Former Detroit Lion and CBS Mornings host Nate Burleson debuts new vodka
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson is a renaissance man.
The former NFL player, broadcaster, game show host, father and rapper can now add spirits entrepreneur to his varied list of accomplishments. This year, he teamed up with Ferndale’s Valentine Vodka to launch LionBlood Orange Vodka, a new premium small-batch spirit.
It wasn’t an overnight project by any means. Burleson and Valentine Distilling Co.’s founder and president, Rifino Valentine, spent a year collaborating and discussing the brand and flavor profiles, going back and forth to tweak everything until it was just right.
Burleson — who is currently hosting “Hollywood Squares” on CBS — and Valentine spoke to The Detroit News ahead of the official launch of LionBlood Orange Vodka, which will be celebrated this Father’s Day weekend with Burleson’s appearances in Ferndale and St. Clair Shores to meet fans and sign bottles of the new vodka, which has notes of citrus and elderflower.
First, I have to take this back to when I played for the Detroit Lions (2010-2013). I initially wanted to get into the wine and spirits space but there was a couple of hurdles. One, at the very core of it, I didn’t know enough about this industry, so I needed to be educated on it and that was going to take some time. Two, the NFL, when I was playing, at that point, they weren’t as open to players locking in and creating brands it the wine and spirits space.
