‘Tequila Empire’ Reality Show Plumbs the Drama Behind a ‘Billion Dollar’ Spirits Brand

(Photo: Tequila Empire)

Whether it’s a splash of wine to the face or a drunken confession heard around the world, booze and reality TV go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly.

Pouring the concept to its natural conclusion, a new show dubbed “Tequila Empire” aims to infuse spirits into the very DNA of family drama and self-declared luxury entrepreneurship. The stars of the day? The Fitzpatricks, a Miami-based family clan who hit the ground running in 2019 with their imprint Naked Diablo Tequila.

Though little can be found online by way of reviews, Naked Diablo’s social media presence hints at the kind of flashy shenanigans viewers might expect from the show. Sunny beaches and Dubai skylines are aplenty. In one video, the tequila is spotted in the icy hands of rapper Vanilla Ice; in another, poured into cocktails at a private charity event hosted by Donald Trump in Florida.

Guessing at the tequila’s core audience, we’d point to its tagline — “better naked” — to illustrate the debaucherous, college party-esque vibe.

A news release announcing the show declares:

“‘Tequila Empire’ is not just a show about business; it’s a celebration of the relentless pursuit of excellence, the importance of innovation, and the power of strong family ties. With settings ranging from luxurious beachfront homes to exclusive yacht parties and high-profile business meetings, the show combines the opulence of Miami’s lifestyle with the reality of business challenges.”

Fueling the prospective empire is a feature-length companion documentary dubbed “How to Build a Billion Dollar Brand.” The film— publicized with an AI-generated mashup of New York City and Dubai superimposed with copious 100-dollar bills — will reportedly explore the balance of “family dynamics and Christian faith with ambitious business goals.”

(Photo: Naked Diablo)

Reality TV die-hards may note similarities to other heavy-hitters in the genre. From Lisa Barlow’s Vida Tequila to Erin Lichy’s Mezcalum, Bravo’s “The Real Housewives” franchise alone has given birth to an entire sub-category of agave spirits jockeying for attention on liquor store shelves.

Apart from competition shows like “Drink Masters,” however, “Tequila Empire” may be the first built from the ground up with liquor in mind.

Key characters in the Fitzpatrick pantheon include “visionary co-founder” Rob, “logistics maestro” Claudia, “MMA enthusiast” Dion and “aspiring makeup artist/future entrepreneur” Mia. “Mother of five” Michelle is simply noted as “the glue that keeps the family together.”

Though a release date has yet to be announced, the show is being distributed by FUBU Studios with production from Think Global Media Group.

Here at The Daily Pour, we do more than write about current events in spirit. We are the only media property reviewing spirits and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the spirit world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of spirit in your morning email, sign up for our Whiskey Deal of the Day Newsletter