Equiano Light Rum and Equiano Original Rum, a collaboration between Grays in Mauritius and Foursquare’s award-winning Master Distiller Richard Seale in Barbados.

Allan S. Goodman welcomed Equiano Rum to its portfolio, billed as the world’s first African and Caribbean rum. The rum was named in honor of Olaudah Equiano, who was born in Africa in 1745. At age 11, he was kidnapped and sold through the transatlantic slave trade. Aboard naval ships, he journeyed to the Caribbean and Americas and taught himself to read, write, count and trade. Selling puncheons of rum, Equiano saved money and paved his way to liberation. The rum celebrates his life, values, journey and impact. The brand is a blend of two cultures, two distilleries and two islands: Grays in Mauritius and renowned Barbados distillery Foursquare, with Ian Burrell and Richard Seale at the helm. The company has pledged 5% of global company profits to freedom and equality organizations annually. It’s available in two expressions: Equiano Light Rum, a blend of lightly aged molasses rum from the Caribbean, fused with fresh sugar cane juice from Africa; and Equiano Original Rum, produced in limited batches, blended and bottled in Barbados, a 100% true rum, all natural with no spices, no additives and no added sugar, with rich and deep flavors from ex-Cognac and ex-bourbon barrels.