About the Brand
About
DuBlasé is a premium, award-winning whiskey brand that caters to the ever-growing and diverse spirits market. Inspired by sophistication, friendship and celebrating life’s special moments. DuBlasé is made from natural ingredients, distilled, matured and blended under the guidance of our master distiller. Our hand-crafted whiskey brings together complex notes for a balanced a flavorful pour. We distill every batch with precision, creating an authentic, crisp and unrivaled taste profile. DuBlasé features a hint of vanilla, complemented with all natural spices, and refined for a smooth and robust finish. DuBlasé's universal & recognizable appeal is perfect for celebrating life's special moments with a toast of a glass.
Founding Story
The inspiration behind DuBlasé goes back to the simple delicacy of celebrating an achievement with friends and loved ones. Founder and CEO, Darrin Eakins, was initially introduced to the development of sophisticated Spirits by an Uncle at a family tasting. He told his uncle that he wanted to create a refined recipe dedicated to the comradery he experienced throughout his college days at Florida A&M University. Fast-forward a few months later and Eakins found himself dedicating countless hours working with a master distiller in his home state of Florida to develop the perfect whiskey. What came from nearly two years of dedication and hard work is DuBlasé — a proprietary robust and sophisticated whiskey blend that suits any celebration.
“Celebrating life’s special moments with colleagues, family and friends with a sip of a fine whiskey were some of my most vivid memories. It's only right that these celebratory moments with friends ultimately inspired me to develop and launch DuBlasé to the world. With DuBlasé, everyone can enjoy life’s unforgettable moments with a toast of a glass,” -Darrin Eakins, DuBlasé Founder & CEO.
The original name, "Golden Age Whiskey," was created based on the brand’s parent company Golden Age Innovations. But was quickly changed to be more personal and reflective of himself. Eakins decided to rename his whiskey after his “Line Number” of his fraternity at Florida A&M University. Eakins is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. If you are not familiar with fraternities and sororities of the Divine 9, let us break some of the culture down for you. The term “line” comes from when fraternities and sororities debut a new group of members, the group is often referred to as a line. The number comes from the new member’s numerical order in the group. When he became a member, there were 12 members on his line, which debuted in the spring of 2008, Eakins was number 11. In fraternity and sorority culture, the term "Ace" usually means the number 1 or 1st member on the line, and "Double Ace" would be the number 11 or 11th member on the line. As an ode and dedication to his line number, DuBlasé pronounced Du - bläˈ- say was born from reformatting the phrase "Double Ace."
To add a special touch, Eakins incorporated a medallion in the DuBlasé bottle label design, which represents 12 edges for each member of his line who helped inspire the spirit of the DuBlasé brand.
Signature Products
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Team & Experts
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Darrin Eakins is the Founder and CEO of DuBlasé Whiskey. He is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University and holds a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. A leader with over a decade of history in engineering, innovation and consumer goods. Darrin drives a robust business model that is the catalyst for the success of his business ventures, some of which include: Golden Age Innovations, and the Savannah Ghost Pirates ECHL professional ice hockey team.A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Darrin’s diverse professional background has landed him media coverage from national outlets, such as ABC, FOX, NBC and featured publications, such as Authority Magazine, Business Journal, and Forbes. Throughout his career, Darrin has earned a number of awards, including being named Top 40 Under 40 by Florida A&M University (2023) and Top 20 Under 40 by the Florida Black Expo (2021). Outside of his entrepreneurial endeavors, Darrin is an active member in the community and is passionate about giving back. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Business REIN Panel, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and FAMU National Alumni Association. Darrin serves on the Board for Level the Playing Field Leadership Academy and the DuBlasé Foundation. Darrin also serves on the Board of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, as appointed by the Mayor of Jacksonville. Darrin is a graduate of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship Small Business Executive Program Class XV, Hightower Emerging Leader Fellowship Class VII, and Leadership Jacksonville ℅ 2023. Darrin looks to continue his efforts in leading the charge in building a strong community with a unified vision.
Press Coverage
JOY FILLED EATS
Dec 1, 2024
Drink Gifts for 2024
URBAN MILAN
Oct 1, 2024
HGTV's House Hunters Housewarming Party
BEAUTY NEWS NYC OFFICIAL
Aug 31, 2024
Labor Day Sips and Sounds
BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION (BET)
Aug 27, 2024
Five Black-Owned Whiskey Brands To Support
FORBES
Jun 19, 2024
Meet DuBlasé, The Black-Owned Whiskey With A Philanthropic Mission
Launched in the summer of 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida, DuBlasé is a premium, award-winning whiskey brand that speaks to the growing diverse spirits market, striving to expand to new markets across the United States while benefitting the African American communities. As we celebrate Junteenth across the country, DuBlasé Whiskey founder and CEO Darrin Eakins is quickly becoming a rising star in the spirits industry, embodying entrepreneurship, leadership and philanthropy.
