After a night of date with his future wife, Dolph Lundgren decides to step into the ring of vodka production.
“Rocky” star, who studied chemical engineering before he became an actor, announced Hard cut vodka90 American spirits made from Idaho potatoes and water from rocky mountains.
For the 67-year-old, who famously played Russian boxer Ivan Drago, that was easy.
Swedish actor Dolph Lundglen, right with Sylvester Stallone from “Rocky IV.” (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
“I’m originally from Sweden. It’s cold and dark in the winter, so people drink a lot of vodka in Sweden,” he told Fox News Digital. “…but I was taking my future wife at that time. Santa Barbara on a dateand I was trying some of the vodka [at this] bar. I really didn’t like them. I liked it straight on the ice and couldn’t find anything I really like. They were all very strict. And after complaining for a while, she said, “Why don’t you try making your own?” ”
Being willing to step back from the challenge, Lundgren accepted Emma Kurokdal’s dare.
Watch: “Rocky” star Dolph Lundglen will launch hard-cut vodka after becoming an American citizen
“I saw the vodka space and it looked boring compared to tequila,” he shared. “A lot of people in Hollywood and entertainment went to tequila and whiskey. … Vodka was a wide open field. … I wanted to have fun and bring a bit of action movie pizza.”
Dolph Lundglen’s wife, Emma Krokdal, dared him to make the vodka he actually wanted. (Hard cut vodka)
Lundgren and Krokdal were taking part in their quest to find the best distilleries to make the perfect vodka idea come true. In Idaho, a two-hour flight from his California home, we found exactly what they were looking for.
Russet potatoes grown in the statealong with “Rocky Mountain Snow-Melt Water” we created a strong and smooth formulation. Hard cut vodka was born.
Hard cut vodka is made from Idaho potatoes and Rocky Mountain Water. (Hard cut vodka)
The final product, awarded double gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, featured “bright notes of fennel, green apples and a bit of butterscotch.” Forbes reported.
Dolph Lundglen said Idaho distilleries will help bring his vision back to life. He partnered with renowned global bartender Philip Duff, who trained him. (Hard cut vodka)
“My wife and I loved the most were from Idaho and there’s a vodka range there,” he explained. “What we liked came from a certain distillery…it was potato vodka. The potatoes gave it a really nice mouthfeel. Once we found it, we realized it was American vodka.
“As with all the trade wars and everything, being American-made vodka is also an advantage,” Lundgren laughed.
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Dolph Lundgren is the founder and chairman of Hard Cut Vodka. (Daniel Venturelli/Getty Images)
Investing in America was important to the stars, he said. After living in the United States, Lundgren officially became an American citizen in 2024. Kurokdal, a native of Norway, also participated in a naturalization ceremony with her husband. People Magazine It has been reported.
Ilf Landgren and his wife Emma Krokdal officially became US citizens in 2024. (instagram.com/dolphlundgren)
“Investing in America was extremely important,” Lundgren explained. “I’m from Sweden. But I am an immigrant and… all the good things in my life come from America. I went from chemical engineering and martial arts to acting, a Hollywood film star. It could not have happened in any other country. And I feel really comfortable working in America with Americans. ”
Ilf Landgren said that when it comes to becoming an American citizen, he was “never late than late.” (David Keeler/Getty Images)
“It’s all more organized, so it’s easier,” he said. “When you’re in business, people are on the ball more. Yes, that’s important to me. I think Americans prefer the fact that they are American vodka. It’s refined. It’s difficult but smooth and has an elegant image.
The star said he is always proud to build a life and career in America. And when is that? It’s time to become a citizenhe felt it was “better than never being late.”
Dolph Lundglen studied chemical engineering before pursuing acting in New York City. (Longalella/Longalella Collection by Getty Images)
“It was time,” he recalled. “I’ve been here for 40 years. I went to school here as a teenager and moved here. I was an American for a while. Then I got married and moved to Spain for a variety of reasons.
“I lived there and my kids grew up in Spain and with two daughters. But I always wanted to come back. I returned here about 15 years ago and then I regained my residence. And I decided I wanted to become a citizen.”
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Ilf Landgren lived in Spain, so he lived near his family before settling in California. (Arami)
“This country was my life,” Lundgren said. “Everything good in my life comes from America. I love Sweden, but like I said, I’m very close to this country. And I stand there and swear, [seeing] The flag, it was very emotional. And it’s big. Being a citizen is not easy. Being an American citizen is difficult and I think it should be. ”
Dolph Randgren with daughter Ida, left, Greta; (Ian West/PA images via Getty Images)
“I’m proud to have made it,” he added.
Lundgren said that whenever he is in Europe, America is in his heart. However, he set aside his dream of staying in the country to get closer to his daughters, now 28 and 23.
Emma Krokdal and Ilf Landgren got married in 2023. (Daniel Venturelli/Getty Images)
“I felt that was one of the things I lacked,” Lundgren said. “…I was being drawn back to Europe by my ex-wife for a variety of reasons, and although it may not have been such a clever move, I did it for my family. But I always felt that giving up on the green card at the time was a bad thing. I always felt like I wanted to get it back.
Playing the Russian boxer, Idolph Randgren was catapulted into Stardom. (United Artist/Getty Images)
It was America that Lundgren suddenly found himself blowing away fame. Drago was featured on November 27, 1985 in Rocky IV, which premiered nearly 40 years ago.
“I went there as a kid,” Lundgren said of attending the premiere. “…My girlfriend was a famous singer of the time, Grace Jones. [inside the theater]. With the lights down, these two boxing gloves appeared, Soviet and American gloves appeared. The movie begins and I sit there frozen for 90 minutes. ”
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Sylvester Stallone punches Dolph Lundgren in a scene from the film “Rocky IV.” (United Artist/Getty Images)
“The lights went up and all of a sudden everyone was looking at me,” Lundgren continued. “I was a little bit. I didn’t know what to do. I was really tired of my stomach, but I was excited. We went out and people were taking pictures of me now. It took me a few years to get through it.”
Dolph Lundglen and Grace Jones of New York City around 1985 (Robin Platzer/Images/Getty Images)
Lundgren admitted that fame is difficult for him to navigate. His relationship with Jones, now 76, ended in the end. But over the years he realized he had shown up busy. Among the big hit franchises, including “The Expendables,” “Celebrities” and “Aquaman” etc.
He is a good friend of Stallone, 78, who still lives in Palm Beach, Florida. Their daughters formed a friendship too.
Dolph Lundgren told Fox News Digital that Sylvester Stallone’s three daughters are friends with the two daughters mentioned above. (Ryan Emberley/Amfar/Getty Images for Amfar)
“It’s very rare to be in the ring with someone in this business for 40 years.
Dolph Lundgren on the right said he and Sylvester Stallone remain good friends for many years. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
“Throw each other that creates a certain level of friendship. We’re doing six films together now. And he’s a very smart, talented guy. You can play simple, physical characters. People think you’re not a very talented artist.
“Rocky” and Lundgren said he always has a special place for the stars.
Dolph Lundglen is still busy as an actor and filmmaker. (Curl coat/AFP by Getty Images)
“The experience of being part of such an iconic film…it was a great experience for a young Swedish child who just came here to study engineering,” he said.
