0
0
Whiskey, Legacy & Black Ownership: A Love Letter in Five Pours
Let’s have a little chat over a glass—something smooth, something with a little burn and a whole lot of story. Today we’re not just talking whiskey. We’re talking lineage. Intention. Power. And yeah, pleasure too.
The whiskey game? Historically locked behind closed doors and old money. But times are shifting, and a new wave of Black-owned whiskey brands is not just stepping up—they’re kicking the damn door off the hinges. These are bottles with backbone. With history and heat. With vision.
So if you’re ready to drink with purpose and taste with depth, here are a few Black-owned whiskey brands that deserve a permanent spot on your shelf—and in your story.
🥃 Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
First up, the one that changed the narrative—Uncle Nearest. This isn’t just a brand; it’s a reclamation. Nathan “Nearest” Green was the man who taught Jack Daniel how to distill whiskey. Let that sink in. Now his name is on the bottle, where it always belonged.
Founded by Fawn Weaver, this brand is doing more than honoring history—it’s rewriting it. Every pour is a nod to legacy and a shot of justice.
Try: The 1856. Big flavor, big energy. It lingers—in the best way.
🥃 Du Nord Social Spirits
Du Nord isn’t just distilling spirits—they’re distilling change. Born in Minneapolis and led by Chris Montana, this is America’s first Black-owned distillery.
It’s whiskey, sure. But it’s also community organizing, economic equity, and a masterclass in how to build something that actually matters.
What to expect: Smooth, honest flavor. The kind you bring to the table when it’s time to have real conversations.
🥃 Guidance Whiskey
Guidance is what happens when you mix Southern soul with entrepreneurial grit.
Created by Jason Ridgel in Nashville, this whiskey is for the dreamers and the doers—the ones who pour with intention and sip with reverence.
Notes: Caramel, vanilla, oak, and the taste of ambition gone right.
🥃 HH Bespoke Spirits
Now we’re getting stylish. HH Bespoke is Harlem-born and fashion-forward. If whiskey wore a suit, this would be the three-piece velvet stunner.
Jackie Summers and crew have blended culture, couture, and craftsmanship into something that tastes as sharp as it looks.
Best enjoyed: Neat, slow, with jazz in the background and good trouble on your mind.
🥃 Victor George Spirits (VG Whiskey)
Victor G. Harvey isn’t just making whiskey—he’s building an empire. With plans for a state-of-the-art distillery and community training center in Florida, VG Whiskey is dreaming big and building bold.
This is the future. In a bottle.
TL;DR: Whiskey with purpose. And plans.
So… Why Does This Matter?
Because taste isn’t neutral. Every bottle tells a story, and for too long, Black creators were edited out of the spirits narrative. These brands? They’re flipping the script. They’re pouring legacy back into the glass.
Supporting Black-owned whiskey isn’t a trend. It’s alignment. It’s power redistribution. And yeah—it tastes damn good, too.
Final Sip
Next time you’re shopping for something to sip on, don’t just reach for the familiar. Reach for the story. The resistance. The brilliance. Reach for a Black-owned bottle—and raise your glass like you mean it.
