Our story

Whiskey Brown’s history is steeped in my youth and flavored by my past. Its origins began when I was only 14 and looking to earn money as most kids do. Instead of just earning a wage I created a company. A cookie company that over the years has grown as I’ve grown. From its humble beginnings in our basement kitchen, offering chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, to its present iteration of gourmet cookies such as The Hemmingway, a whiskey and toffee cookie, which has become the hallmark of Whiskey Brown today. 

Little did I know that almost 30 years ago when I sought to earn extra money that I was learning the building blocks of commerce. Whiskey Brown recipes are a mélange of flavors and spices that draw from my many travels, life experiences and a love of literature that yield taste experiences that are second to none. I believe that Whiskey Brown helped to keep me focused, off the street and placed me on a pathway to success. As such, Whiskey Brown continues to give back to urban communities and charitable organizations that seek to encourage and empower at-risk youth and minorities with a bent towards entrepreneurship. – D’Arun Brown, Proprietor 

Why Whiskey?

Why not! While the alcohol does bake off the flavors from the barrel remain. All the profiling from the charred oak wood, extracting the grains used. All this creates wonderful robust sugars, coconut, vanilla and sweet flavors that remain in our cookies. 

How do I decide what is created next?

Discovering and creating a new recipe can be as simple as the melding of two flavors in my imagination, or a conversation or simply from eating something as simple as blueberry pancakes and realizing that it would be better as a cookie. Whatever the source: life, literature or love for food, I labor over the flavor pairings until I’ve created the ultimate flavor profile.

It started with The Hemingway Cookie

The Hemingway is our signature cookie and was created because I first sought to create a cookie that was meant for adults but could be enjoyed by anyone. With a glass of Whiskey in hand, I stood creating a batch of cookies and I questioned what would make them better. Staring at the glass in my hand I paused. Before I knew it I was pouring the whiskey into the batter. I then added toffee. And the rest as they say is history. The Hemingway was born.