Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club Morning everybody. It's the j Envy Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the guy.

Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club Morning everybody. It's the j Envy Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne the guy.

We are the Breakfast Club. La La Rosa is feeling in for Jesson. We got a special guest in the building. We have Fawn Weaver.

We are the Breakfast Club. La La Rosa is feeling in for Jesson. We got a special guest in the building. We have Fawn Weaver.

Welcome the book. Here you guys, somebody, Okay, here we go, there you go four wea Ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome the book. Here you guys, somebody, Okay, here we go, there you go four wea Ladies and gentlemen.

New book out now called Love and Whiskey, The Remarkable story of Jack Daniel, his Master Distiller Nearest Green and the Improbable Rise.

New book out now called Love and Whiskey, The Remarkable story of Jack Daniel, his Master Distiller Nearest Green and the Improbable Rise.

Of Uncle Neris. How are you feeling this morning? Dollars?

Of Uncle Neris. How are you feeling this morning? Dollars?

This has to be here?

This has to be here?

What do you Why did you call the rise of Uncle Nearest improbable? Because when you was up here with maybe a couple years ago.

What do you Why did you call the rise of Uncle Nearest improbable? Because when you was up here with maybe a couple years ago.

Seven years ago, it's improbable because no black person, no person of color, and no woman has ever succeeded in this industry ever, not as a founder. And so it's improbable because I shouldn't be here, This Uncle Nearest should not be where it is when you look at it. Most come into an industry, and even if you come into an industry like the whiskey industry where it's ninety five, one hundred percent dominated by white men. You come in and you already know that you're going to have to play offense and everybody's going to ignore you. Well I had to come in play defense. I was telling a story in the middle of what was then a twenty four billion dollar company, and I was going right in the middle of it and saying, I'm going to add Nearest Green to your story. That put a lot of arrows at me. Well, really put a lot of grenades on me.

Seven years ago, it's improbable because no black person, no person of color, and no woman has ever succeeded in this industry ever, not as a founder. And so it's improbable because I shouldn't be here, This Uncle Nearest should not be where it is when you look at it. Most come into an industry, and even if you come into an industry like the whiskey industry where it's ninety five, one hundred percent dominated by white men. You come in and you already know that you're going to have to play offense and everybody's going to ignore you. Well I had to come in play defense. I was telling a story in the middle of what was then a twenty four billion dollar company, and I was going right in the middle of it and saying, I'm going to add Nearest Green to your story. That put a lot of arrows at me. Well, really put a lot of grenades on me.

But it felt like when you all was here telling the story seven years ago, it was almost like, no, Uncle Nears is actually the beginning, yeah, of the story.

But it felt like when you all was here telling the story seven years ago, it was almost like, no, Uncle Nears is actually the beginning, yeah, of the story.

It was like now bringing everybody back home.

It was like now bringing everybody back home.

That's what it felt like to me, because people might not know what you're talking about because you're seven years old with seven years when you came up here. So break down what Uncle Nearest is it and explain what Charlamage is talking about.

That's what it felt like to me, because people might not know what you're talking about because you're seven years old with seven years when you came up here. So break down what Uncle Nearest is it and explain what Charlamage is talking about.

It all right, it's got the bottle, So this is the bottle. So this is Uncle Nearre's premium whiskey. It is the most awarded bourbon of the last five years in a row worldwide. It's about to be six. That also is improbable because we're coming into an industry that's been dominated by the same people for hundreds of years, and it became the fastest growing still is bourbon or American whiskey in US history. And Uncle Nearest is the first known African American master distiller. His name is Neares Green. His legal name was Nathan, but we don't use Nathan because he didn't use Nathan. Any document on him that he was involved in post slavery, he didn't use Nathan, which it was very common if you were given a name that after you were free, if you didn't like the name, you changed the name. So he went by Nearest. His kids called him Nears, his grand kits called him Nears, So we call him Nearest Green. But now, when this came out, it was the first time an African American was ever commemorated on a spirit bottle. And when we opened Nearest Green Distillery, it was the first time ever that a distillery had been named after an African American.

It all right, it's got the bottle, So this is the bottle. So this is Uncle Nearre's premium whiskey. It is the most awarded bourbon of the last five years in a row worldwide. It's about to be six. That also is improbable because we're coming into an industry that's been dominated by the same people for hundreds of years, and it became the fastest growing still is bourbon or American whiskey in US history. And Uncle Nearest is the first known African American master distiller. His name is Neares Green. His legal name was Nathan, but we don't use Nathan because he didn't use Nathan. Any document on him that he was involved in post slavery, he didn't use Nathan, which it was very common if you were given a name that after you were free, if you didn't like the name, you changed the name. So he went by Nearest. His kids called him Nears, his grand kits called him Nears, So we call him Nearest Green. But now, when this came out, it was the first time an African American was ever commemorated on a spirit bottle. And when we opened Nearest Green Distillery, it was the first time ever that a distillery had been named after an African American.

