The Spirit of Legacy: How UNBRIDLED is Redefining Bourbon with Black Woman Excellence
In the heart of Kentucky, where bourbon is tradition and legacy is inherited, India Robinson is rewriting the script—one bottle at a time. As the founder of UNBRIDLED, Robinson is doing more than launching a new spirit. She’s crafting an experience, a cultural statement, and a powerful answer to the long-standing exclusion of Black women in the spirits industry.
A Certified Bourbon Professional with deep roots in brand strategy, Robinson built her career helping NFL athletes and entrepreneurs transform chaos into clarity, scattered ideas into brand empires. Now, she’s taking center stage with UNBRIDLED—a bourbon brand that refuses to sit on the sidelines.
“I’ve helped others shine in the spotlight. Now it’s my turn,” Robinson said in a recent pitch. “UNBRIDLED isn’t just a drink—it’s here to own celebrations the way champagne once did.”
UNBRIDLED is no quiet craft brand. It brings what Robinson calls champagne energy—a celebratory, vibrant presence—to a traditionally stoic category. Rooted in Kentucky heritage, this bourbon is layered with Robinson’s vision as a Black woman in spirits, creating a product that’s equal parts show-stopping and soulful.
The spirits industry is a $600 billion juggernaut, yet few brands reflect the diverse consumers who drive its growth. Robinson’s mission is clear: claim space at the cultural center of this market, not as an exception, but as a rule.
“Black women in this industry often find themselves on the outside looking in,” she said. “UNBRIDLED is about changing that dynamic—for good.”
Despite accolades, credentials, and a product already winning awards, Robinson’s journey hasn’t been without hurdles. Even after participating in multiple accelerators and raising early funds from a former client, her crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder continues to move slowly—an all-too-common reality for Black women in consumer packaged goods (CPG).
“CPG is capital-intensive by nature. Spirits? Even steeper. Add tariffs and investor bias toward tech and AI, and founder-led consumer brands like mine get overlooked,” she explained.
Robinson has invested six figures of her own money, competed for grants, and landed coveted pitch competition spots. Still, raising capital remains an uphill climb—highlighting the stark funding disparities that persist in CPG for women of color.
With launches planned for Kentucky and Texas this fall, UNBRIDLED is positioned to make waves—and not just on store shelves. For Robinson, it’s about building a brand that lives at the intersection of culture, celebration, and legacy.
“UNBRIDLED is bigger than bourbon—it’s a lifestyle,” she said. “We know what it means to celebrate on our own terms.”
And for a brand rooted in Black woman brilliance, those terms are unapologetic, refined, and unrelenting.
