Entertaining
Brett Fieldcamp, CSS, ReserveBar Spirits Contributor
Raise your glass to Black History Month and the change makers of the spirits world.
For decades, the world of high-end and craft spirits carried an air of exclusive traditionalism, presenting the artistry of fine distilled beverages and cocktails as something reserved for only the most privileged. Luckily, that’s all changing.
Thanks to a push from a global roster of true disruptors, wave-makers, and iconoclasts, the spirits world has burst to brilliant life, showcasing all the diversity and cross-cultural beauty that the beverage community has to offer. As we celebrate Black History Month in February, let’s take a look at some of the Black-owned spirits companies that are kicking open the doors to the industry and proving that diversity will always be the best way forward.
Sorel is an homage to classical sorrel, or “the red drink,” a medicinal, hibiscus-infused ceremonial drink used in West African rituals and brought to the Caribbean with the slave trade. It's incredible to think that versions of sorrel date back to the 1600s, when hibiscus flowers were first imported to the New World from West Africa and hibiscus-based beverages became a Caribbean tradition.
Sorel Liqueur stands as both a memorial to founder Jack Summers’ ancestors and a monument to how far culture has come. This spiced, floral liqueur cuts its naturally bright acidity with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg to produce an infinitely easy sipper that’s also perfect for pairing with ginger beer, lime, or even other spirits in your most creative cocktails.
Abisola Abidemi created Abisola Whiskey in the spirit of celebration, no matter the occasion. She named it after herself in the spirit of pride and cultural history as one of the few Black women to break into the craft whiskey industry.
Utilizing a rare blend of both bourbon and malt whiskies and aging from three different kinds of wood, Abisola Whiskey is a showcase for the remarkable things that can happen when different worlds are brought together and given room to flourish.
With a career that spans acting, comedy, writing, hosting, and loads more, Aisha Tyler is no stranger to doing things her own way and getting results. So when it came time to turn her love of homemade cocktails into a ready-to-drink offering for the masses, she characteristically took the reins herself.
Courage + Stone’s ready-to-drink Classic Old Fashioned and Classic Manhattan were formulated and perfected in Tyler’s own home bar, where she worked to ensure that the mixes captured the poise and simplicity of the best classic cocktails that she loves.
Both are 80-proof ready-to-drink craft cocktails of the highest quality, carefully mixed with premium American-made ingredients in Brooklyn, NY. The focus is to taste perfect, right from the bottle, every time. No need to mix. Just enjoy a perfectly balanced cocktail anywhere, anytime.
When Marc Farrell decided to break into the rum game, he knew that he wanted to overhaul the entire image and perception of what the spirit could be. Out were the “pirates and plantations,” as he put it, and in was a reverence for the history and culture of the Caribbean and a focus on craft quality.
Ten To One takes its name from a phrase by Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s legendary first Prime Minister. When rallying to preserve the first Caribbean federation of 10 countries, he famously said, “One from ten leaves zero”, reflecting the idea that we are stronger together than we are apart. The name also speaks to overcoming great odds and the “beauty in the blend.”
Designed to highlight the unique-but-connected rum characters of the different Caribbean nations, Ten to One brings together spirits from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic to create the playful, aromatic White Rum, the boldly spicy Dark Rum, and the exclusive Black History Month edition.
Drawing on his own ancestors’ legacy of transcending slavery to establish a farm in Virginia at the turn of the century, Maurice Morton has built a small DC empire in hemp farming. When he decided to carry that success over into the spirits world, it only felt right to infuse the drink with his hemp seed to show off the fruits of his family’s farm in a new and exciting way.
Tusk Vodka spotlights its unique flavoring with a touch of the savory beneath the vodka’s natural, subtle corn sweetness, perfect for cutting through flavorful tonics or Vermouth in a Classic Vodka Martini.
One of the great recent spirits success stories is ready-to-drink rocketship Hella Cocktail Co., co-founded and led by Jomaree Pinkard.
Beginning life as a line of bold, aromatic bitters, Hella has expanded to include beautifully bottled margaritas, mules, and marys, but it’s the ultra-popular canned seltzer-and-bitters that have taken off into the stratosphere and propelled Pinkard onto a Forbes list of “upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American Dream.”
Whether you are looking for more carefully crafted options for your bitters, flavorful mixers to amp up your cocktails or ready-to-drink releases to simplify your happy hour, there is no doubt that Hella Cocktail Co. is curating flavors that will be perfect for you. Once you try one offering from this brand, you will surely quickly be back.
The expanding list of enterprising Black-owned businesses here is just scratching the surface of how the industry is changing to better reflect America's face and future. As part of our Spirited Change Initiative program, ReserveBar is committed to raising the bar and furthering access to the industry for Black, BIPOC, and women-owned brands.
As we take this month to pay tribute to the country’s deep cultural history, let’s raise a glass to the Black-owned companies that are changing the game. Shop our entire Black-owned brands collection here as we encourage you to help us support these brands not only in February but all year long.