Black Bourbon Enthusiasts Find Community in the Black Bourbon Society
Samara Davis is Creating Change in the Spirit Space
Black bourbon enthusiasts are claiming their space and bringing their own chairs to the table. As a whiskey lover myself I have to tell you, if you aren’t familiar with the Black Bourbon Society you should be. The Black Bourbon Society, or BBS, fills a gap where there is a lack of engagement with bourbon consumers of color.
Samara Davis started out running her own event planning company. As she gradually began adding bourbon to her wine rotation, she became more and more intrigued about the nuances of bourbon. After many collaborations in the event space Samara recognized that many brands were missing out on a key demographic. Those in the Black community who are well established in their careers, and many with disposable income, are not always considered in the spirit space. I have to say that I have noticed the image in an ad of a person pouring a neat glass of whiskey often does not look like me, though I am whiskey fan, and I prefer a neat pour. This is not exclusive to the spirits industry, the lack of diverse decision makers has been an ongoing conversation.
Inspired by the refreshing taste of summer and the welcoming cool of watermelon. Cheers!
As an industry consumer and facilitator, Samara started BBS, hosting educational excursions, building brand partnerships, and curating events centered around bourbon. The foundation of BBS is supported by a Facebook group of over 23k members, myself and my husband are two of those members.
The key to connecting with BBS members in a meaningful way is to actively engage the community. One of the largest events for the BBS members is the annual Bourbon Boule, BBS holds in-person and virtual events throughout the year. The most recent event, the Open Door Tour, is a partnership between BBS and Jim Beam to visit five cities across the country, highlighting Black owned bars and restaurants. This celebration of “Black excellence through culture, cocktails and cuisine” has been highly successful, as evidenced by all of the sold out event dates.
This year BBS is celebrating a 5 year anniversary and will continue to celebrate for the entire year. A part of that celebration is the creation of a Private Selection with Maker’s Mark. Though this anniversary pick marks a special occasion, it is not the first bottle with the BBS touch. The first BBS Maker’s Mark Private Select bottle won Double Gold Custom-Finished Bourbon at the 19th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Samara has built a relationship with the brand over the years and collaborated on several events. That relationship is what brought about the opportunities for BBS to create Private Selections.
“Pursue your purpose confidently. Don’t be afraid to go after it.”
Samara Davis
With the success and impact of BBS, Samara and her husband Armond Davis founded Diversity Distilled. They noticed an obvious need for more diversity and inclusion in the spirit space and committed to focus on supporting the increase of diverse talent in leadership. Diversity Distilled is a bottom-up and top-down approach to “advise, advocate and craft unique strategies to address the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of brands — with a focus on the world of distilled spirits, packaged beverages and the alcohol and service industries.”
According to Neilsen Black Americans spend over 1 trillion dollars a year. Being a part of a neglected target market, I can attest that many Black Americans like nice things, can afford nice things, and buy nice things. Though we cannot buy things we do not know exist. The Black community are not only consumers, but also influencers. Brands must recognize the smart move, the best, and the only move for growth is to include those customers who have traditionally been ignored in marketing plans going forward. In 2019, Adobe conducted a research report of more than 2,000 consumers. Their results showed that 66% of African-Americans feel their ethnicity is portrayed stereotypically in advertisements. With groups like BBS I am hopeful that brands and the Black community will continue to form bonds, build relationships, and create authentic content that speaks to the community.
Celebrate 30 days of Bourbon in September with BBS. If you’re a bourbon or whiskey enthusiast join the Facebook group, and with the premium membership you receive a wide variety of perks, including first notice about the next BBS Private Selection. BBS has ambassadors across the country. The Black Bourbon Society has let the world in on the not so secret secret that the Black community appreciates fine whiskeys and bourbons just like everyone else. Be a part of building the community and changing the narrative.
Discover more from Flights and Foods
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
5,048 Comments
SALT TRICK
BLUE SALT TRICK
BLUE SALT TRICK
SALT TRICK
SALT TRICK FOR MEN
SALT TRICK
SALT TRICK FOR MEN
SALT TRICK
PINK SALT TRICK
Himalayan Pink Salt Detox
PINK SALT TRICK RECIPE
PINK SALT
PINK SALT TRICK
PINK SALT TRICK
PINK SALT TRICK
PINK SALT TRICK
Himalayan Pink Salt Water Drink
PINK SALT
PINK SALT
PINK SALT TRICK RECIPE
4d
There is visibly a bunch to know about this. I think you made various good points in features also.
gübre
Thanks for revealing your ideas. I might also like to mention that video games have been actually evolving. Today’s technology and inventions have served create practical and enjoyable games. All these entertainment games were not actually sensible when the actual concept was being used. Just like other kinds of technological know-how, video games also have had to evolve via many years. This itself is testimony to the fast continuing development of video games.
kuğu evleri
Hi there, I found your website via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site got here up, it seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
pink salt trick for weight loss
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
pink salt trick for weight loss
The Pink Salt Trick is a minimalist but effective morning routine: Just drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt as soon as you wake up.
Taylor Swift Institute for Family Values
A man is on a crusade to “liberate” his daughter from Taylor Swift’s influence, all while tightening his own control. He’s confusing liberation with imprisonment. — http://bit.ly/48RnG3G
Taylor Swift media scare
A dad is blaming a woman for the actions of other women, claiming Taylor Swift is “getting our daughters in trouble.” He’s holding a pop star responsible for the collective behavior of millions of fans. — http://bit.ly/48RnG3G
flash burn review
Flash Burn is a revolutionary natural supplement that has been transforming the lives of thousands of people struggling with excess weight. Developed with a 100 natural and scientifically proven formula
flash burn supplement
Flash Burn is a revolutionary natural supplement that has been transforming the lives of thousands of people struggling with excess weight. Developed with a 100 natural and scientifically proven formula
Chuck Hargrove story Taylor Swift
This parent is trying to turn back the clock to a time when teenagers were seen and not heard, and pop music was less “suggestive.” That time never existed; he’s just nostalgic for a fantasy. — http://bit.ly/48RnG3G