Taste of Black Spirits LIQUID " BROOKLYN "

The Liquid Forum will gather a national panel of Black spirits business leaders. Panelists will reflect on their professional journeys and provide expert mentorship for entrepreneurs interested in the spirit industry.

“Underrepresentation and a lack of diversity has long been an issue in the spirits industry”, says chief executive curator of Black Spirits Legacy -LAZAR Favors. “The Taste of Black Spirits continues to build on the remarkable legacy of African American master distillers and industry leaders to generate equity for Black entrepreneurs. I am motivated to give our audience a unique, high quality, experience and create access to capital for Black owned spirit brands”. 

Happy Cork, founded in 2019 by Sunshine Foss, is a wine and spirits travel shop with an emphasis on community.

Since opening our doors, Happy Cork has evolved in becoming a travel destination for all people to experience the largest selection of black and minority owned wine and spirits.

“When I first ventured into the world of wine and spirits I knew I needed to give a platform to these underserved, amazing brands that were often overlooked. It’s now become my passion to highlight and show these wonderful brands while catering to the community surrounding us,” Sunshine explains.

For almost 10 years since she released Black Momma Vodka on the west coast with a co-distillery, Braxton has been a major force in the spirit industry in the United States. In 2013 when she introduced her ultra-premium vodka brand, she made history as the first African-American woman owner and operator of a nationally distributed vodka.

In 2016, she opened her own company in Wyandanch, New York called Gravesande Braxton Distillers, which is 100% Black-owned. Braxton is the only Black woman in the country to own her own distillery, manufacturing facility, and 15-acre farm grow house.

Apryl Fort is the CFO [COO of N-Brands, Inc. and a force in the

and Spirits world. As the Chief Operating Officer N-Finite Brand, owned by Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, she has turned N-Finite into a multimillion-dollar success story.

Apryl is a TX native, and has an extensive background in banking. She holds degrees in both Accounting and Finance from Southern Methodist University.

Apryl is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and sat of of Directors for the YWCA and UNCF. She has won awards from many organizations including Alpha Kappa Entrepreneur of the Year and Links, Inc for her community service awards. She is a mother of 3 children Amare, and Austin and cheers for her Dallas Cowboys in her free time.

Jackie has written for everyone from the James Beard Foundation to Plate, Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Epicurious, Delish, and Edible Brooklyn. His flagship brand, Sorel Liqueur, is the most awarded liqueur of 2022, having garnered over 40 gold (or better) awards.

Appointed as Pronghorn’s CEO and Managing Director in 2023, Jomaree Pinkard currently leads the