NFL Legend Marshawn Lynch Joins Black Pharo Cognac as Co-Owner and Investor, Fueling National Expansion

Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch partners with premium French cognac brand to bring a bold new identity and 84-proof expression to the U.S. spirits market.

SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Black Pharo Cognac, an emerging premium French cognac brand inspired by the legacy of ancient Africa, today announced that retired NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch has joined the company as a co-owner and equity partner. The strategic partnership marks a significant milestone for the brand as it expands its U.S. distribution footprint and positions itself as a new contender in the competitive cognac category.

Best known for his electrifying NFL career and larger-than-life “Beast Mode” persona, Lynch brings cultural influence, entrepreneurial experience and an established connection with consumers to the growing spirits brand. Unlike traditional celebrity endorsement arrangements, Lynch's involvement includes an ownership stake, aligning his long-term business interests with Black Pharo's development and national expansion.

“Marshawn represents exactly the kind of energy and authenticity we envisioned for Black Pharo,” said Patrick Charpentier, co-founder of Black Pharo Cognac. “He is not simply lending his name to a product. He believes in what we are building, from the quality of the cognac to the story behind the brand. Together, we have an opportunity to introduce something distinctive to an established category and build a brand with lasting cultural and commercial relevance.”

Founded by spirits industry veterans Charpentier and Jerome Hyafil, Black Pharo was created to challenge convention in a category historically dominated by a handful of established French houses. Charpentier previously served as vice president of sales and marketing at Rémy Cointreau and helped create the A. de Fussigny and NYAK cognac brands. Hyafil brings extensive manufacturing expertise from his tenure as chief manufacturing officer at Seagram.
The brand draws its identity from ancient Egypt's Twenty-fifth Dynasty, also known as the Nubian or Black Pharaoh Dynasty, celebrating a legacy of African leadership, power and sophistication. Its distinctive black-and-gold packaging and contemporary positioning aim to connect that historical inspiration with today's diverse generation of spirits enthusiasts.

At the center of the brand is Black Pharo VS Cognac, bottled at 42% alcohol by volume (84 proof), compared with the traditional 40% ABV commonly found in the VS category. Produced in France by SVE/Distilleries de Chevanceaux, the cognac is double-distilled in copper pot stills and aged for a minimum of two years in French oak casks. Its elevated proof is designed to deliver pronounced flavor while maintaining the smoothness and versatility suited to sipping and contemporary cocktails.

The cognac has already earned industry recognition, receiving a 94-point rating from The Tasting Panel in its November/December 2025 issue, which highlighted its approachable character, complex flavor profile and mixability.

“Everyone knows I have an exquisite palate when it comes to ‘yack.’ So when I had my first taste, I was like okay… I’m f’n with it,” said Lynch. “Then I learned more about the product, the team and the vision, took a second to slow down and learn about the history of cognac and why it is what it is and does what it does.”

“Black Pharo has its own story and something a little different to bring to the table,” Lynch continued. “I'm always looking for new ways to build, give back, bring people together… Black Pharo is something I believe in for hella reasons, and this is an opportunity to be part of something from the ground floor. We're putting folks on notice and ready to brick by brick this thing into something that lasts.”

Black Pharo is currently distributed in Texas and Georgia, with Nevada and Washington state identified as subsequent priority markets. In Texas, Black Pharo Cognac is available at major retailers, including Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods and Total Wine & More, expanding consumer access to the emerging premium spirits brand. The company is also pursuing opportunities in California as part of a phased, state-by-state distribution strategy designed to establish meaningful retail and distributor partnerships before accelerating broader consumer marketing efforts. The partnership was facilitated by Maurice Sapp, Lynch’s brother and Strategic Partnerships representative for Beast Mode, who helped align the collaboration with the brand’s long-term vision.

With Lynch joining its ownership team, Black Pharo enters its next phase focused on expanding market access, strengthening trade relationships and introducing a new generation of consumers to its distinctive expression of French cognac.

Crystal Willis
Omni Firm LLC
+1 818-770-4582