Why exactly is John Wayne the face of Duke Spirits?

If you've ever picked up a bottle of Duke Spirits, you may have noticed the signature in the middle under the Duke nameplate. This signature belongs to the face of the brand, legendary actor John Wayne – known as The Duke. Just as Wayne dedicated himself to his craft as an acclaimed actor, Duke Spirits is dedicated to producing award-winning spirits tailored to the Duke's personal tastes. Although Wayne died in 1979, his love for spirits such as tequila and bourbon was discovered – along with a personal spirits collection stored in wooden vaults.

Also among his possessions were notes on Wayne's preferred methods for blending spirits, giving the company a path to success. When Duke Spirits launched in 2013, John Wayne was the logical – and perhaps only – choice to be the face of the company. So if you've always wanted to enjoy the same liquor as the Duke himself, Duke Spirits offers you the opportunity.

For some, the name John Wayne conjures up images of American toughness and toughness. But did you know that John Wayne is not his real name? “The Duke” was actually born Marion Morrison in 1907.

As a child, Morrison's dog, an Airedale named Duke, was always by his side. Because Duke and Morrison were together, the local firefighters in his California hometown also gave Morrison the nickname “Duke” – a name that stuck in memory as he became a star. It is said that Wayne increasingly preferred the nickname to his real name, even using the name “Duke Morrison” in some of his early acting appearances.

Over his decades-long career, Wayne starred in more than 150 films and turned heads on screen in classics like The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, True Grit and Katie Elder's The Sons. He won an Oscar in 1970 for his role as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.