Johnny Depp shares the best thing about his new ‘Three Hearts Rum' brand

Johnny Depp has celebrated the launch of his new rum brand with a star-studded party in Los Angeles, and made clear that the rum is for people who love Captain Jack Sparrow.

The 62-year-old actor and musician hosted an intimate tasting event at The Ebell Theater on Tuesday, 31 March, alongside business partner Bobby DeLeon to mark the arrival of Three Hearts Rum. 

Speaking to PEOPLE at the gathering, Depp explained the name by rolling up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo. 

"Three hearts are easy," he said. "That's Vanessa [Paradis], the mother of my children. That's Lily-Rose [Depp]. That's Jack [Depp]."

He also confirmed the rum has received the seal of approval from arguably his most famous alter ego. 

Asked whether Captain Jack Sparrow would endorse it, Depp slipped straight into character. "I'm afraid so. He's in there even now."

His family's response has been equally warm, if characteristically low-key. 

"They've tried it. We did a little tasting session and everybody was cool and liked it," he said. "But, you know, at the same time, they're like, 'Cool, dad. That's what you're doing, go nuts.'"

Depp was also candid about why he chose rum over other spirits, joking that he had absolutely no desire to go up against Bob Dylan's Heaven's Door bourbon. 

Beyond the humour, the brand has a more serious purpose, part of the motivation was to support communities across the Caribbean who regularly face devastation from hurricanes and tropical storms.