Now, seven years ago, you explained it a lot. What got you into doing this with people that don't remember the interview.

Now, seven years ago, you explained it a lot. What got you into doing this with people that don't remember the interview.

When you get yeah, yeah, it really was cementing the legacy of Nares Green. So my mother's a teetotler, so she said she really wished he made lemonade, and quite frankly, if he had made jeans or like Lucille's down in Houston. I don't know if you all have been down there, but Lucille's down in Houston. Her family argues, her descendants argue that Pillsbury is using her recipe, that they reverse engineered it because she refused to sell it to them, And so you have those types of stories that have been in American history forever. Now we actually had a company that was willing to admit that they're founding that there was an African American, an enslave man that would was at least the teacher of Jack Daniel. And then after that became, after he was free, became the first master distiller.

When you get yeah, yeah, it really was cementing the legacy of Nares Green. So my mother's a teetotler, so she said she really wished he made lemonade, and quite frankly, if he had made jeans or like Lucille's down in Houston. I don't know if you all have been down there, but Lucille's down in Houston. Her family argues, her descendants argue that Pillsbury is using her recipe, that they reverse engineered it because she refused to sell it to them, And so you have those types of stories that have been in American history forever. Now we actually had a company that was willing to admit that they're founding that there was an African American, an enslave man that would was at least the teacher of Jack Daniel. And then after that became, after he was free, became the first master distiller.

Can you break down the whole Jack Daniels of it all? Everybody knows Jack Daniel, YEA, yeah, down.

Can you break down the whole Jack Daniels of it all? Everybody knows Jack Daniel, YEA, yeah, down.

Like why he's.

Like why he's.

Because Nearest Green was the teacher of Jack Daniel. He was a teacher, He was the mentor before this story came out, before I did the research and brought the researchers together, Jack Daniels, the company didn't realize that Distillery number seven ever existed. Their records only went back so far, and so they're looking at it and looking at their distillery number. I said, no, no, no, you got to take that back. Old number seven was the actual distillery and Nearest Green is the only known master distiller for Distillery number seven. So when I came to this story, the very first thing that I did was by that original property where Distillery number seven was, where Jack grew up, the three hundred and thirteen acres above Lynchburg, Tennessee. Because that allowed me to start piecing the story together and and to be able to I mean, coming into a story that is so iconic. Jack Daniels is an ubiquitous brand around the world, and I was coming in and saying, not only was an African American there at the beginning of it, but Jack treated him fairly. And you're talking about the south Lynchburg, Tennessee, and for a person to be treated as an equal that was a black person, that was unheard of. But here was this this So this is in the nineteenth century, so everywhere from about fifty six, eighteen fifty six into until Jack died in nineteen ten. Because I know what prohibition too, because a lot of people will hear this story and say, who if he treated him nicely, why did you have to go back and say, check out the stillary number seven? But were prohibition, there were so many different things that happened where they made it where like after the like with when Harlem Renaissance came along, and like just the political powers that black people couldn't say, oh I did that, well in this instance it was a little different. So in this instance during prohibition, prohibition was twenty years in our country nineteen twenty years, but in Tennessee it was thirty. They started ten years before, so most people don't know that Jack Daniels moved to the loop. Jack Daniels was in Saint Louis for ten years, gotcha, and leading up to prohibition. So on the other side of prohibition, it reopens, but it's in so much trouble. Jack's nephew is in trouble. So they eventually had to sell it to another company. It's under that company's watch, gotcha that the story disappeared, But under Jack and his descendants they made sure. So when you look at this photo. The reason why I started this book with this photo is Jack Daniel didn't just put a black man to his right in nineteen oh four, he seated the entire center position of the photo to the black man. So that was Jack's way of saying, America's gonna try to write you out. I'm not gonna allow him to wow. And then his biography written in nineteen sixty seven, high to the civil rights era, and you have Nears and his boys mentioned more times than Jack and Jack's own family. And so you knew that Jack wanted us to know. So not only was he here at the beginning, don't ever forget it. And so that's the reason why the story mattered to me. If this was another one of the stories where African Americans were done wrong and we were like pushed to the side, this story would have had no interest to me. We have enough of those stories. Yeah. What interested me about this story is I felt as though it was a story that we may have been treated right, and I wanted to prove it if it was true, because if we don't have any hope, like if every story we hear, we don't have anything to go toward, If every single story lacks hope, then we just walk around here thinking, well, it's always been terrible, It's always going to be terrible. But if every generation we can find those glimmers of hope that move us forward, then we know where we're going.

