Clever Ryan Reynolds. The self-deprecating star of the smash-hit Deadpool superhero movies (and, let’s face it, some klunkers – Green Lantern, anyone?) bought a stake in artisan gin brand Aviation Gin in 2009, sitting on its board. He also agreed to be the face of the company.

A bit like Paul Newman slapping his face on salad dressing bottles, Ryan Reynolds became the frontman for the brand with the quip, “I’ve tried every gin on the planet and Aviation is, hands down, the best. Also, I don’t recommend trying every gin on the planet. Stick with this one.”

Aviation Gin first began production in Portland, Oregon in 2006 and is described as an “American dry gin”, which means it is not so juniper flavoured as other gins. Its seven botanicals are: juniper, lavender, sweet and bitter orange peel, cardamom, coriander, Indian sarsaparilla, and anise seed.

Drinks giant Diageo bought Aviation Gin for $610m in August 2020 with Ryan Reynolds agreeing to stay on as the face of Aviation for another 10 years as part of the agreement.

Closer to home, Ryan Reynolds also bizarrely became owner of fifth-tier Welsh football club Wrexham AFC earlier this year. It’s tempting to imagine Reynolds waking up deeply hungover after a heavy night on the Aviation Gin with co-owner fellow actor Rob McElhenney, checking his phone and saying, “Wait … I’ve done what?!”