This week we have Part 2 of the Black Mixcellence duet. Ghanaian-Brit Colin Asare-Appiah joins me to talk the history of the term “mixology,” his journey from bar hand to head of Trade Director of Multi-Cultural and LGBTQ+ Advocacy at one of the world’s leading spirit bands--Bacardi, and the importance of getting involved. Colin has worked with numerous spirit brands, celebrity chefs, cocktail bars and industry experts across the globe. He starred in the “The Cocktail Kings” on the DISCOVERY Channel where he travelled around the world creating bespoke cocktails to reflect their destinations. In his current role, Colin oversees fostering brand advocacy for the Bacardi USA Brand Portfolio. His expertise and spirits knowledge have been featured in Imbibe, Complex, WSJ, TIME and Cocktail Lovers Magazine to name a few.

If you haven’t bought the book yet, what are you waiting for? #GetInvolvedBruv! Get yours here.

Where to find Colin?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Twitter
On Facebook

What’s Colin reading?
The Real Pepsi Challenge: The Inspirational Story of Breaking the Color Barrier in American Business by Stephanie Capparell
The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America by Nikesh Shukl
[Natives](http://%22%E2%80%8C%22) by Akala
Afro-Vegan Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry
The cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty

Other topics of interest:
About celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver
Douglas Ankrah and the Porn Star Martini
The LAB
About sobolo
Cocktail Kings
About the BAFTA Awards
Tales of the Cocktail
Tom Bullock
Caperitif
High on the Hog
Cocktails: Shaken & Stirred
Ariel Contreras-Fox
The Howard Theatre
Ian Burrell
Front/Back in Accra
Lagos Cocktail Week
50th Anniversary of Hip Hop
About Julep Cocktails
About Ashtin Berry

Special Guest: Colin Asare-Appiah.

This week I have the first of a “spirited” two-part conversation with the authors of Black Mixcellence--Cuban-Jamaican-American writer, Tamika Hall and another fellow countryman, Ghanaian mixologist, Colin Asare-Appiah. First up is Tamika who is is a mom, freelance writer & content strategy manager. She has created editorial content and marketing strategies for The Vitamin Shoppe, Mass Appeal, The Examiner, Mommynoire/MadameNoire, stupidDOPE.com, ICONIX, and Yellowbrick.co. She’s written branded content for a variety of brands including Bacardi, Maker’s Mark, PepsiCo, Anheusur-Busch, and Viniq. in addition to her commercial portfolio, she co-created the curriculum for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Essentials online course with NYU’s Jonathan Tisch Center of Hospitality and was the winner of the 2021 Budweiser Hashtag Sports Award for Black Storytelling honoring her work on the pilot program for The Sneaker Essentials K-12 initiative.

I had a wonderful time getting to know more about Tamika and her explorations of black culture plus some of her inspirations. I look forward to sharing more insights on the global impact of the spirit industry on cultures across diasporas in Part 2 with Colin.

Where to find Tamika?
Buy Black Mixcellence!
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Facebook

What’s Tamika reading?
Will by Will Smith
The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
Sometimes I Trip on How Happy we Could Be by Nichole Perkins
Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
All About Love by Bell Hooks

What's Tamika watching?
Sex and the City
New York Undercover
Works by Spike Lee

What’s Tamika listening to?
Deep Purple
Teddy Pendergrass
Prince

Other topics of interest:
Sylvia’s Soul Food Restaurant
Women’s Day Magazine
Nkiru Books
Black Wall Street
Tom Bullock

Special Guest: Tamika Hall.