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There’s something deeply satisfying about pouring a drink and knowing the story behind it. From a whiskey legend reclaimed from history to a tequila built for “the hotties,” these three Black-owned spirits brands are proving that great liquor and great storytelling go hand in hand. Here’s a rundown of what they’re pouring — and why it matters.
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
If you only learn one liquor history lesson this year, make it this one. Uncle Nearest is named for Nathan “Nearest” Green, the formerly enslaved man widely credited as the first known African American master distiller — and the man who is believed to have taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey-making. For more than a century, his role in American whiskey history went largely untold.
That changed in 2017, when entrepreneur Fawn Weaver launched Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to honor him. The brand has since become the top-selling Black-owned spirits brand in U.S. history, with Nearest Green’s own great-great-granddaughter, Victoria Eady Butler, serving as master blender — bringing the story full circle in a way that feels almost cinematic.
Worth knowing: Uncle Nearest is currently navigating a legal and financial dispute, with the company placed into receivership in August 2025 after a lender dispute over loans. Weaver has publicly maintained her ownership and leadership of the company, and the situation is still developing — but the whiskey itself, and the history it tells, remains worth knowing about.
Try it: Look for their flagship 1856 or Premium Aged Whiskey at most major retailers — it’s in over 30,000 stores, bars, and restaurants nationwide.
Chicas Divertidas Tequila — Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion stepped into the tequila game in February 2025 with Chicas Divertidas (“fun girls” in Spanish), launched to coincide with her 30th birthday. Crafted in partnership with Casa Centinela, a distillery with century-plus roots in Arandas, Jalisco, the tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the region’s volcanic highlands.
The brand comes in two expressions:
- Blanco — citrus-forward, with notes of rosemary and green tea
- Reposado — rounder and richer, blending caramelized agave, oak, and warm spice
The bottle design leans into the brand’s playful-but-fierce identity — inspired by the Angel’s Trumpet flower and finished with a dagger-pierced heart cork, a nod to the brand’s “keep it cute, classy, and cut-throat” motto. Megan has been candid that the line was built with her fanbase (“the Hotties”) specifically in mind, designed as something to “share and savor.”
Try it: Available through ReserveBar and at select retailers — the brand’s site also has cocktail recipes, including a spicy jalapeño margarita and a reposado-based paloma.
Earl Stevens Selections — E-40
Bay Area rap legend E-40 (born Earl Stevens) has quietly built one of the most expansive beverage portfolios of any celebrity in the business. He launched Earl Stevens Selections back in 2013 — long before the current wave of celebrity liquor brands — starting with a Function Red Blend named after his hit single, then expanding into Moscato, Chardonnay, and a string of flavored sparkling wines like Cotton Candy, Watermelon, and Mango Peach.
What sets E-40 apart is the sheer scale of what he’s built since: a tequila (E. Cuarenta), a cognac and vodka under the Tycoon label, a bourbon and gin under Kuiper Belt, a line of ready-to-drink cocktails called Sluricane, and a Mexican-style lager, E. Cuarenta Cerveza. He’s been candid about facing early skepticism as a rapper trying to be taken seriously in the wine world — skepticism that faded as the brand kept winning awards and racking up loyal customers who, as he puts it, are fans of the products first and the rap career second.
Try it: Earl Stevens wines are widely available at Total Wine, BevMo, and Costco locations, especially in California.
Why It Matters
Less than half a percent of venture funding goes to Black founders in any given year, and the spirits industry has historically been one of the hardest for Black entrepreneurs to break into and own outright — not just front as a celebrity face. These three brands represent different paths into the business: a historical reclamation project, a celebrity-led startup, and a nearly decade-old hustle that predates the current celebrity-liquor boom. Different stories, same throughline — building something that lasts, and that’s worth raising a glass to.
As always, drink responsibly, and check your local retailers for availability.
