Dorinda Medley Reveals How Jay-Z Inspired Her Bourbon Company

Dorinda Medley recently launched her latest venture, Bluestone Manor Bourbon — but she was far away from her serene Berkshires home when the idea came to mind. 

"I went to an incredible Jay-Z party before COVID, and I was sitting downstairs [at the club], and all the women were drinking dark liquor," The Real Housewives of New York City alum recalled to CNN Business. "I was thinking there was something incredibly powerful about it … we think of [dark liquor] as a male thing, but it's a huge growing market for women."

Shortly after that night, Dorinda pondered her next steps in business and mused, "What would I see at my bar at Bluestone Manor?" Because she didn't want her product to be "another Housewife brand," she considered, "What lives beyond the Housewives? What goes with my lifestyle and who I am?"

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The evening at Jay-Z's party was part of what led Dorinda to find the answer. In 2021, she launched Bluestone Manor Bourbon, a whiskey that's bottle design, ingredients, flavors, and smells are all inspired by her cozy, colorful home.

Although Dorinda wanted to create a high-end product, she also prioritized ensuring it came at a more affordable price point. "Luxury is in the mind, not in the dollar sign," said Dorinda, who will appear on Season 2 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in the Berkshires. "Keeping it under $50 means it's accessible to people and it allows people to feel like they have a little part of Bluestone Manor and a little bit of luxury."