STYLE LUJO
Jun 9, 2024
Why Juneteenth 2024 Is The Best Time To Support Black-Owned Business
FORBES
Feb 26, 2024
7 Black-Owned Liquor Brands To Try
Black History Month gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the culture of Black Americans, and what better way to do it than toasting with one of the rising spirits brands developed and created by folks who are proud of their traditions and achievements? Here are seven brands to look for when it’s time to stock up your home bar.
WHISKY ADVOCATE
Mar 31, 2023
Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura, Dixon Dedman's Latest Creation, & More [New Releases]
No. 9 is the second whiskey from DuBlasé, a Black-owned spirits brand based in Jacksonville, Florida. Eakins launched DuBlasé in 2020 with a vanilla-flavored whiskey; a percentage of the brand’s sales go toward Black and brown-focused STEM programs for high school students. A launch party for No. 9 is being held on April 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jacksonville speakeasy The Volstead.
LIQUOR.COM
Feb 28, 2023
Black-Owned Spirits Brands to Support
Although Black distillers have significantly affected the world of spirits, their contributions have largely been written out of history. The story of Nearest Green is one of the most prominent examples—the first known Black distiller in the U.S. and the man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey, wasn’t widely known until 2017, when Fawn Weaver launched the Uncle Nearest brand to honor his legacy. We’ve compiled a working directory of Black-owned spirits brands as a resource for those looking to support Black-owned producers, large and small, particularly those located within their home states. From traditional spirits like whiskey and rum to cordials like hibiscus liqueur and Haitian cremas, our goal is to join others in using our platform to help create an easier way for consumers to find new producers to try and products to enjoy.
LUXURY GUIDE
Jul 7, 2022
DuBlasé Whiskey Introduces New Seasonal Summer Spritz Cocktail
The official summer solstice has come and gone, and Independence Day just wrapped up, which can only mean one thing– Summer 2022 is in full effect. Whether you’re vacationing in Europe this Summer, enjoying a relaxed day on Miami Beach, relishing in the sun at your local golf & country club, or day brunching with friends, DuBlasé whiskey’s new spritz cocktail is perfect for any Summer occasion.
BEVNET MAGAZINE
May 11, 2022
DuBlasé Whiskey Expands Into Total Wine, Providing Its Whiskey to North and Central Florida
DuBlasé Whiskey is pleased to announce it is expanding into one of the nation’s leading spirits and wine retail stores, Total Wine & More, across numerous Florida retail stores in Orlando, Jacksonville, Altamonte Springs, Gainesville and Daytona Beach.
SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS JOURNAL
Nov 29, 2021
Jacksonville whiskey entrepreneur signs supplier deal with Sam’s Club
Darrin Eakins' start-up brand DuBlasé Whiskey landed a supplier deal with a national retailer within six months of its launch.
AUTHORITY MAGAZINE
Nov 24, 2021
Darrin Eakins of DuBlasé: The Future ff Retail in the Post Pandemic World
Aspart of our series about the future of retail, I had the pleasure of interviewing Darrin Eakins. Darrin Eakins is a serial entrepreneur located in Jacksonville, Florida and is the founder and CEO of DuBlase whiskey, a premium black-owned flavored whiskey brand in the U.S. In an effort to follow new passions and diversify business ventures, Eakins founded DuBlase, a new Florida-based whiskey brand, in early 2020. As the founder and CEO of Golden Age Innovations, the parent company that owns DuBlase, Eakins is proud to bring a black-owned premium whiskey to the U.S. market, across 32 states, with addition expansion and new product launches in the pipeline for 2022. Eakins has worked closely with a dedicated master distiller to develop DuBlase’s proprietary formula. From brand development, to research & development to operations and distribution, Eakins has worked extensively over the last two years to bring DuBlase to the public and believes it can be a staple whiskey that Millennials can enjoy with friends and family. To learn more about Darrin and DuBlase whiskey, please visit www.DuBlase.com.
AFROTECH
Sep 21, 2021
HBCU Grad Darrin Eakins Launched A Whiskey Brand To Champion Black Ownership In The Spirits Industry
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are the institutions responsible for breeding the next generation of Black business owners and entrepreneurs. As the leaders of many industries, Black founders have the power to change them for the better — starting with their diversity problem. As a product of Florida A&M University (FAMU), founder Darrin Eakins had a vision to create a brand (a whiskey brand to be exact) inspired by a significant part of his college experience called DuBlase. Today, that brand represents a revolutionary act for Black founders breaking into the spirits industry and actually owning their spirits. Now, Eakins hopes to position his own brand as a catalyst for change to champion more Black ownership in an industry that lacks true diversity and equity.
Press Releases
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Primary press contact
Darrin Eakins
Founder and CEO
- dceakins@dublase.com
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