OUR WHY
My Why
“Life is the head of everything"
My name, Ndubuisi, literally means “life is the head of everything” in Igbo. It means that as long as you are alive, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to accomplish. My family is originally from Nigeria, and they have blessed me with this name, their work ethic and a wonderful culture. My nickname is Bisi.
From the time I was a small child, I aspired to be a doctor, but this changed in the senior year of my undergrad experience at Howard University.
My mother was an entrepreneur and watching her build a successful company from scratch was inspiring to me. I knew I wanted to be in business and offer something concrete to the world, but I didn't know what that could be. In 2013, a fortune teller read my palm and told me that I would be extremely successful in business. I laughed it off and thought she was just talking.
That very same year, on Twelve, Thirty-One, (New Year’s Eve) I threw party at my house. I wanted to make a well- balanced cocktail where the flavors would not be overwhelmed by the liquor. My friends loved my cocktail and finished it off within 10 minutes! I was unable to recreate the popular beverage that night because I did not have enough ingredients for the recipe.
After the party, I reflected on the night and that I was happy that people enjoyed the cocktail that I made. I had an "a-ha" moment when I realized that this drink was something special. My friends really enjoyed my cocktail, which was not too potent and only delicately sweet.
The very next week I formed a company and refined the product. TWELV 31® was born!
Three years later, October 2017 – during Howard University’s Homecoming Weekend, TWELV 31® VELVET BERRY was released in the nation’s capital.
More recently, in October 2019, we released an unflavored variation called TWELV 31® SILK.
The first store to carry the product was 1 West Dupont Circle Wines and Liquors in Dupont circle in Washington, DC. Presently we are distributed in Washington, DC and Maryland, and expanding to other markets this year.
My dream is that we are available in 50 states and my drinks are making people happy all night long.
By the way, that fortune teller better be right!
Cheers,
Bisi