‘The Best Man’ fans attend Sable Bourbon bottle signing in Atlanta
Hundreds of film and beverage enthusiasts lined up in the rain for “The Best Man” director Malcolm D. Lee and lead actor Morris Chestnut’s bottle signing for Sable Bourbon at Camp Creek World of Beverages Sunday afternoon.
Sable Bourbon is a Black-owned-and-operated spirits company formed by Lee, Chestnut, and co-stars Harold Perrineau and Taye Diggs in 2024, two years after the premiere of the Peacock TV limited series “The Best Man: The Final Chapters.”
Several customers purchased the VIP experience that came with two bottles (one signed) and a photo with Lee and Chestnut.
Camp Creek World of Beverages’ general manager, Yolanda Saunders, sent the brand’s Instagram account a message in March to plan a bottle signing after she attended one in Maryland.
By noon, customers were lining up to see Chestnut for the 2 p.m. event.
Union City resident Precious Goodrum said she showed up to see her favorite heartthrob in-person. “He’s a fine, handsome, well-educated, dark-skinned brother, and I love that. I’m at a loss for words, so when I see him, I’m just going to smile and wave,” Goodrum said.
Atlanta native Joy Thrash came with her best friend, Michelle Terrell, and a photo of her posing with Chestnut at a pageant when she was Miss Clark Atlanta University in 1993. She said she joined Terrell for moral support.
“This is monumental. My friend doesn’t really stand in the rain or be in line early. Seeing her excited and happy makes me overjoyed. I’m a fan, but she loves him. I just hope he signs my picture,” Thrash said.
Kristychanel Lindsay brought her 17-year-old son, Michael Jr., with her to purchase Sable as a Father’s Day gift.
“We are big movie watchers, and I’m always introducing him to films that I came up with as a young person. We just watched ‘The Best Man’ movies for the first time a few days ago, and I wanted him to see the talent he just saw on film,” she said.
Time constraints did not allow Chestnut and Lee to pose for photos by the Sable banner with those waiting in line. As Chestnut exited the store, he took the time to take selfies with the remaining customers.
Chestnut, who was named CEO last month, said the men take their collaborative venture seriously. “We already knew we had great chemistry in working with each other, so we were in sync with no crazy arguments about the tasting, labeling and bottling. We have been a part of all aspects of producing this beverage,” Chestnut told UATL.
The bottle signing wasn’t Lee’s only stop in Atlanta. He was the only male presenter on a panel about adapting literature into film and television at Black Romance Book Fest, a weekend conference for Black novelists and avid readers at Omni Hotel at Centennial Park.
Atlanta-based cinematographer Crystal Power was a unit photographer on Onyx Collective’s “Reasonable Doubt” and BET Plus’ “Diarra from Detroit,” both scripted programs co-starring Chestnut.
Power said Chestnut sets an example for the entertainment community to constantly evolve.
“With artificial intelligence and strikes, it was a wake-up call. I’m proud of him diversifying his portfolio, because when you’re in the entertainment industry, you’re an entrepreneur. He’s showing people that you can do more than one thing and not allowing the industry to box him in,” Power said.
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.