7 Black-Owned Whiskey Brands That Should Be on Your Radar
Black distillers have lent their knowledge, expertise and invaluable contributions to the whiskey world for centuries. According to whiskey and food historians, Tennessee’s Lincoln County Process, which implements charcoal filtering to imbue whiskey with a smooth and mellow flavor, would arguably not exist without the contributions of Black distillers like Nathan “Nearest” Green. Yet, the majority of the stories of Black distillers and their contributions to the whiskey world remain untold.
The spirit of change is in the air, however, and Black-owned distilleries are rapidly becoming key movers and shakers within the beverage industry.
Many of these brands are contributing to the spirits landscape, not just in terms of crafting excellent whiskey but also in terms of social advocacy. February is Black History Month, making it the perfect time to amplify these incredible Black-owned whiskey brands that should be celebrated and enjoyed all year long.
7 Black-Owned Whiskey Brands You Should Know About
Uncle Nearest — Tennessee
(Photo: Uncle Nearest)
Learn More
Uncle Nearest’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Founded in 2016, this successful whiskey brand is thriving under the savvy leadership of Fawn Weaver and the expert craftsmanship of the first Black, female master blender, Victoria Eady Butler, who also happens to be Nearest Green’s descendant. Nearest Green was a gifted distiller and an enslaved man who worked on a preacher’s farm in Lincoln County. He would use sugar maple charcoal to filter his whiskey and was said to have mentored Jasper Newton — or Jack Daniel. He was the first master distiller at the Jack Daniel distillery. This whiskey is a celebration of his legacy and a testament to his story.
With a cornucopia of rye, single-barrel and small-batch whiskeys priced within the $50 range, Uncle Nearest has won over 550 awards since it debuted in 2017. Uncle Nearest has earned accolades like “Spirit Brand of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast and won countless awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The brand also strongly believes in giving back. In January, Uncle Nearest announced plans to raise $1.4 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which are still often underfunded. The challenge will take place through Juneteenth, and $1 will be donated to the universities for any bottle of Uncle Nearest or Old Fashioned featuring Uncle Nearest purchased at participating retail shops and restaurants.
Eric LeGrand Bourbon — Kentucky
Learn More
Long before he entered the whiskey world, Eric LeGrand played college football for Rutgers. In 2010, LeGrand suffered an injury that caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down. An unstoppable force, LeGrand learned about the Kentucky bourbon industry and launched Eric LeGrand Bourbon alongside Brian Axelrod, who brings experience from Beam, D’ussé Cognac and Proper No. Twelve. in March 2023. He aimed to show the world that people with paralysis can still enjoy life’s pleasures.
The 88-proof bourbon is available from the brand’s online shop for $45.52, and we reviewed it here. After distillation, Eric LeGrand Bourbon spends two years aging in charred oak barrels. For every case of bourbon sold, Eric LeGrand Bourbon donates $5.20 to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to help find a cure for paralysis.
In July, the brand signed a multi-year partnership with Rutgers Athletics sporting events. “Rutgers made me who I am today,” LeGrand explained when the partnership was announced. LeGrand is described by Rutgers Associate Athletic Director of Brand Marketing and Business Development Lisa Tirrell as “one of the greatest ambassadors for Rutgers Athletics” and “an inspiration.”
Brough Brothers — Kentucky
Learn More
Brothers Victor, Bryson and Christian Yarbrough made history in July 2021 with the launch of Brough Brothers Bourbon, the first Black-owned distillery in Kentucky.
Brough Brothers Bourbon is priced with accessibility in mind at under $30. The 82-proof bourbon is described by the brand as possessing a floral, rose-driven nose with some orchard fruit, like apples and nutmeg. On the palate, there is more tree fruit interlaced with ginger and nutmeg.
As far as operations go, the business is family-run. Bryson makes the bourbon, Chris is responsible for marketing and branding, and Victor handles distribution and supply. The Brothers expressed goals of breaking the glass ceiling and encouraging other Black entrepreneurs that with hard work, success within the whiskey world is possible.
“It’s possible with hard work, diligence, consistency and not giving up,” Victor said, according to the Courier Journal. “Know you’re going to take some losses, but you know those are learning points. You can do whatever you want to do.”