Because Nearest Green was the teacher of Jack Daniel. He was a teacher, He was the mentor before this story came out, before I did the research and brought the researchers together, Jack Daniels, the company didn't realize that Distillery number seven ever existed. Their records only went back so far, and so they're looking at it and looking at their distillery number. I said, no, no, no, you got to take that back. Old number seven was the actual distillery and Nearest Green is the only known master distiller for Distillery number seven. So when I came to this story, the very first thing that I did was by that original property where Distillery number seven was, where Jack grew up, the three hundred and thirteen acres above Lynchburg, Tennessee. Because that allowed me to start piecing the story together and and to be able to I mean, coming into a story that is so iconic. Jack Daniels is an ubiquitous brand around the world, and I was coming in and saying, not only was an African American there at the beginning of it, but Jack treated him fairly. And you're talking about the south Lynchburg, Tennessee, and for a person to be treated as an equal that was a black person, that was unheard of. But here was this this So this is in the nineteenth century, so everywhere from about fifty six, eighteen fifty six into until Jack died in nineteen ten. Because I know what prohibition too, because a lot of people will hear this story and say, who if he treated him nicely, why did you have to go back and say, check out the stillary number seven? But were prohibition, there were so many different things that happened where they made it where like after the like with when Harlem Renaissance came along, and like just the political powers that black people couldn't say, oh I did that, well in this instance it was a little different. So in this instance during prohibition, prohibition was twenty years in our country nineteen twenty years, but in Tennessee it was thirty. They started ten years before, so most people don't know that Jack Daniels moved to the loop. Jack Daniels was in Saint Louis for ten years, gotcha, and leading up to prohibition. So on the other side of prohibition, it reopens, but it's in so much trouble. Jack's nephew is in trouble. So they eventually had to sell it to another company. It's under that company's watch, gotcha that the story disappeared, But under Jack and his descendants they made sure. So when you look at this photo. The reason why I started this book with this photo is Jack Daniel didn't just put a black man to his right in nineteen oh four, he seated the entire center position of the photo to the black man. So that was Jack's way of saying, America's gonna try to write you out. I'm not gonna allow him to wow. And then his biography written in nineteen sixty seven, high to the civil rights era, and you have Nears and his boys mentioned more times than Jack and Jack's own family. And so you knew that Jack wanted us to know. So not only was he here at the beginning, don't ever forget it. And so that's the reason why the story mattered to me. If this was another one of the stories where African Americans were done wrong and we were like pushed to the side, this story would have had no interest to me. We have enough of those stories. Yeah. What interested me about this story is I felt as though it was a story that we may have been treated right, and I wanted to prove it if it was true, because if we don't have any hope, like if every story we hear, we don't have anything to go toward, If every single story lacks hope, then we just walk around here thinking, well, it's always been terrible, It's always going to be terrible. But if every generation we can find those glimmers of hope that move us forward, then we know where we're going.

Well, got you into spirits.

Well, got you into spirits.

Nares Green so cementing his legacy originally book movie, right, super simple. But if I were to, well, you all in this room, you might know. But if I go in and I have a room, and I have a thousand people in that room, and I'm talking to them and I say, how many people saw Hidden Figures? Ninety nine percent of the room hands up right? If I said, name for me the three women who were the hidden figures, played by Taraji p Henson, Otavia Spencer and Janelle Monnet, you were the first person to ever sot why because.

Nares Green so cementing his legacy originally book movie, right, super simple. But if I were to, well, you all in this room, you might know. But if I go in and I have a room, and I have a thousand people in that room, and I'm talking to them and I say, how many people saw Hidden Figures? Ninety nine percent of the room hands up right? If I said, name for me the three women who were the hidden figures, played by Taraji p Henson, Otavia Spencer and Janelle Monnet, you were the first person to ever sot why because.

My daughter wants to be an astronaut.

My daughter wants to be an astronaut.

That's why counted in the story. Because he always has this wealth of information. That's but in a room like that, nobody can never name. So we all walk into a movie theater and we walk out remembering the same people we knew before we went in. And so if we wanted to make sure that this story one hundred years from now, someone wasn't having to uncover it again. Then we had to do with Johnny Walker, Jim Bean and Jack Daniel. Why why do we all know who those people are because we're watching them every time we go into a bar, we see that.

