Today we’d like to introduce you to Darrin Eakins.
Hi Darrin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and a proud graduate of Florida A&M University with a background in engineering. I discovered my entrepreneurial talent during my fourth year working as an Engineer. I could leverage my interests and passions and transform them into successful businesses. I sought ways to create a smooth premium whiskey that re-defines the culture and appeals to individuals like myself. With my technical background, I have always been fascinated with a variety of spirits and the process of distillation. It was a family member who happens to be in the wine industry that helped fuel my passion, ultimately leading me to create a new whiskey brand that I could enjoy with friends and share with others. DuBlasé is about celebrating life’s special moments with colleagues, family, and friends with a sip of a fine whiskey. With DuBlasé, everyone can enjoy life’s unforgettable moments with a toast of a glass.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have come across many challenges due to the Pandemic. But despite DuBlasé being a new brand, we have managed the supply chain challenges through partnerships and purchasing in bulk. We knew there would be a product shortage due to farms and manufacturing plants shutting down, so we fronted the load. To mitigate production concerns, we bought 5-7 times as much product to ensure production would not lag and filled orders promptly. I credit my career as an engineer for providing an understanding of supply chain operations and logistics.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about DuBlasé Whiskey?
DuBlasé is a Jacksonville-based, award-winning, premium whiskey created to be enjoyed among friends. Inspired by friendship and celebration — The DuBlasé story is one about bringing people together to enjoy life’s cherished moments. Retail distribution in Florida and California will be vital for our growth this year. Currently, we are in select retail stores in Florida and selling direct-to-consumer online in 32 states. We are most excited about the recently announced retail distribution expansion into California. I look forward to everyone trying and learning more about DuBlasé. It features a hint of vanilla, complemented with all-natural spices, and refined for a smooth and robust finish. You can enjoy DuBlasé as a cocktail or on the rocks. It is perfect for Florida’s sophisticated and festive lifestyle. Being a Black-owned brand, it is a great feeling to see consumers from all spectrums and walks of life enjoying my whiskey. DuBlasé can be purchased at Total Wine and Sam’s Club.
Is something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Outside of my venture in the wine and spirits industry, I also have a venture in the sports industry. I co-own the Nassau Pride, an ABA professional basketball team based in North Florida. It all started with my love of the game of basketball. In addition to the Engineering profession, I was a basketball coach and trainer. I knew I could leverage my entrepreneurial talents to help athletes reach their biggest dreams. One common topic of conversation I had with athletes who recently graduated college was their next step. Some were waiting on their agents to get them placement overseas. Some were traveling state to state trying out for different professional leagues, but the vast majority were in limbo, seeking that one opportunity to showcase their talent.
I reached out to a good friend who is the Medical Director at one of the local hospitals to get his thoughts on the current climate of today’s collegiate athletes. He had great insight on the topic as his concentration is Sports Medicine and Family Care. I asked him what he thought about bringing a professional team to North Florida. We looked at each other and grinned. We knew we had something! Being a close-knit community, the idea of having a professional team that could provide a new level of sports and entertainment to Nassau County and surrounding Florida communities was something we thought would be great. So we proceeded on. We met with local leaders and organizations that focus on strong community involvement. Together we were able to merge a diverse group of sports fans from around the community and successfully launched the Nassau Pride, the county’s first professional sports team.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dublase.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dublasewhiskey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DuBlaseWhiskey
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dublasewhiskey
Image Credits
Twist and Tailor Rakimism
