Friday Jan 17, 2025

From Big Brands to Boutique Spirits: The Untold Story of Blacklisted Brandy with Draga Culic

In this episode of Proof University we’re joined by Draga Culic, the founder of Blacklisted Brandy, to uncover her inspiring journey from corporate powerhouse to boutique spirits innovator.

With a career spanning industry giants like Diageo, Bacardi, and Jim Beam, Draga reflects on how her extensive experience laid the foundation for her leap into entrepreneurship. But it was a personal trip to Serbia in 2018 that truly ignited her passion for bringing “Rakia”—a traditional Serbian fruit brandy—into the modern craft spirits world.

Draga talks about:

The process of crafting four distinct fruit brandies—apricot, pear, quince, and aged plum—and why she decided to launch them all at once.
Challenges of starting small in a competitive industry and staying true to her brand’s values of authenticity and transparency.
The bold meaning behind the name "Blacklisted" and how it reflects her journey of doing things differently.

If you love stories of risk-taking, cultural connection, and innovation, this episode is for you. Draga’s passion for celebrating her heritage while creating something fresh and modern is a powerful reminder of how tradition and creativity can come together to shape something extraordinary.

Tune in to hear how she’s redefining the spirits industry with vision, heart, and a taste of Serbia in every bottle.

Available now on: Spotify, Youtube and Apple podcast.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome & Origins of Blacklisted Brandy

01:30 Discovering Serbian Brandy

03:41 Launching & Challenges of Entrepreneurship

08:15 The Meaning Behind the Name

18:06 Expanding Distribution & Market Growth

26:39 Consumer Response & Transparency

35:56 Future Vision & Closing Thoughts

-----------------------------------

👋 Hey! I'm Justin Obey and I'm the founder of Obey Creative. We help adult beverage brands pull off the shelf and build communities of raving fans without competing on price. Ask me about our latest offer: The Social Advantage Blueprint. Within 30 days, you'll go from your love hate relationship with social to pure love with a strategy that will help you build an iconic brand.

If you're ready to stop competing on price and start building a lasting brand, reach out now to hear how The Social Advantage Blueprint can transform your strategy.