That's why counted in the story. Because he always has this wealth of information. That's but in a room like that, nobody can never name. So we all walk into a movie theater and we walk out remembering the same people we knew before we went in. And so if we wanted to make sure that this story one hundred years from now, someone wasn't having to uncover it again. Then we had to do with Johnny Walker, Jim Bean and Jack Daniel. Why why do we all know who those people are because we're watching them every time we go into a bar, we see that.

I mean, that's how I feel about Uncle Nears now, because I'm walking through the airport and i see big Uncle Nera's signs and I'm just like, oh wow, I wanted to ask you, like, the fastest growing whiskey in history US history, right, You've been named on the fours listen is the richest self made woman in America for tween twenty four. Uncle Nera's has a one point one billion dollar valuation. What do you contribute to success? Because you know, we live in the era of everybody want to be an entreprene everybody want to be a boss. You actually did it in a very successful way. What do you contribute to success?

I mean, that's how I feel about Uncle Nears now, because I'm walking through the airport and i see big Uncle Nera's signs and I'm just like, oh wow, I wanted to ask you, like, the fastest growing whiskey in history US history, right, You've been named on the fours listen is the richest self made woman in America for tween twenty four. Uncle Nera's has a one point one billion dollar valuation. What do you contribute to success? Because you know, we live in the era of everybody want to be an entreprene everybody want to be a boss. You actually did it in a very successful way. What do you contribute to success?

I contributed it to one real, real simple thing, God, That's right. So a lot of people they want to write God out of the story of alcohol because during Prohibition the Temperance movement decided to tell people that the Bible said that alcohol was wrong. Bible never says it. I would love to go toe for toe to toe with any pastor that claims it. There is not a single scripture that it ever says it. What it talks about is drunkenness. Right, So everything in moderation, including alcohol. But the foundation of this company, the foundation of Uncle Nears, it's God. It is doing what we believe we were purposed to do, which is cement the legacy of Nears Green. But also to show how you can come, how our group, women and people of color can come into an industry that has always locked us out and not only opened the door, but opened the door for everyone to come right behind us. When we came into the industry in twenty and seventeen, the entire industry about ninety percent of the alcohol. Six spirit conglomerates they run everything, Diageo, LVMH, Bacardi. Every time y'all have an alcohol in it, it's mostly one of those. Well, there were no women. It was all every single one of them founded by, owned, by led by white men. When we came in, then Uncle Nearest began to have such a level of success that we weren't supposed to. That all their boardrooms, the conversations were about us as much as it was about their own company, and they started trying to reverse engineer their success, and they realized, wait a minute, this country is fifty percent women. If there are no women in these rooms where the decisions are being made, we're missing a huge part of the buying population. So all of a sudden, three of the women of the six spear conglomber I mean three of the six spear colombers all had women CEOs. What was your fight like? Because I used to work with a Sequila brain and we worked a lot with the distributors and having that relationship, like the people who take it to those bars and we see it is important. What was your fight like in the beginning, just trying to make distributors like make it where they think it's important because you were like, you were kind of like a unicorn in the space. Yeah. So going back to your question, that's probably the smartest thing that we did coming out the gate. Number one. I didn't go with one distributor, the largest distributor in this country asked to take us national. I said absolutely not. I'll give you eleven states. And they're like, it's either all or nothing, and I said, well, that's the easiest decision I've ever made. It's nothing because nobody puts the baby in the corner. And I've seen every black brand that come before me sit in a corner, and I have to believe it's catch and Keell, it doesn't make sense. We can't keep saying that there's not a market for us, And so then we have to ask the question of if the buyers want it, if the consumers want it, then why don't they get it? And so I determined it was the distributor tier. So I told the team number one, I want to be in all fifty states within the first two years, which we did unheard of. But the other thing was I built a distributor network of seventeen distributors. That's so smart. So I could say, hey, California, why are you being outsold by Georgia New York? Why are you being outsold by Tennessee DC. Why in the world are you being outsold by Alabama? Like I can literally it gets them going. But also, and this goes back to your question, is I think the smartest thing that we did, beside having seventeen distributors, where we could do it that way, As I told the team, if we do not hit our goals. Distributors cannot be the reason because everyone complained about distributors. Fifty is going through right now, puff through his lawsuit. Jay did it with his Everyone complains about the distributors. I said, they will not be the reason we don't succeed. So I went to every distributor and I said, I have no expectation from you that except that you will be a high price FedEx. My team will build it. I will be on the ground every single day. But there will come a day where I will let you know when I do expect you to work. But we did all the work for like the first four and a half years, and the fifth year, I said, now is the time I need you. I need you. And so by then we had proved ourselves. Nobody had us in a corner, nobody could put us in a corner, and we had proved ourselves to be valuable enough to them that they would then invest in us.

