scotch whisky.
At its peak, the show was a goldmine for co-branded alcohol releases. Dozens of wines, beers and spirits with creative names like “Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale” and “White Walker by Johnnie Walker” flooded liquor store shelves to the delight of die-hard fans. There were a few highlights; Clynelish Reserve Game of Thrones Edition was a shockingly tasty scotch worthy of the show’s prestige reputation.
