Queen guitarist Brian May has announced his next career move away from the group: a signature gin named after his famous handmade guitar, the Red Special. The 79-year-old rock legend's announcement follows bandmate Roger Taylor's solo album release and UK tour.
The Red Special gin, created with Portobello Road Distillery in London, will officially launch on October 8 and is available for pre-order now. The guitar it is named after was handmade by May as a teenager alongside his father Harold, who died in 1991 at the age of 66.
Collaboration and personal touches
Speaking about the venture, May said: "Collaboration is my thing right now. I’ll be proud to see this new collaboration out there. I completely relate to the very British homespun ethos of Portobello, and their attention to detail, making this a very high-quality product. Like the electric guitar, this Red Special has to be enjoyed responsibly."
The collaboration remark referenced some of his recent musical output, which has seen him work with ZZ Billy Gibbons and Star Trek legend William Shatner, who is set to release his first heavy metal album at the age of 95.
May has added personal touches to the gin recipe, including calamansi orange, which he grows himself in his greenhouse. Each bottle also includes an exclusive collectible Brian May sixpence.
Sixpence tradition and bandmates' ventures
For decades, May has used a sixpence as his signature guitar pick and has released several ranges of Brian May collectible sixpences, beginning in 1993.
This is the second alcoholic beverage from the band members in less than a year, as drummer Roger released a rosé wine in May this year. Taylor also added to his solo accomplishments and is currently in the final few dates of a UK tour to promote his latest album, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World, released on September 18.
Queen legacy and upcoming reunion
Since the death of frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991 and the subsequent retirement of bass player John Deacon, both May and Taylor have kept Queen's legacy alive, although they haven't toured together since the final dates of the Rhapsody tour in Japan in 2024.
They will have a reunion of sorts in the coming weeks, as a newly restored concert film Queen: Budapest is coming to cinemas and IMAX worldwide for a limited time from October 7. It is the band's final concert filmed with Freddie in 1986 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