I contributed it to one real, real simple thing, God, That's right. So a lot of people they want to write God out of the story of alcohol because during Prohibition the Temperance movement decided to tell people that the Bible said that alcohol was wrong. Bible never says it. I would love to go toe for toe to toe with any pastor that claims it. There is not a single scripture that it ever says it. What it talks about is drunkenness. Right, So everything in moderation, including alcohol. But the foundation of this company, the foundation of Uncle Nears, it's God. It is doing what we believe we were purposed to do, which is cement the legacy of Nears Green. But also to show how you can come, how our group, women and people of color can come into an industry that has always locked us out and not only opened the door, but opened the door for everyone to come right behind us. When we came into the industry in twenty and seventeen, the entire industry about ninety percent of the alcohol. Six spirit conglomerates they run everything, Diageo, LVMH, Bacardi. Every time y'all have an alcohol in it, it's mostly one of those. Well, there were no women. It was all every single one of them founded by, owned, by led by white men. When we came in, then Uncle Nearest began to have such a level of success that we weren't supposed to. That all their boardrooms, the conversations were about us as much as it was about their own company, and they started trying to reverse engineer their success, and they realized, wait a minute, this country is fifty percent women. If there are no women in these rooms where the decisions are being made, we're missing a huge part of the buying population. So all of a sudden, three of the women of the six spear conglomber I mean three of the six spear colombers all had women CEOs. What was your fight like? Because I used to work with a Sequila brain and we worked a lot with the distributors and having that relationship, like the people who take it to those bars and we see it is important. What was your fight like in the beginning, just trying to make distributors like make it where they think it's important because you were like, you were kind of like a unicorn in the space. Yeah. So going back to your question, that's probably the smartest thing that we did coming out the gate. Number one. I didn't go with one distributor, the largest distributor in this country asked to take us national. I said absolutely not. I'll give you eleven states. And they're like, it's either all or nothing, and I said, well, that's the easiest decision I've ever made. It's nothing because nobody puts the baby in the corner. And I've seen every black brand that come before me sit in a corner, and I have to believe it's catch and Keell, it doesn't make sense. We can't keep saying that there's not a market for us, And so then we have to ask the question of if the buyers want it, if the consumers want it, then why don't they get it? And so I determined it was the distributor tier. So I told the team number one, I want to be in all fifty states within the first two years, which we did unheard of. But the other thing was I built a distributor network of seventeen distributors. That's so smart. So I could say, hey, California, why are you being outsold by Georgia New York? Why are you being outsold by Tennessee DC. Why in the world are you being outsold by Alabama? Like I can literally it gets them going. But also, and this goes back to your question, is I think the smartest thing that we did, beside having seventeen distributors, where we could do it that way, As I told the team, if we do not hit our goals. Distributors cannot be the reason because everyone complained about distributors. Fifty is going through right now, puff through his lawsuit. Jay did it with his Everyone complains about the distributors. I said, they will not be the reason we don't succeed. So I went to every distributor and I said, I have no expectation from you that except that you will be a high price FedEx. My team will build it. I will be on the ground every single day. But there will come a day where I will let you know when I do expect you to work. But we did all the work for like the first four and a half years, and the fifth year, I said, now is the time I need you. I need you. And so by then we had proved ourselves. Nobody had us in a corner, nobody could put us in a corner, and we had proved ourselves to be valuable enough to them that they would then invest in us.

Wow.

Wow.

I saw for the book that you interviews some people that were one hundred and six years old.

I saw for the book that you interviews some people that were one hundred and six years old.

Nearess's granddaughter was still alive.

Nearess's granddaughter was still alive.

Wow.

Wow.

When nearest his granddaughter was alive, and Jack's great niece was alive. She died at one oh four and nearest his granddaughter died at one o eight. Did they drink whiskey? So here's the deal is. You will find in that book a lot of the African American elders that I interviewed were ninety ninety five and so yeah, whiskey might.

When nearest his granddaughter was alive, and Jack's great niece was alive. She died at one oh four and nearest his granddaughter died at one o eight. Did they drink whiskey? So here's the deal is. You will find in that book a lot of the African American elders that I interviewed were ninety ninety five and so yeah, whiskey might.

Be the key man.

Be the key man.

You know, when you're down South, it's crazy right because they eat everything they say you're not supposed to eat. Her South Carolina eat everything you're not supposed to eat. It's me and they drink kanyak every day or whiskey every day.

You know, when you're down South, it's crazy right because they eat everything they say you're not supposed to eat. Her South Carolina eat everything you're not supposed to eat. It's me and they drink kanyak every day or whiskey every day.

