Three D.C. residents recently announced the launch of Vascano Tequila, which offers a unique and multifunctional spirit that embodies the intersectional identities of its founders, Vernon Leftwich, Adanna Mbanugo, and Samantha Johnson.
The founders identify as African American, queer and, in the case of Mbanugo and Johnson, female.
In addition to making money, the goal of the business is to redefine the spirits industry with Vascano’s commitment to community, diversity and celebration. The three co-owners are longtime friends who share a love of tequila and wanted to try a venture in that space.
“Tequila is our common ground — it’s the ‘yes’ that brings us together,” said Leftwich, who serves as the business manager. “We wanted to create something that not only celebrated our diverse backgrounds but also brought people together in harmony.”
Leftwich said the brand’s logo is inspired by the West African symbol Akoma Ntoso, meaning “Linked Hearts,” and reflects their vision of unity and understanding within communities.
The co-owners had a previous business venture — Cultural Claw — that served as a nationwide bar crawl that fostered the combination of food service and street art as a testament to community building.
“We always believed in the power of bringing people together,” said Mbanugo, Content and Events manager for Vascano Tequila. “With Vascano, we’re continuing that mission by offering a product that not only tastes great but also represents our values.”
Leftwich, 32, is a graduate of the District’s McKinley Tech High School and Florida A&M University. Johnson, 33, is also a graduate of McKinley Tech. Mbango, 32, is a graduate of Elizabeth Seton High School and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Vascano Tequila participated in the pre-accelerator program sponsored by Distill Ventures through spirits global giant Diageo. Distill Ventures, the world’s first independent drinks accelerator devoted to building and scaling future drink brands, has invested in Vascano Tequila as a part of its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in historically disadvantaged communities.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Distill Ventures and Diageo,” said Johnson, marketing and creative director of Vascano Tequila. “Their support has allowed us to turn our vision into reality and share Vascano Tequila with the world.”
The tequila is available on Vascano’s website and there are plans to sell the product in select stores in the District and Maryland.