Following David Beckham’s link with Diageo’s new single grain whisky, Haig Club, Owen has become global brand ambassador for Spey whisky has a strong presence in Taiwan.

At a special event last night (November 10) at the Tower of London, the 34-year-old footballer helped unveil the Michael Owen 1412 (his birthday) single malt whisky. He said he was: “Delighted and honoured”. The event was also attended by local MP Danny Alexander, the UK government’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He thanked Spey for the duty they pay to the Treasury.

John Harvey McDonough, CEO of Spey and Harvey’s of Edinburgh, told Drinks International that the whisky is aged in Oloroso sherry casks for six months followed by nine months in Tawny port casks.

With Owen’s fame from his time at three of the world’s most famous football clubs, McDonough is hoping to exploit that to take the company’s whiskies further into Asia, particularly China.

Owen, who has now been retired for one and half years, told DI that it was his father, Terry, who choose the final blend for 1412 which is expected to retail for approximately £75 for 70cl.

He said he met John McDonough and his father John while he was playing at Newcastle United. The family got back in touch after he retired and they have bought a race horse, now called “Spey Secret’ which is trained at Owen’s stables. The hope is the horse will race at next year’s Royal Ascot meeting and Spey and the Owen family will host key customers in a special box.

Owen is off to Shanghai next month to promote Spey whisky and specifically the Michael Owen 1412 expression.