That's me, you know what I'm saying. Bisky every day every day. But it's a moderation. It's a moderation. Listen, if you had poorn to glass, I'd be drinking and it's like ten o'clock in the morning. You no, I'm good. I'm good. But the thing is is that I don't ever drink to a point of being tipsy. Got you. I love to I love it. I love how it brings inhibitions down. I love how you're able have great conversations. But the moment I even feel my head buzz, I will put it down until until it doesn't anymore. So I don't like tipsy, I don't like drunk, but I do love I have I have Uncle Nerris every night.

That's me, you know what I'm saying. Bisky every day every day. But it's a moderation. It's a moderation. Listen, if you had poorn to glass, I'd be drinking and it's like ten o'clock in the morning. You no, I'm good. I'm good. But the thing is is that I don't ever drink to a point of being tipsy. Got you. I love to I love it. I love how it brings inhibitions down. I love how you're able have great conversations. But the moment I even feel my head buzz, I will put it down until until it doesn't anymore. So I don't like tipsy, I don't like drunk, but I do love I have I have Uncle Nerris every night.

How were memories.

How were memories.

His grand His granddaughter's memory was not great, but everyone else's memory was great. And the thing that I love about being able to capture their interviews both I had a crew with me so on video and tape tape recording, and that kind of thing was that so many people between the time I started the research and the time that Uncle Nears came out, or at least the distillery opened, so many of them passed away. And it's almost like they were just holding on to tell their piece of this story and then they're like, Okay, I'm done. And it got to a place where almost every couple of weeks there was another funeral, and so people held on and so I got to capture all of their all of their words in this book.

His grand His granddaughter's memory was not great, but everyone else's memory was great. And the thing that I love about being able to capture their interviews both I had a crew with me so on video and tape tape recording, and that kind of thing was that so many people between the time I started the research and the time that Uncle Nears came out, or at least the distillery opened, so many of them passed away. And it's almost like they were just holding on to tell their piece of this story and then they're like, Okay, I'm done. And it got to a place where almost every couple of weeks there was another funeral, and so people held on and so I got to capture all of their all of their words in this book.

Wow, you know, this story is amazing, but your story is even more amazing. Where you came from and the fact that you left home at fifteen, the fact that you live in homeless shelters, the fact that you decided to start your own is a real a testament to who you are. Because your dad was a writer and producer from Hotown, and you know you could have stayed there.

Wow, you know, this story is amazing, but your story is even more amazing. Where you came from and the fact that you left home at fifteen, the fact that you live in homeless shelters, the fact that you decided to start your own is a real a testament to who you are. Because your dad was a writer and producer from Hotown, and you know you could have stayed there.

But what made you leave home at fifteen?

But what made you leave home at fifteen?

And what said this is what I want to do. I know you said it was a book project and you said, you know, this is what it was. But you didn't get a four hundred million dollar loan or a million that alone, like Donald Trump, like you did this from the dirt in the grond. So break down your story a little bit, because that's the story. I don't think people understand because you didn't get a loan. You didn't say, Dad, let me borrow a couple million, like you grinded for this. And that's what's really impressing.

And what said this is what I want to do. I know you said it was a book project and you said, you know, this is what it was. But you didn't get a four hundred million dollar loan or a million that alone, like Donald Trump, like you did this from the dirt in the grond. So break down your story a little bit, because that's the story. I don't think people understand because you didn't get a loan. You didn't say, Dad, let me borrow a couple million, like you grinded for this. And that's what's really impressing.

Well, they look, people look at my confidence and they assume that it's because I went to some ivy league, and this is sort of the assumption, right, And so when people open up this book and they learn I left out home at fifteen, it was an ultimatum that wasn't necessarily it was my choice, but my parents it was an ultimately.

Well, they look, people look at my confidence and they assume that it's because I went to some ivy league, and this is sort of the assumption, right, And so when people open up this book and they learn I left out home at fifteen, it was an ultimatum that wasn't necessarily it was my choice, but my parents it was an ultimately.

Why did you have to leave? Why did they want you?

Why did you have to leave? Why did they want you?

What was the ultimately strict Christian household? And I just wasn't a child where you could say do it my way, and I wouldn't question it. I questioned everything. I got kicked out of the ninth grade because my teacher told my parents. My English teacher told my parents that she didn't know what kind of day she was going to have in her classroom till I walked through the door. Now, mind you, I was not a popular kid ever. I was never a popular kid growing up, but somehow I will did some level of influence even with people who I wasn't in the popular crowd. Never was. But according to my teacher, if I had questions, and I think what it was is is if the topic we were talking about, I was challenging it and she didn't have an answer, it made her uncomfortable. So then she felt like she lost control of the room. That's really what that was about. But my parents felt the same way. So they would say they're authoritarian. That's normal for African American, especially our parents, our parents, and so they would just say this is what it is, and I'd go, but why is it what it is?

