Uncle Nearest, Du Nord, other Black distilleries push for diversity

Uncle Nearest, Du Nord, other Black distilleries push for diversity

Uncle Nearest whiskey honors the legacy of Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey.
  • Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man, first taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey, setting the foundation for the iconic brand. But for decades, his story remained hidden.
  • Even among the most well-known brands, historians say Black distillers have rarely received recognition for their contributions to an industry dominated by white men.
  • Today, Black distillers are trying to boost diversity and honor their ancestors’ legacies. “We haven’t even begun the reckoning,” one brand owner says.

Yakntoro Udoumoh spent years trying to break into the alcohol distilling industry.

He first tried to find work at a local rum distillery, but there were no spots open. Then, without the capital to launch a business on his own, he started bartending while waiting for an opportunity.

After five years of bartending, Udoumoh is finally stepping into the distilling business, thanks to a program made to give people of color a chance in what experts told USA TODAY is an industry dominated by white men.


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