The NOLADrinks Show – Black Bourbon Society and Diversity Distilled – Dec20Ep4

On this edition of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we chat with Samara Davis, CEO and Founder of the Black Bourbon Society and Armond Davis, the organization’s COO. They have also started a new non-profit called “Diversity Distilled” that we discuss.

Please note – we held the release of the podcast version of this and a few other great shows (we’re almost caught up!) so that they could be included in the relaunch of The Nitty Grits Podcast Network – the podcast network connected to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and the National Food and Beverage Foundation.

Pictured above from left – Samara Davis and Armond Davis of the Black Bourbon Society and Diversity Distilled.

The NOLADrinks Show – Black Bourbon Society and Diversity Distilled – Dec20Ep4

In our featured interview, we talk with the founder and CEO of the Black Bourbon Society (BBS), Samara Davis, and her husband, Armond Davis, the organization’s COO.

We discuss the history and mission of the organization. The Black Bourbon Society is a membership-organization that “bridges the gap between the spirits industry and African American bourbon enthusiasts.” They do so by using their social media platforms, events, education, and exclusive excursions.

Importantly, they seek to “challenge traditional direct consumer marketing standards by curating experiences that genuinely engage [their] unique demographic, and advocate for diversity and inclusion through speaking events engagements and consulting within the spirits industry.”

Given their model and emphasis on event-driven activities, we discuss how they have adapted their programs to the current pandemic situation. We discuss the ongoing importance and relevance of their work. This includes some key ideas and dynamics that relate to marketing and how the spirits industry often misses the mark when messaging to African Americans.

Also, we talk about the non-profit organization they started in the not-too-distance past called, “Diversity Distilled.” It’s a terrific program that looks to advance people of color throughout the spirits and hospitality industries. They engage in consulting, training, market research and more striving to create fair and equitable opportunities for people of all backgrounds working or seeking to work in these industries.

Samara and Armond stick around for our podcast-only segment, “Another Shot with NOLADrinks,” where we continue the chat and talk about bourbon! You can subscribe to, stream, and download The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias podcast using the links and player at the top of the post.

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan