In recent years, consumer preferences in spirits have shifted significantly toward sustainability and health-consciousness. Kevin Larkai and Monté Burrow recognized this trend when creating Blackleaf Organic Vodka, their premium spirit that delivers superior taste while maintaining environmentally responsible production standards.
Blackleaf Organic Vodka emerged not from boardroom calculations but through serendipity during Larkai’s early fortuitous travels to Cognac, France. While exploring the historic region, an unexpected meeting connected him with the owner of a fifth-generation Cognac house, who became instrumental in shaping the foundational concept for what would later become an award-winning spirit.
Global Connections
Having no background in beverage production, Larkai discovered a passion for creating a distilled liquor that combined quality with sustainability. His 10-year career in finance, which included managing Fannie Mae’s asset portfolio, equipped him with robust knowledge of capital markets and financial forecasting abilities – skills that would prove invaluable when launching and scaling the beverage brand.
“Every few years the products we consume change,” says Larkai. “I figured, why can’t I be the one to dictate what becomes staples in our society?”
The global prominence of vodka as the leading spirits category provided considerable business opportunities, notwithstanding its competitive marketplace. Without the multi-year aging requirements of whiskey, rum, or Cognac, Larkai could rapidly iterate Blackleaf Organic Vodka’s formula to achieve its unique taste while building a market presence.
As the concept evolved, Larkai realized he needed industry expertise to bring his vision to fruition. He connected with Monté Burrow, a seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience working with notable companies like Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company.
The introduction came through a mutual friend who arranged a meeting where Burrow was immediately impressed by the product’s quality and packaging despite seeing it as not yet a fully developed brand.
“I knew Kevin’s product had tremendous potential from day one,” Burrow recalls. “I was confident his product development acumen combined with my engineering and marketing background would lead to a powerful partnership.”
The Organic Vodka Difference
When creating their brand identity, the founders deliberately chose a name with dual significance. “Black” evokes sophistication and elegance to consumers, positioning the product in the premium category. “Leaf” represents the organic purity of their ingredients and process. Together, these elements create a corporate persona built on the fusion of premium quality and organic values.
“If you saw a black leaf in nature, that would stand out to you,” Larkai explains. “The vodka category is a sea of clear bottles, so we wanted to create something that looked completely different.”
The French-crafted organic vodka was a labor of love, involving countless refinements to attain the perfect balance of smoothness and character. It wasn’t until 2019 that they officially launched Blackleaf Organic Vodka as a market-ready product.
As Black entrepreneurs breaking into the spirits industry, the founders’ initial foray into the market was met with resistance. Larkai and Burrow faced numerous obstacles in their quest for distribution, with potential partners consistently turning them down.
Despite these challenges, the determined duo eventually adapted by becoming their own distributors, selling bottles directly to consumers. This approach, though arduous, offered an incomparable learning opportunity in all aspects of the industry.
Blackleaf Sets A New Standard
“Making Organic Sexy” serves as Larkai and Burrow’s distinctive tagline and mission to reshape how consumers view sustainable spirits. Blackleaf’s certification requires strict adherence to standards prohibiting synthetic pesticides, herbicides and GMOs at every production stage. Rather than positioning their product as merely a healthier alternative, the entrepreneurs focused on creating a premium experience that rivals any top-shelf vodka.
Blackleaf Organic Vodka’s sustainable philosophy manifests even with its bottle design. Moving away from the standard clear glass dominating the vodka category, Larkai and Burrow present their product in an eye-catching black bottle with a faded gradient effect.
The spirit inside delivers a parallel surprise, as new customers consistently remark on the smooth taste experience that lacks the harsh burn characteristic of most vodkas.
“We’ve created a silky-smooth vodka with gentle sweetness that carries undertones of peppercorn, pear and a creamy nutty finish,” Burrow describes. “People are never expecting a straight vodka to taste like this. The response we typically get when somebody drinks it is ‘wow’ – over and over again.”
For those eager to experience this smooth profile, Larkai and Burrow recommend trying the Blackleaf Punch:
- 1.5oz Blackleaf Organic Vodka
- 4oz Grace’s Sorrel Ginger
- 1oz Pineapple Juice
The superior quality of their organic vodka has earned widespread industry recognition, marked by a Double Gold designation from the Testing Alliance and both Platinum and Best in Class acknowledgments at the New York Tasting Competition. These achievements confirm the exceptional quality of their product while cementing their standing as producers of excellence in the spirits world.
Larkai and Burrow have built their strategy around bringing their organic vodka to a wider consumer base. Regardless of earning top honors at prestigious competitions, Blackleaf maintains a price point below many competitors in the premium organic vodka space.
This decision reflects the founders’ belief that exceptional quality should be available to mainstream consumers without the premium price tag typically associated with high-end spirits.
“As we’re building, we’re breaking down barriers,” says Larkai. “The goal is to keep those barriers broken for those who come after us.”
A Toast to the Future
Finding Blackleaf Organic Vodka becomes easier as the brand extends its distribution network. The award-winning spirit is now available in DC, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Delaware and North Carolina, with shipping capabilities to more than 30 additional states through direct website orders or ReserveBar.com.
Larkai and Burrow have also secured prominent placement in over 150 VAABC locations, all Total Wine stores across their current markets and throughout participating Hyatt Hotels. Under their umbrella company, Proof Theory, Larkai and Burrow aim to develop a world-class portfolio of brands, potentially expanding into gin, ready-to-drink beverages and wines.
“The future Monté and I envision involves Blackleaf sitting confidently alongside established century-old brands, proving that newcomers can have just as much impact in the industry,” says Larkai.
For retailer locations and more information about Blackleaf Organic Vodka, visit their website or stay connected through their Instagram and Facebook profiles.
By Marcus Avery Christon