What was the ultimately strict Christian household? And I just wasn't a child where you could say do it my way, and I wouldn't question it. I questioned everything. I got kicked out of the ninth grade because my teacher told my parents. My English teacher told my parents that she didn't know what kind of day she was going to have in her classroom till I walked through the door. Now, mind you, I was not a popular kid ever. I was never a popular kid growing up, but somehow I will did some level of influence even with people who I wasn't in the popular crowd. Never was. But according to my teacher, if I had questions, and I think what it was is is if the topic we were talking about, I was challenging it and she didn't have an answer, it made her uncomfortable. So then she felt like she lost control of the room. That's really what that was about. But my parents felt the same way. So they would say they're authoritarian. That's normal for African American, especially our parents, our parents, and so they would just say this is what it is, and I'd go, but why is it what it is?

And how are you talking back?

And how are you talking back?

Well, yeah, to them, but to me, it was a it was a question, right.

Well, yeah, to them, but to me, it was a it was a question, right.

Legitimate question.

Legitimate question.

It was a legitimate question. And if I hadn't been asking that those questions about the Bible then. I don't think I would know what kind of front to backwards now because I dove in myself because they couldn't answer the questions for me. But they were the Christian leaders. And so it was our way or the highway, and I chose the highway. So that was fifteen. I moved to Jordan Down's, I moved to Watt's home in the Grape Street Cryps, and I was dating a guy from Nicholson Gardens. And I think when I think back of my me growing up, I remember, and that was a bloody war. I mean we're talking about this was the nineties, the bloods and the Cryps. It wasn't you know? It was great saying what Kendrick did and I ruined all the rest of it. I was like, that's amazing because all of them would have shot that place up when I was coming up and Watts and so I would go back and forth between Jordan Downs and Nickoson Gardens, no issues, like I never once felt like I was unsafe. I was very comfortable in those environments, which helps me in the liquor industry. By the way, you to walk in, and so I go there. It's super cutthroat. But also the current liquor industry was essentially founded by the mob, so there's a lot of mob elements that are still a part of the industry to this day. And so that was, you know, being in Watts, and then I was there. I was super comfortable at Jordan Down's. And then I went to a hip hop concert. They called it rapped in, But I went to a rap concert and there was a DJ, and there was a guy who's rapping, just local Watts rapper, and I'm in the crowd right in the kind of front middle. And I will never forget it to this day. Is he literally tells the DJ, stop the music. Stop the music. DJ cuts the music, and he looks at me and he points at me, and he says, we have a half breed.

It was a legitimate question. And if I hadn't been asking that those questions about the Bible then. I don't think I would know what kind of front to backwards now because I dove in myself because they couldn't answer the questions for me. But they were the Christian leaders. And so it was our way or the highway, and I chose the highway. So that was fifteen. I moved to Jordan Down's, I moved to Watt's home in the Grape Street Cryps, and I was dating a guy from Nicholson Gardens. And I think when I think back of my me growing up, I remember, and that was a bloody war. I mean we're talking about this was the nineties, the bloods and the Cryps. It wasn't you know? It was great saying what Kendrick did and I ruined all the rest of it. I was like, that's amazing because all of them would have shot that place up when I was coming up and Watts and so I would go back and forth between Jordan Downs and Nickoson Gardens, no issues, like I never once felt like I was unsafe. I was very comfortable in those environments, which helps me in the liquor industry. By the way, you to walk in, and so I go there. It's super cutthroat. But also the current liquor industry was essentially founded by the mob, so there's a lot of mob elements that are still a part of the industry to this day. And so that was, you know, being in Watts, and then I was there. I was super comfortable at Jordan Down's. And then I went to a hip hop concert. They called it rapped in, But I went to a rap concert and there was a DJ, and there was a guy who's rapping, just local Watts rapper, and I'm in the crowd right in the kind of front middle. And I will never forget it to this day. Is he literally tells the DJ, stop the music. Stop the music. DJ cuts the music, and he looks at me and he points at me, and he says, we have a half breed.

In the house, said me every morning.

In the house, said me every morning.

But ahead, yeah, I've seen all the lights kin jokes. It's so many of them. It's half breathed.

But ahead, yeah, I've seen all the lights kin jokes. It's so many of them. It's half breathed.

I might bring that back.

I might bring that back.

