Black History Month: Black-owned rum spotlight. ✊🏾

Throughout this Black History Month, I’ll highlight the Black-owned rums that are staples in my apartment bar and Black-owned rums that I’m excited to try for the first time.

TO TRY: Equiano Rum

Equiano, the world’s first African (Mauritius) and Caribbean (Barbados) rum, offers two bottles in their core lineup — original and light. I’m looking forward to trying the Original in manhattan riffs and painkillers and the Light in nevadas and white negroni riffs.

Have you tried either or both of the bottles from Equiano? Share a review in the comments!

ALWAYS BUY: Ten to One Rum

Ten to One is a brand steeped in authentic Caribbean heritage, culture, and shared identity, starting with their Trinidadian founder Marc Farrell. I cannot speak highly enough of Ten to One and own nearly every bottle they make. After my first sip, their dark rum became a bar staple and the #1 dark rum I recommend to novices. I almost always add 0.25oz of it to my daiquiris at home!

I was fortunate to snag a second bottle of their Uncle Nearest collab Bourbon Cask Finish Rum released for Black History Month last February — it’s phenomenal in mai tais and rum old fashioneds, as well as an alternative in any bourbon-based cocktails.

For BHM this year, Ten to One has released a stunning limited edition bottle of their dark rum designed by Brooklyn-based artist Devin B. Johnson. I will definitely be adding it to my TTO collection!