Miami Beach, FL – May 4, 2016 – Film director Brett Ratner celebrated two monumental life achievements with friends and industry colleagues at Faena. Guests had a chance to mingle at one of Miami’s most glamorous hotels and sip on a new-to-world whiskey inspired by Ratner’s historic home – Hilhaven Lodge. Along with introducing the premium whiskey, Ratner was also honored as one of Haute Living’s 2016 Haute 100, an exclusive group of the most influential people in Miami. The Hilhaven Lodge features a blend of three distinctive whiskies offering an unbelievably smooth tasting experience. Enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a variety of classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, The Hilhaven Lodge whiskey will become a part of the unforgettable moments shared at the Lodge for years to come.

World Red Eye had the opportunity to catch up with Ratner, who gave us a closer look into the new whiskey, as well as what else we can catch him doing these days.

WRE: What brings you back to Miami?

BR: Anytime I’m asked to be honored in Miami, I always accept because I’m from here. So, I attended the Haute 100 event and then immediately afterwards hosted the launch of my new whiskey, The Hilhaven Lodge, at the Faena.  There’s no better place in Miami than the Living Room of the Faena that fits the vibe of Hilhaven Lodge, the house that the whiskey is named after.

WRE: What made you decide to make your own whiskey?

BR: I was inspired by my home. It was originally built in 1927 as a guest house to an estate called Hilhaven and the place was literally built for entertaining. With owners like Hollywood luminaries Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, and producer Allan Carr, the lodge has been home to some of Hollywood’s most timeless events and celebrations over the past 80 years. I consider myself a curator of experiences that bring people together for monumental occasions. My home, Hilhaven Lodge, has done this for Hollywood for decades before me.

WRE: How did you come up with the name?

BR: I purchased the property in 1999 and have been working on the house whiskey since around 2007. The Hilhaven Lodge whiskey celebrates the property’s amazing heritage and is a chance for me to share the spirit of my home with people around the world.

WRE: What makes this whiskey different than other brands out there?

BR: Its a blend of three distinctive whiskies from three decades, bringing together aged Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee Whiskeys for an incredibly smooth tasting experience. Also, just recently, it received a Double Gold medal from the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition which is the largest and most influential spirits competition in the world.

WRE: Where is The Hilhaven Lodge available?

BR: It’s just launching in premium bars, lounge night clubs, and fine dining establishments within Miami, Los Angeles, and Kentucky.  As both are my home towns and Kentucky is where its bottled, we’re focusing on these now and will roll out other markets down the road.  At the end of the day, we want this to be a global whisky brand like Johnnie Walker.

WRE: You have had some incredible success in the movie industry, what would you consider your most rewarding moment?

BR: I was in France at the Cannes Film Festival, which is the ultimate place for film premieres because its black-tie and so internationally recognized. There, as the director of X-Men, I walked into the theatre and received a standing ovation from 3,000 guests in the audience and there was no better feeling.

There’s no better place in Miami than the Living Room of the Faena that fits the vibe of Hilhaven Lodge, the house that the whiskey is named after.

Brett Ratner

WRE: Is there anything you haven’t achieved yet but would like to in the movie industry?

BR: Direct a musical – Hamilton would be my first choice!

WRE: Is there any actor/actress you haven’t worked with yet but would like to some day? If so, who?

BR: Al Pacino because the first movie set I was ever on was Scarface and I even appear as an extra in the film.

WRE: What are some of your favorite spots you like to visit when in Miami?

BR: Athens Juice, The Forge and La Sandwicherie.

WRE: You were raised here in Miami, how do you think Miami has changed over the years?

BR: When I grew up in Miami Beach, I knew every single person I saw on the street. Now though, I don’t recognize one person and that’s really exciting to me.