Johnny Depp has celebrated the launch of his new rum brand with a star-studded party in Los Angeles, making it clear that the rum is for people who love Captain Jack Sparrow.
The 62-year-old actor and musician hosted an intimate tasting event at The Ebell Theater on Tuesday, March 31 with business partner Bobby DeLeon to mark the arrival of Three Hearts Rum.
speaks to PEOPLE at the gathering, Depp explained the name by rolling up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo.
“Three hearts is easy,” he said. “It’s Vanessa [Paradis]the mother of my children. It’s Lily-Rose [Depp]. It’s Jack [Depp].”
He also confirmed that the rum has received the stamp of approval from arguably his most famous alter ego.
Asked if Captain Jack Sparrow would support it, Depp slipped right into character. “I’m afraid so. He’s in there even now.”
His family’s response has been equally warm, if characteristically low-key.
“They’ve tried it. We did a little taster session and everyone was cool and liked it,” he said. “But, you know, at the same time, they’re like, ‘Cool, Dad. This is what you do, go crazy.'”
Depp was also candid about why he chose rum over other spirits, joking that he had absolutely no desire to go up against Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door bourbon.
Beyond the humor, the brand has a more serious purpose, part of the motivation was to support communities across the Caribbean that regularly face devastation from hurricanes and tropical storms.
