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Create Memorable Cocktails With These Top Black-Owned Liquors This Memorial Day Weekend

Fill out your liquor cabinet with these Black-owned spirits and create the ultimate first summer holiday cocktail.

Memorial Day Weekend is a time for gathering our cherished loved ones and finally making those spirits that have been on your Pinterest board for months. Seeing aesthetically pleasing cocktails on our socials and telling ourselves, “Oh! I’m for sure making that!” can now be a reality. We’ve bought the liquor, ordered the aesthetic glasses, and somehow they’ve collected dust on our CB2 Liquor cabinets. This weekend, however, is different. This weekend we promise ourselves that we will make a memorable cocktail that will have our friends saying, “Another one, sis!” And, of course, we will be taking back our power by making them with Black-owned liquor only. Here is our top Black-owned spirits to create the ultimate cocktail.

  • P-Diddy’s CÎROC

    Diddy's Promotional Plank - Diddy will stop at nothing to promote something. As the hardest working man in hip hop, he's definitely going to make his plank worthwhile. Diddy's plank would be somewhere on top of one of his own products, maybe a Ciroc bottle?
    Diddy's Promotional Plank - Diddy will stop at nothing to promote something. As the hardest working man in hip hop, he's definitely going to make his plank worthwhile. Diddy's plank would be somewhere on top of one of his own products, maybe a Ciroc bottle?

    If there’s anything Diddy knows how to do, it is to create a vibe! CÎROC has 10 different flavored vodkas to choose from. They also have two limited edition liquors: Summer Watermelon and White Grape. Any of these flavors is guaranteed to be a hit at any gathering. The amount of variety CÎROC offers makes it a perfect foundation to create any cocktail. According to the brands' website, 25 different cocktails! Our favorite on the site is the Watermelon Twist. The recipe requires four simple ingredients: CÎROC Summer Watermelon, lemonade, soda, and a splash of cranberry.

  • Equiano Rum The World First African And Caribbean Rum

    Olaudah Equiano - Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped from his home in Nigeria and sold as a slave in Virginia, but he later bought his freedom and traveled to London, where he joined the abolitionist movement. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, was critical in helping British lawmakers abolish the slave trade. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
    Olaudah Equiano - Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped from his home in Nigeria and sold as a slave in Virginia, but he later bought his freedom and traveled to London, where he joined the abolitionist movement. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, was critical in helping British lawmakers abolish the slave trade. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

    Equiano was a collaborative effort between two distilleries, making it the perfect blend of African and Caribbean roots. The rum is made in honor of Olaudah Equiano - a writer, entrepreneur, abolitionist, and freedom fighter. He was enslaved as a child in his birthplace of Nigeria, and his journey during enslavement continued in the Caribbean. In 1776, Equiano was able to purchase his freedom from his hard work selling rum. Equiano is more than a drink; it is a journey of discovery. Two types of rum are available for purchase: the original Equiano, an authentic rum with no extra spice. And Equiano Light, a tropical rum infused with fresh sugar cane juice. Click here for the best ways to incorporate this rum!

  • Ingenious Gin

    A smooth Gin is always appreciated, even in a cocktail. Ingenious Gin is an ultra-smooth gin that is guaranteed to give you a premium experience. This liquor was made on the foundation of friendship (The Doc, The Chief, and The Sir). During a conversation, the three friends realized they lacked a gin they truly appreciated. They created Ingenious Gin using locally picked ingredients and a handcrafted still. Purchase Ingenious Gin and make your favorite margarita, daiquiri, or piña colada today!

  • Uncle Nearest Whiskey

    Uncle Nearest is America’s most-awarded whiskey. This whiskey is aged for a smooth taste that you’ll never forget. It makes sense why the whiskey also holds the record as the fastest-growing American whiskey in U.S. history. This Black-owned brand has five whiskeys to choose from according to your preference. The most popular is their 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey. An all-American whiskey calls for an all-American classic cocktail in an old fashion. The website makes creating this cocktail as easy as one can say cocktail. The ingredients include Uncle Nearest 1856, simple syrup, lemon peel garnish.

  • Rhum Barbancourt

    You didn’t think we were done with the rum category, did you? Let’s take it all the way to Haiti for a taste of Rhum Barbancourt. This spirit is the heart and soul of Haiti. One sip will have you feeling all the island vibes. Barbancourt is a 100% Haitian-made rum, starting from sugarcane at a distillery, then immediately fermented into a bottle. The proud Haitian rum company offers a white rum, perfect for mojitos or Cuba Libres. Check their selection out here.

  • Amarula

    Amarula is a marula cream that is perfect for adding a bit of sweetness to your cocktail. This alcoholic cream is traditionally made to create a Don Pedro, a South African cocktail where Amarula is a key ingredient. Don Pedro is a yummy dessert cocktail made with vanilla ice cream, cream, and Amarula. It’s important to blend all three ingredients for a smooth finish. Top off the cocktail with your favorite chocolate before serving. Make extra! This cocktail cream is guaranteed to make your guest come back for more.

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