In an age where the majority of our cultural discussions take place through smartphone screens, there's a palpable longing for the dedicated salons of old. In those front rooms and bars, visitors crossed boundaries of profession and ideology to parse through the issues of their day. This February, CULTURED partnered with Ten To One to bring this creative space back to life at New York's Georgia Room.
Kicking off Black History Month, Ten To One Founder and CEO Marc-Kwesi Farrell led guests from the realms of fashion, art, food, and design in two nights of discussion and celebration earlier this month. Attendees—including Ralph Lauren’s Joshua Renfroe, actor Sandy Singh, publisher and former Bon Appétit editor-in-chief Dawn Davis, model Taylor Hawkins, artist Nicolas Coleman, photographer Clay Williams, James Beard Award-nominated chef Camari Mick, and more—perused art, listened to music, and sampled the Ciara-owned company’s new Five Origin Select rum. The specialty cocktails were crafted by innovative bartenders AJ Johnson, Kyisha Davenport, and Danamache Terron.
Ten To One, the three-time winner of the LA Spirits Award, was designed to bring Carribean flavors to a wider audience, and has become the fastest growing spirit in its category since its 2019 founding. Five Origin Select, a sipping rum, is the latest addition to the Ciara-owned brand's portfolio.
Inspired by the salons of the Harlem Renaissance, Ten To One's iteration saw Black writers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and other creatives come together to enjoy poetry readings, fireside talks, bartender specials, and the chance to connect face-to-face.
Over the course of the month, Ten To One will continue to host events featuring local talent in activation cities. The initiative goes back to the brand's founding principle, inspired by the words of Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister. The politician once said, “One from ten leaves zero," imparting the importance of collective action.
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