1. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Founded in 2016 by Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest honors the first documented African‑American master distiller, Nathan “Nearest” Green, who taught Jack Daniel his craft. What began as a mission of historical reclamation has become America’s fastest‑growing whiskey brand and the highest‑selling African‑American founded spirit. With an all‑female executive team and Victoria Eady Butler—Green’s great‑great granddaughter—as master blender, the brand is equally distinguished by awards and impact. Weaver’s broader legacy includes scholarships, a $50 million venture fund, and educational initiatives to diversify the spirits industry.

2. Jack from Brooklyn — Sorel Liqueur

Jackie Summers launched Sorel Liqueur in 2012, inspired by Caribbean sorrel (hibiscus) recipes from his childhood. He became the first Black person licensed to distill spirits in the U.S. post‑Prohibition and weathered setbacks—from Hurricane Sandy to distribution hurdles. His comeback was backed by the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, turning resilience into revival. Sorel’s garnet-hued, spice-laced sorrel liqueur bridges heritage with innovation.

3. Edmond’s Honor Bourbon

Edmond’s Honor is named for Edmond Albius, the Black teenage botanist who revolutionized vanilla pollination in the 19th century. Master blender Tracie Franklin crafted a bourbon that layers cognac-cask finish with Madagascar vanilla, baking spices, and tropical fruit. A sip is a reverent nod to unsung scientific innovation and cultural contribution.

4. Fior Scotch

Created by Eric Dominijanni, Fior Scotch is a rare blend blending technique with memory. The brand evokes scent-based storytelling, drawing on personal nostalgia and expert blending to deliver a Scotch that feels as emotional as it does elevated—a sensorial standout in a traditionally staid category.

5. McBride Sisters (Wines)

Founded in 2005 by twin sisters Robin and Andréa McBride, this brand has grown into the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S. Across collections—from vineyard-standard wines to sparkling lines like Black Girl Magic and eco-conscious canned varietals like SHE CAN—the McBride Sisters champion sustainability, genre-defying variety, and wide accessibility.

These five brands are not marketing vehicles—they’re vessels of identity, pride, and action. Whether resurrecting erased stories (Uncle Nearest), bridging culture and entrepreneurship (Jack from Brooklyn), honoring scientific legacies (Edmond’s Honor), creating sensory memory (Fior), or democratizing wine (McBride Sisters), they’re showing the spirits and wine industries a new way forward.