For many in the Caribbean diaspora, rum punch is more than a drink—it’s a memory of family gatherings, beach limes, Carnival weekends, and the feeling of home.
That sense of connection is what LinkUp Rum Punch carries forward, standing out in a market crowded with overly sweet mixes and mass brands while keeping Caribbean spirit at its core.
Created by New York–based entrepreneur Mariam Fedai, LinkUp Rum Punch offers a cleaner, ready-to-pour Caribbean classic, made with precision and purpose rather than excess. The product launched nationwide online in July 2025 under Fedai’s LuxeLink Beverage Company, after several years of post-COVID development.
Inspired by her love of fresh cocktails and deep Caribbean roots, Fedai set out to fill a clear gap: a natural, ready-to-drink rum punch. Her vision became LinkUp Rum Punch, a shelf-stable blend of tropical fruit juices, rum, and bitters, bottled at 20% alcohol by volume and positioned between beer or wine and hard alcohol.
“It’s simple,” Fedai said. “You shake it, pour it over ice, and enjoy.”
What separates LinkUp from most pre-mixed cocktails is intention. The drink contains only naturally occurring fruit sugar, is gluten-free, and avoids the heavy sweetness common in ready-to-drink options. Rather than promoting it as “healthy,” Fedai focuses on “mindful consumption.”
“There’s no such thing as a healthy alcoholic drink,” she said. “But if I’m going to indulge, I want to know what I’m putting into my body.”
That philosophy has resonated with consumers in the Caribbean diaspora and beyond. Since launch, LinkUp Rum Punch has expanded to New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California, with Atlanta and New Orleans planned for 2026. The product has gained a following in restaurants, hotels, yacht clubs, boat shows, and coastal settings where tropical culture and relaxation meet.
“Once people taste it, they understand the difference,” Fedai said. “The brand has grown because people share it the same way they share moments — organically, through friends and community.”
While not Caribbean by birth, Fedai’s personal ties, Trinidadian family, and years of Caribbean travel shape her connection to the region.
“The Caribbean is where I find peace,” she said. “I have spent most of my adult life traveling throughout the Caribbean. Each island has its own rhythm, its own culture, and its own version of rum punch. That diversity inspired this drink.”
Instead of reinventing rum punch, Fedai chose to honor it. LinkUp’s “One Caribbean” blend draws on recipes from across the region, using tropical fruits and Angostura bitters to reflect both shared roots and each island’s unique culture.
“I’m not trying to change what rum punch is,” she said. “I’m trying to elevate it and make it accessible, so no matter where people are, they can experience the taste of the islands.”
“Formulating something that’s natural, shelf-stable, and authentic almost doesn’t exist in this space,” she said. “So, I thought, why not be the first?”
As LinkUp grows, Fedai plans to offer more flavors and a canned version for casual settings like the beach. She also hopes to dedicate part of her future earnings to Caribbean relief efforts, especially during natural disasters.
“We take so much joy from the Caribbean,” she said. “It’s a place of peace and respite for so many people. If we’re soaking up that culture, that beauty, and that sense of renewal, then we also have a responsibility to give back—especially when the region needs support.”
For Fedai, LinkUp Rum Punch represents connection to culture, community, and meaningful moments.
“I want people to feel like they’re taking a little piece of the Caribbean with them,” she said.
LinkUp Rum Punch stands apart—not just as a drink, but as a promise to honor Caribbean heritage and share its vibrant spirit. In every bottle, it delivers more than flavor: it invites connection, celebration, and the enduring taste of tradition.
