Celebrate Black History Month with these Black-owned brands

Uncle Nearest is an award-winning whiskey and America’s fastest-growing whiskey brand led by Fawn Weaver and master distiller Victoria Eady Butler (left). The great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, Butler won "Master Blender of the Year" three times this year from Whiskey Mag, VinePair, and Spirits Business. Its CEO, Fawn Weaver, is also the first Black woman to run a major whiskey or spirit brand. She said it's her way of honoring the man known to some as the "godfather of Tennessee whiskey." Learn more here.

Spirited (heyo) by Robin and Andrea McBride (left), McBride Sisters is the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S. Beyond the wine itself – which consists of their inaugural Reserve Wines, SHE CAN spritzers, Black Girl Magic Wines, and their name’s sake collection – the McBrides have also established the She Can Fund, which provides professional development scholarships for aspiring Black, female leaders. Learn more here.

Started and owned by brothers Christian, Victor and Bryson Yarbrough (left), Brough Brothers is Kentucky’s first Black-owned distillery. Its signature bourbon is known for its golden honey color, medium body flavor and notes of green apple, pear, ginger and nutmeg. Learn more here.

Avec is a Black-owned mixer brand on a mission to “drink better, together.” Their products use 100% real ingredients, low sugar, and (sing it with us) natural botanicals. They're also a part of the 1% for the Planet Program, which was founded to prevent greenwashing (aka cleaning up the planet and stuff). Learn more here.

Founded by Paul Ryan Elliott (left), Loft & Bear’s artisanal vodka is crafted in the heart of downtown Los Angeles arts district in small batches. Distilled from soft, organic winter wheat and California sourced spring water, they hand fill and label every bottle for a true craft experience. Loft & Bear also donates 5% of profits to their partners at PATH and other charitable community events. Not to mention, they have the word “Bear” in their name and we happen to think that’s pretty, prettyyyy cool. Learn more here.

Maison Noir is a two-fold lifestyle project producing both a T-Shirt line and Oregon wines. Founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack (left) in 2007, both ends of Maison Noir incorporate a trademark attitude and personal perspective on wine subculture. The wines are unique and distinctive garage wines, initially created for some of the New York's best restaurants for whom Mack was a sommelier. Learn more here.

"I have always loved the wine and spirits world but when we were thinking of opening I wanted to have something that would be for the community and inclusive of brands that aren't typically carried anywhere else. We have the largest selection of black owned, minority owned, women owned and run wines and spirits in the US.  Being able to highlight these brands is a special part of this experience. A few of my favorites are Esrever, McBride Sisters Collection, La Fete Rose, Lve by John Legend, Uncle Nearest, HH Bespoke Spirits, Wifey brands, Three by Dwayne Wade." – Sunshine Foss, Owner

"A few of our favorite Black-owned brands are Timeless Vodka, Highway Vodka (1st hemp-based vodka), Erma Rose wines (Houston-based all organic fruit wines) and OPP wines from Oregon. We carry many more brands from Bodkin Wines, Still Moon Moonshine & Legendaire Peach Tea Rum, too." – Corey D. McCoy and Nichelle P. McCoy, Co-owners

As a part of our celebration this year, we’re supporting Black Mental Health Alliance. BMHA's mission is to develop, promote and sponsor trusted, culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and vulnerable communities.