Written By Tracey Khan
Mariam Fedai, founder and CEO of LuxeLink Beverage Company, created LinkUp Rum Punch, a Caribbean-inspired cocktail that honors culture, connection and shared tradition.
Mariam Fedai did not approach rum punch as a trend to capitalize on. She approached it as something to protect.
A New York–based entrepreneur and founder of LuxeLink Beverage Company, Fedai is the woman behind LinkUp Rum Punch, a premium, ready-to-pour cocktail rooted in Caribbean tradition and guided by intention. Her mission was not to reinvent a cultural staple, but to elevate it, carefully, respectfully, and with purpose.
For many in the Caribbean diaspora, rum punch is not just a drink. It is memory: family gatherings that stretch late into the evening, beach limes filled with laughter, Carnival weekends alive with music, and the unmistakable feeling of home. Fedai understood that emotional weight from the beginning.
“Rum punch represents togetherness,” Fedai said. “It’s about people gathering—sharing space and moments that matter. I was intentional in creating a cocktail that evokes a special feeling and adds meaning to the experience.”
What distinguishes LinkUp is not just taste, but philosophy. The drink contains only naturally occurring fruit sugars, is gluten-free, and is intentionally formulated to avoid excess. Fedai is careful with language when discussing wellness, instead emphasizing what she calls mindful consumption.
“There’s no such thing as a healthy alcoholic drink,” Fedai said. “But there is room for consciousness. If I choose to indulge, it does not hurt to be mindful.”
That clarity has resonated. Since its launch, LinkUp Rum Punch has expanded into New York, New Jersey, Florida and California, with Atlanta and New Orleans planned for 2026. The brand has found its audience in spaces where relaxation and culture intersect, such as restaurants, hotels, yacht clubs, boat shows, and coastal environments.
“Once people try it, they understand,” the businesswoman said. “The growth hasn’t been forced. Its fresh taste has resonated from Gen Z to Gen X, spreading organically across diverse communities.”
As a woman building a spirits brand in a male-dominated industry, Fedai is intentional not only about product, but about leadership. She speaks openly about patience, discipline and resisting shortcuts in an industry often driven by speed.
“Formulating something that’s natural, shelf-stable and authentic almost doesn’t exist,” she said. “So I thought, why not be the first?”
Fedai has been very intentional about her brand and rather than standardizing the drink, she chose to honor that diversity. LinkUp’s “One Caribbean” blend draws inspiration from rum punch traditions across the region, incorporating tropical fruits and Angostura bitters to reflect both shared heritage and individual island expression.
“I’m not trying to change what rum punch is,” she said. “I’m trying to elevate it and make it accessible, so wherever people are, they can experience the taste of the islands.”
For Fedai, LinkUp Rum Punch is more than a business venture. It is a reflection of how women can lead, with care, intention and respect for what came before.
“I want people to feel like they’re carrying a little piece of the Caribbean with them,” she said.
LinkUp Rum Punch launched nationwide online in July 2025 after several years of post-pandemic development. Bottled at 20% alcohol by volume, the shelf-stable blend combines tropical fruit juices, rum and bitters, offering a refined take on a Caribbean classic without the heavy sweetness or artificial additives common in many pre-mixed options.
In every bottle, LinkUp Rum Punch delivers more than flavor. It carries memory, culture and the power of a woman-led vision rooted in connection.
Photography Credit: Leo Lysius
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