After longstanding success in the hit drama CSI: Miami and a turn as stripper in the blockbuster “Magic Mike,” actor and newly minted whisky connoisseur Adam Rodriguez has
partnered with Chivas Regal to introduce the classic brand to Latin consumers.
We caught up with the busy thespian in one
of the many national Chivas Regal Brotherhood events promoting male bonding and true camaraderie.

HOMBRE: Tell us about your involvement with the brand and the Chivas Brotherhood?
Adam Rodriguez: I love the concept that Chivas has about brotherhood and
that is the reason why I became involved. We have these clubs in different cities. Guys can go
online at chivasbrotherhood.com and become members of the brotherhood. The people that do get it
are going to join, are going to show up to these events and realize ’hey I can
meet other people who are thinking about the same things.’ And either make new friends or come and enjoy
with their current friends.
This is a place where it’s about taking your time,
about enjoying, not rushing the moment, and savoring it. That’s the beauty of
blended scotch. It’s about this blend, so sit back and enjoy the taste of this
blend and take time to appreciate the
different single malts that went into creating this spirit.

H: How do you like
your Chivas?

AR: I never thought about drinking scotch whisky in a cocktail. But then I learned
that what they call the “Old Fashioned,” was the first cocktail
ever made and it was with Chivas.  Other combinations like “Gentleman’s
Punch” and “The Chivalry” are great. Nothing is ever too sweet or too bitter. It has a nice
balanced flavor I really like. I used to drink it straight up, or on the
rocks. 
I was a single malt guy and now I
realize you can take all those single malts and make a blend like Chivas and
enjoy a more well-rounded flavor.



H: How did you develop this taste?

AR: With time your palate becomes more sophisticated. Before you just had one note
which may have been okay because you were learning, I don’t knock it, but that’s
not what I’m about now.  I’m about
something that’s more well-rounded, more worldly; whether it’s the food I’m
eating, the spirits I’m drinking, the clothes I’m wearing…  This is why this relationship worked for me.  This brand is about heritage, honor, brotherhood;
all of those things are things that really do matter to me in my life and what
I live by. So whether is the sophistication of your palate as you grow or the
sophistication of your friends you’ve maintained throughout the years ; brotherhood
is what matters.

H: Have you always been a scotch drinker?
AR: I always have been. I had a short spell with vodka and with tequila
but the last 8 years I have gotten into my scotches. I started out with single
malts and experimented with different flavors, different regions of Scotland’; the
Lowlands  are smoky and petty, others
from the Highlands have  more fruity and
aromatic bouquets and then you have the Speyside which are well-balanced, floral and lighter.

H: Chivas has different aged whiskys, tell us about that?
AR: Chivas is the only whisky that puts the age distinction on
the bottle; 12, 18, and 25 years; even Johnnie Walker doesn’t.

H: Which is your favorite?
AR: I go between the 18 and the 25. I think the 12 is
amazing in cocktails. These others start to get their own distinct flavor
at 18 and 25 so you appreciate them more on their own.  But certainly for mixing I would do the 12,
but either 18 or 25 straight up or on the rocks.


H: What is the difference between a blended scotch and single malt?
AR: It was described to me that the single malt is like going to
see a soloist perform. You listen and its great and you love it. But the blends
are like going to see an entire symphony. You get everyone that’s a great
maestro at their instrument all blended together into one beautiful sound. It’s
not mine but it sums it up beautifully.

H: Yes, a great summary. Moving on to some of your other
projects, how was it working on “Magic Mike”?
AR: It was the best experience… the most fun I’ve had doing any role. I
only had six weeks to get ready. I like to stay fit but it was never to this
level or intensity. It was the diet, it was the exercise regime… I was still
doing “CSI: Miami” at the time. It was a 24 hour, 7 day commitment and I wasn’t
really that close to being on stripper shape.

I had my concerns.  Am I really going to be able to do this? I gotta
show up and work for Steven Soderberg, one of my favorite directors, one of the
best directors in Hollywood and I knew all these other guys who were gonna be
in the movie are fit and in great shape. It was scary, and on top of that I was
gonna have to dance – which I didn’t fancied myself a great dancer-  and on top of
that I have to be in a thong to do it!!!

All of these things scared the hell
out of me. I cannot lie I was terrified. Absolutely terrified and like anything
else, you either rise to the occasion or you don’t and that terror and that
challenge forced me to step it up. I dedicated myself to getting in shape and learning
the dance routines and to just be prepare to do the best work I could do for a
director I admired so much. And it was great.

We all showed up on set the first day and looked at each other and checked each other out and went ‘okay,
you work out, you worked out hard, you’re scared as hell, I’m scared as hell;
alright, we’re in this together, let’s do it,’ and that was a brotherhood.  We have all formed a brotherhood, all the
guys in that movie and we all stay in touch regularly. It just ended up being a
great group of guys and we all had each other’s back. We all knew how scary it
was for us to get out there and do those routines and we helped each other out.
It was the best work experience I ever had. It was amazing.

H: What’s next for you?
AR: I just finished a movie with Kevin Hart. Joy Bryant and Michael
Ealy called “About last night.” They did a remake of the 80’s movie and its
funny as hell, its gonna be hysterical. It comes out  February 2014. I also did an independent film
with Matt LeBlanc and Ally Larter called “Lovesick,” that’s a great romantic
comedy opening this year, I’m very excited about it.

And of course, I’ll be enjoying Chivas Regal.

Adam Rodriguez with HOMBRE TV correspondent, model and columnist Ashley Van Hoey
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