Let’s keep it simple: Black folks have always been in the liquor business.
The roots of Black involvement in the U.S. spirits industry go back to slavery. The enslaved typically made beer and spirits on the plantations. Making whiskey, gin, rum, and other spirits was left to the knowledge and artistry of Black laborers. Once slavery was abolished, that artistry didn’t disappear.
One of the most notorious examples is the recipe for Jack Daniels, which originally belonged to Uncle Nearest. When Prohibition hit, Black distillers continued to influence the underground spirits scene. In Appalachia, moonshining was thriving, and many Black families built their own stills and created recipes that were passed down through generations.
Some distillers became local legends, making high-proof, high-quality spirits that were frequently superior to what their white counterparts were producing. Their skills were uncredited even as their artistry and recipes made others rich. Despite that, we remained an ever-present and vital part of the liquor industry’s DNA.
So don’t get it twisted. It’s vital to honor the contributions of Black distillers — not as footnotes, but as foundational figures.