Shadow Ridge — California
Learn More
Shadow Ridge Spirits Company is run by a husband-and-wife team: Sean Hallman and Lisa Ireland. Hallman is a Navy veteran who the SD Voyager reports was an “avid homebrewer” before venturing down the distilling path. In an interview with the outlet, Hallman claimed the biggest challenge to owning and operating a distillery was getting his foot in the door. The couple spends their weekends distilling at their facilities based out of Oceanside, San Diego. Shadow Ridge produces small-batch spirits, including bourbon, rye, peated single malt and an American single malt. The brand additionally distills rums and is currently working on a gin.
In an interview with The Coast News, Hallman describes Shadow Ridge as “truly a passion project” because he loves experimenting with distinctive grains. Working as a small-batch distillery allows him to change his mashbill whenever. As far as grains go, Hallman expresses an affinity for working with German malts in particular, though other malts — such as Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt and Cherry Wood Smoked Barley — can be found in the brand’s distinctive mashbills.
It’s clear Hallman brings his brewing knowledge to the distillation process, as malt selection plays a pivotal role. Hallman claims the whiskeys are “100 percent grain to glass” and aged in American White Oak barrels. These 90-proof specialty whiskeys are available in 375-milliliter bottles with a suggested retail price of $35.
Fort Mosé Whiskey — Florida
Learn More
Victor George Spirits is the brand behind the award-winning Fort Mosé bourbon brand. Victor Harvey, the founder and CEO, firmly believes in telling the important story behind this brand. In the 1720s, Fort Mosé served as a place of refuge for enslaved individuals escaping other states like the Carolinas and Georgia. In 1738, the governor declared Fort Mosé to be the first free Black town in the U.S. This bourbon brand pays homage to this important part of history.
With a mashbill of corn, rye and malted barley, Fort Mosé was aged for four years and is described by the brand as containing aromas of cocoa, custard, cinnamon, caramel and barley. Fort Mosé won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023. The brand additionally has an American rye whiskey available online.
Harvey explains on the brand’s website that when he entered the spirits industry, there were very few Black-owned spirits brands, and his goal is to grow the brand to be the largest Black-owned spirits company in the world. In June, Victor George Spirits made a $10,000 donation to the Fort Mosé Historical Society, according to Patch. According to the article, Harvey’s bourbon brand donated $1 from every bottle sold of Fort Mosé 1738 bourbon.
“To make history, and be a part of American history which is why we choose the names we do for our brands,” Harvey explains.
Birdie Brown Whiskey — Montana
Learn More
Birdie Brown was an African American woman who homesteaded in Montana and made her own liquor during Prohibition. As one of the original “grain-to-glass” spirits producers, she grew her grains and distilled safe and smooth-sipping “hooch,” according to the brand.
Yet, the story of this female distilling force was lost to history until the minds behind Henderson Spirits Group decided to bring Birdie’s story to light. Henderson Spirits Group was founded by 12-year NBA veteran Alan Henderson. Henderson mentions that in 2014, he was in a liquor store and was surprised he couldn’t find a bottle with a label displaying a person who looked like him. He became determined to change that.
The Birdie Brown label features Birdie’s Plain Hooch and Straight Wheat Whiskey. Birdie’s Plain Hooch is made with wheat, oats and barley exactly how Birdie used to make it, according to the brand. Birdie’s Straight Wheat Whiskey is aged for 3 years and incorporates a mashbill of wheat grown on a family-run farm in Montana, oats and barley.
Greenwood Whiskey — Georgia
Learn More
This whiskey brand takes its name from The Greenwood District, which was historically part of “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the early 1920s, 600 thriving and successful Black-owned businesses operated in Greenwood, marking the largest amount within the U.S. at the time.
This whiskey brand is a symbol of excellence and a liquid celebration of all the successful Black entrepreneurs of history. Greenwood Whiskey was founded by Sheldon Johns-Harris, Che Bailey, Kweillin Gordon and James Roach. After a stint in the corporate world, these four entrepreneurs wanted to do something a bit more fulfilling, which segued into the creation of Greenwood Whiskey, according to Voyage Atlanta.
The brand has three whiskeys in its portfolio at the moment, Greenwood Rye Whiskey, Greenwood 1906 and Greenwood Celebration — a Canadian whisky. Greenwood’s Rye Whiskey made waves in 2023, earning itself a spot on VinePair’s 30 Best Rye Whiskeys Of 2023. Greenwood Rye Whiskey is also a relatively affordable expression, with an average price of $35.
Follow The Daily Pour:
