Just in time for the holidays!
Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee and actors Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, and Taye Diggs, who starred in the hit movie “The Best Man,” have reunited to launch a new bourbon brand, Sable, Essence reports. Perrineau pitched the joint venture to the group while filming the series reboot “The Best Man: The Final Chapters.”
“My wife and I had met this company, Bespoken, and we were super interested in the way that they did spirits – they’re earth conscious, they have proprietary software – and when we were finishing [the series filming,] I personally didn’t want to stop working with them, so I asked everybody if they would be interested in doing a spirit together,” Perrineau recalled.
While Lee and Chestnut jumped at the opportunity, Diggs admits he was a little apprehensive. He says the brotherhood they all share sealed the deal for him.
“I’ve never been one to embark on new projects and step out of my comfort zones and start a business, but it just felt right when you take the relationship that we’ve all had with The Best Man series and what’s happening in the world of spirits and us being mature Black man. I just kind of followed my gut,” Diggs explained.
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For the past two years, the group has embarked on the journey of bringing the brand to life, from deciding the flavor profile to bottle designs to finally launching the product this past September. Lee says the process of working together has been pretty easy, and all of the pieces, down to the brand name, have fit together; it is a welcome extension of The Best Man brand.
“I don’t think we knew at the time that Sable meant black, but it certainly connotes Black and classy. It’s sleek and smooth, and there’s an upscale aspect to it. My messaging, that I think we all agreed upon, about what we’re gonna do with this bourbon is that it feels aspirational, upscale, but accessible just like The Best Man movies do,” said Lee.
The Bourbon is made of corn, rye, and malted barley, featuring notes of burnt sugar, mocha, dark chocolate, and an oak spice. At an affordable price, it’s the perfect gift for the holiday season and a reminder of the power of brotherhood.
“Sable is born from a shared passion for storytelling and whiskey-making. Each sip celebrates friendship, heritage, and the spirit of camaraderie. Savor life’s finest moments with Sable in hand,” a message on the website reads.
For the promotional shoot, the group brought in another brother, celebrity stylist J. Bolin, who nailed the group’s looks. Perrineau said it was the first time he felt cool as someone who traditionally plays the “quirky” character in movies. It was exactly the vibe he wanted customers to get from the product. He’s hoping they can continue to pave the way for Black men in the spirits industry, and he hopes people enjoy the new bourbon.
“There’s not a lot of Black men in this space at all, and we have an audience that’s so great with us, so loyal and trusts us, and we also have a real trust in each other. People have been really receptive to it. We really picked a beautiful product. The drink is great. The bottle is sexy. It all just works,” said Perrineau.
To purchase your bottle of Sable Bourbon, click HERE.
Cover photo: The Men of ‘The Best Man’ Reunite for Launch of New Bourbon Brand/Photo credit: Sable Bourbon/Instagram