Equiano Rum
Founded by Equiano Founders · ,
Verified Licensed
- CT License LBD.0190532active
Verified against the DISTRYB licensing directory — public federal & state alcohol records for Equiano Rum.
The Story
Equiano Founders
Founder
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From the Encyclopedia
The Deep Roots: Black Americans and the History of Rum in America
This article explores the integral yet often-overlooked history of Black Americans in the American rum industry, from the forced labor of enslaved people in colonial distilleries to the rise of modern Black-owned rum brands. It highlights the profound and complex relationship between Black communities and this historic spirit.
Equiano Rum: A Pan-African and Caribbean Spirit Rooted in Abolitionist Legacy
Equiano Rum launched in 2020 as the world’s first African and Caribbean rum, honoring abolitionist Olaudah Equiano through its blend of African and Caribbean spirits and commitment to fighting modern slavery. However, as of September 2025, the brand has faced significant public challenges, including a co-founder's departure amidst a trademark dispute and allegations concerning its 'black-owned' status.
Black-Owned Rum and the African and Caribbean Diaspora: Reclaiming a Complex Heritage
This article explores the deep historical ties of rum to the transatlantic slave trade and the pivotal role of enslaved Africans in its creation, alongside modern Black-owned rum brands that are actively reclaiming and reshaping this complex narrative.
On the public record
Equiano Rum appears in the DISTRYB licensing directory as CT License LBD.0190532 — a public page about this business that nobody here controls.
If this is your business, claim it on DISTRYB and it becomes yours to run: your catalog, your wholesale accounts, your compliance filings.
How we know this
Ownership has since changed. As of September 2025, co-founder Ian Burrell announced that Equiano Rum is no longer Black-owned due to a trademark dispute and a change in company control.
On this being a Black-owned business:
“The Black-owned spirit company and its first expression - the world's first African and Caribbean rum – were named after the Nigerian-born writer, entrepreneur, abolitionist, and freedom fighter Olaudah Equiano”https://www.havandmar.com/event/ian-burell-and-aaisha-dadral-founders-equiano/