The 2021 ByBlack Conference at MGM National Harbor was coming up, and Assistant Procurement Operations Manager Deb Robinson began her quest to discover spirits from diverse suppliers that could be featured at a conference happy hour. One brand stood out: Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey. She reached out to Harbor Wines to connect with Owner Chima Burey.
Fast forward to January 2022, when Chima joined Harbor Wines Owner Cristina Tuffs to provide Duke & Dame training to the staff. Afterward, when Deb, Cristina, and Chima were having dinner, the executive chef noticed the whiskey on the table and began brainstorming ideas about including it in his desserts.
Meanwhile, the bartenders got to work doing what they do best: crafting creative cocktails. President/COO Melonie Johnson and VP of Government Affairs Kerry Watson were having dinner nearby and sampled some of the bespoke cocktails. Today, Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey is featured throughout the resort, thanks to a connection made for the ByBlack Conference.
Learn more about supplier diversity at MGM Resorts International and here to learn more about Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Flavored Whiskey.