Black Momma Vodka to Show the Market 'Who's Your Daddy'

You've heard that Secret deodorant is strong enough for a man, but made for a woman? Well, after that woman freshens up her underarms and heads out for an evening on the town, Vanessa Braxton hopes she'll be drinking Black Momma Vodka.  Braxton is CEO and President of the new label, which launched in 2013 as a division of B4MC Group Inc.  On the homepage of her website, she describes Black Momma as "made by a woman for women and still strong enough for any man ... OKAAAY!"

Yes, indeed.  This vodka comes with some sass and five different variations.  There is the popular Straight Vodka, which is filtered from corn through crushed diamond lava rocks; along with a Sour Sop Tea Vodka; a Chai Tea flavor; a Green Tea infusion; a Pomegranate Tea infusion; and, finally, a Peach Tea variation. Braxton stated, during a recent Beverage Journal interview "Women are different, and I wanted to make something that is for us and by us.  It's a male-dominated industry, and that's fine.  I love men!  But our palettes are very different.  I'm a tea drinker, and I always have been.  At the same time, I love vodka.  This is THE product!"

All of the Black Mommas are five times distilled and five times filtered, giving the finished product a clean finish and a most pleasing taste.  "A lot of people think that vodkas all taste the same, but they don't!" Braxton noted.  "We don't add any sugar, there aren't any chemicals, it's all-natural. So, you get that natural sweetness.  I suffer from headaches.  Our process is such that it minimizes headaches that sometimes comes from drinking vodka.  Also, the corn base helps it to be naturally gluten-free."

She continued, "We don't like to say 'flavored.'  We like to say 'naturally infused.'  I choose to do an infusion because I'm an engineer.  Chemical engineering is my background, so I can write formulas.  I get my own blends directly from the tea manufacturer, and that makes the final product very smooth.  It's hand-crafted with a lower alcohol content.  It allows us women, or really any guy who doesn't want to get plastered, to enjoy a hard alcohol product that still gives you that little kick.  There's no mixing necessary."

Braxton's managed construction and engineering contracts worth more than $350 million for the New York State government prior to her retirement.  Since then, she has lived her dream of becoming the first African-American female owner and operator of a nationally distributed vodka in the United States.  In 2015, Black Momma Vodka will be in 32 states, including Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

"D.C.-Maryland is a great market as far as spirits are concerned, especially with vodka," she stated.  "People in D.C. and Maryland are on the go, and nobody has time for anything.  A lot of people walk into bars and say, 'Give it to me straight.  Give it to me fast.  Give it to me on the rocks or with a splash of orange juice or ginger ale.' Vodka is an easy spirit to drink, especially Black Momma."

And the name?  Braxton laughed.  "I couldn't think of anything else I liked.  I said, 'Hmmmm, what am I going to call it.  OK, I'm black, I'm a momma, and I love vodka!  That's it!"

Next came the bottle design.  What catches the eye immediately is that all of the usually important stuff -- the lettering, the logo, etc. -- are upside down. "It's an upside-down heart, or as some men like to say, 'It looks like a woman's behind.'  When you turn the bottle upside down, it's now a woman's corset.  It's playful.  Then, people ask, 'Well, why are the words upside down?'  Because that's so you can read it when it's being poured.  Also, in California and some other places, there are those dispensers at the bars that keep the bottles upside down.  People can read the product's name."

Looking ahead, Braxton is set to make at least a few appearances locally in the new year.  She is also looking forward to working closely with her local distributor.  "Much praise goes to Southern Wine & Spirits," she concluded.  "They have believed in me and the product and have been so great.  They have a vision, and they have the contacts.  They've told me they are going to make me very proud in 2015!"