6 of Season 1 - Uncorking Conversations: How a Passion for Spirits Became a Movement for Black Excellence with Charles
Introduction:
In a world where passion often fuels purpose, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of UrFriendCharles. This podcast episode dives deep into his journey from a curious consumer to a spirited advocate for Black-owned alcohol brands. With an engaging blend of humor and sincerity, Charles shares how he turned a love for whiskey into a platform for celebrating Black excellence in the beverage industry.
Main Content:
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The Spark of Inspiration UrFriendCharles’ journey began during the pandemic, a time when many searched for new hobbies and creative outlets. He stumbled upon Burr Brothers, a Black-owned distillery in Kentucky, which ignited his interest in exploring Black-owned spirits. His first experience at Chats on Capitol Hill, a historic Black-owned liquor store in DC, opened his eyes to a wealth of options, leading him to discover brands like Los Hermanos tequila and Foudre vodka. This moment was pivotal, as it sparked a deeper exploration into the stories behind these brands.
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Building a Community Through Spirits As Charles began collecting bottles and inviting friends over, he found himself in a unique position to educate and share stories about each brand. This casual sharing soon morphed into a passion project. He started creating TikTok videos, focusing on tasting Black-owned spirits and telling the stories of their founders. Despite his early videos being less polished, his genuine enthusiasm attracted a following, proving that authenticity resonates more than perfection.
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The Power of Connection A key theme in this podcast is the importance of community and connection. Charles emphasizes that you don’t need to be a celebrity to make an impact. He recalls an experience with Dante from Los Hermanos, who not only poured him a shot of tequila but also shared the story behind the brand. These personal connections enrich the experience of enjoying a drink and create meaningful relationships between consumers and producers.
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The Challenge of Representation Throughout the discussion, Charles highlights the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the spirits industry. He passionately advocates for supporting Black-owned brands, challenging the stereotype that Black people are not present in this arena. By showcasing these brands, he helps to redefine the narrative and encourage others to explore and appreciate the diversity within the spirits world.
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From Social Media to E-commerce In November, Charles had a vision to expand his impact by building a website dedicated to Black-owned spirits. His goal was to create a space where consumers could easily find and support these brands. This transition from social media influencer to entrepreneur illustrates the power of leveraging passion into purpose, creating a platform that promotes Black excellence in a traditionally overlooked industry.
Conclusion:
UrFriendCharles’ journey from a whiskey enthusiast to a celebrated advocate for Black-owned spirits is a testament to the power of passion and community. His story encourages us to support local brands, engage with the stories behind our favorite drinks, and redefine the narrative around representation in the beverage industry. Key takeaways include:
- Explore and support Black-owned brands.
- Understand the importance of personal connections in the industry.
- Use social platforms to share and celebrate authentic stories.
Tags: Black-owned brands, whiskey, spirits, community, representation in the beverage industry, entrepreneurship, TikTok creators, Black excellence.
Wed Dec 24 2025 13:32:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
How He Built The #1 Marketplace For Black Owned Spirits
your guide in the world of Black-owned spirits, wine, beer, and beyond. What started as a simple search for Brough Brothers Bourbon has grown into UrFriendCharles, the largest digital platform dedicated exclusively to showcasing and selling Black-owned spirits.
With a background in supply chain management and a passion for storytelling, I set out to make it easier for people to discover, enjoy, and support underrepresented founders in the spirits industry. Because every great bottle comes with an even greater story — and those stories deserve to be heard.
What UrFriendCharles Is UrFriendCharles is more than a store — it’s an end-to-end system built to make discovering, supporting, and celebrating Black-owned spirits simple and meaningful.
Jerome Amos
Jerome Amos is a native New Yorker, foodie, and chef who learned to cook as a young child. His older relatives, boy scout training, and desire to help prep the Sunday church potluck meals profoundly influenced Jerome's early love of preparing and sharing delicious recipes and creating a connected community.
Jerome of BFAM Cooking By the age of 10, Jerome was making his meals and operating the grill at family BBQs. He continued to learn and expand his culinary experience by trying new techniques and observing his grandmother preparing her family recipes. Jerome began working in restaurants in high school, moving his way up from dishwasher to kitchen prep. Jerome got married, joined the military, and didn't level up his cooking until a few years after the USAF when he and his wife watched The Food Network. Their shared passion for cooking led them to take cooking classes and attend significant food events where celebrity chefs would appear and do cooking demos. Understanding basic cooking techniques paired with the curiosity of making an idea work inspired Jerome and his wife to attend as many food events and cooking adventures as possible. This exploration has taken them worldwide, including Italy, where they learned about their surroundings through the local ingredients, recipes, and traditions.
A turning point for Jerome took place in a Costco when he was doing his weekly grocery shopping and noticed a couple who was purchasing almost a dozen containers of BBQ sauce. Jerome had just taken a BBQ class and knew this guy had to be cooking up to something delicious. After a brief conversation, Jerome and his wife were invited to this couple's BBQ, and a foodie friendship was born. Jerome and his new friend, Ellis, couldn't get enough chow chat, discussing everything from Southern flavor and French dishes to favorite chef knives and preferred salt. Together, they felt they had a lot to share with many other food lovers out there and B.F.A.M. Cooking (Brothers from Another Mother) was born on YouTube. Jerome, who had served in the US. Air Force for over five years, during the gulf war, said that the military way is to treat everyone on your team the same as your family.
That became the foundation for Brothers From Another Mother cooking or BFAM Cooking because everyone can be your "fam", especially at the dining table. The BFAM Cooking videos range from delicious, original recipes Jerome created to American restaurant owners who wanted to know better. There are also videos about cooking tools that he loves and simple techniques to make things easier. Jerome was recently one of the many chefs from around the globe who competed in an exclusive online competition to be named the world's Favorite Chef, receive $50,000, and a feature in two-page advertising spread in Bon Appétit announcing the winner. Voted on by the fans, Jerome made it as a semi-finalist, placing 3rd in his group.