No no, no, don't bring back to do not bring back to Havre on my account. But for the first time, when all those eyes turned to me, I felt unsafe. So I left home because I didn't fit in there. I felt like I fit in and Jordan Down's and that happened, and I was like, oh, I'm not safe here. So I spent the next pretty almost three years living in homeless shelters. I spent my eighteenth birthday at Covenant House. I think y'all have one here in New York. Amazing organization, but that was that was my kind of my upbringing. The thing that's great about Covenant Houses you'd go out, you work. I had four jobs, and you give them your paychecks and it goes into an escro account. And when you had a certain amount of money, you use that money you go and get your own place. So Covenant House allowed me to build the foundation of being able to live on my own. And once I was able to do that, it was kind of off to the races. But I also still didn't know what I was doing. I mean, I was still a kid, so I didn't feel like a kid, but I was still a kid. And I got to twenty years old and I was like, this life is hard, and do I really want to do this for the next twenty years? And I decided no, and I tried to commit suicide, not once, but twice, and I remember, yeah, absolutely, I'm grateful I survived. But the second time, I was laying in the bed and the doctors were around me, and at that time, they would put a tube down your nose and they would pump charcoal into your stomach to absorb the impurities. It's the same thing we do to filter, that exact same thing, and so they would put in to absorb the pure impurities. But I remember laying there and thinking, Okay, I've tried to take myself out twice and I wasn't able to do it. So I came to two conclusions. Number One, I was here for a purpose. I didn't know what it was, but I was going to figure it out and I was going to live my life that way. The second thing was if I couldn't take me out, nobody could take me out. So when you see me walk into rooms, especially in this industry where historically we have done two things, either we shrink or we complain, and I walked into every single room and had every conversation with people in this industry, and they're looking at me like you have not earned your stripes to be able to have a toe to toe conversation with me, and I'm like, I earned my stripes when I didn't die. Beyonce talked about that in DQ when she shot at you out. First of all, how did you feel about that when she shout it you? Yeah, people have been tagging me when her whiskey came out last week. I think I was in London and doing literally because Love and Whiskey dropped in London and I was doing non stop interviews and so people are tagging me with Beyonce situation. And from what I understand from my husband, I have a really beautiful gift at home with her whiskey in it when I get back home, So I'm super excited about that. She gave you guys a really good shout out and talked about how good it was. Yeah, all that, but she also like literally the next question after they asked her about like just navigating business and industry, and she talks about how like when it comes to brands, women have always had to kind of be forced into the face of the brand, but you never like the strategy, the planner and the like the boss of the CEO. So to hear you say that is in line with like she really identifies with your story. Oh no, absolutely, and she's the queen, so you know, we kind of all bow down there.

No no, no, don't bring back to do not bring back to Havre on my account. But for the first time, when all those eyes turned to me, I felt unsafe. So I left home because I didn't fit in there. I felt like I fit in and Jordan Down's and that happened, and I was like, oh, I'm not safe here. So I spent the next pretty almost three years living in homeless shelters. I spent my eighteenth birthday at Covenant House. I think y'all have one here in New York. Amazing organization, but that was that was my kind of my upbringing. The thing that's great about Covenant Houses you'd go out, you work. I had four jobs, and you give them your paychecks and it goes into an escro account. And when you had a certain amount of money, you use that money you go and get your own place. So Covenant House allowed me to build the foundation of being able to live on my own. And once I was able to do that, it was kind of off to the races. But I also still didn't know what I was doing. I mean, I was still a kid, so I didn't feel like a kid, but I was still a kid. And I got to twenty years old and I was like, this life is hard, and do I really want to do this for the next twenty years? And I decided no, and I tried to commit suicide, not once, but twice, and I remember, yeah, absolutely, I'm grateful I survived. But the second time, I was laying in the bed and the doctors were around me, and at that time, they would put a tube down your nose and they would pump charcoal into your stomach to absorb the impurities. It's the same thing we do to filter, that exact same thing, and so they would put in to absorb the pure impurities. But I remember laying there and thinking, Okay, I've tried to take myself out twice and I wasn't able to do it. So I came to two conclusions. Number One, I was here for a purpose. I didn't know what it was, but I was going to figure it out and I was going to live my life that way. The second thing was if I couldn't take me out, nobody could take me out. So when you see me walk into rooms, especially in this industry where historically we have done two things, either we shrink or we complain, and I walked into every single room and had every conversation with people in this industry, and they're looking at me like you have not earned your stripes to be able to have a toe to toe conversation with me, and I'm like, I earned my stripes when I didn't die. Beyonce talked about that in DQ when she shot at you out. First of all, how did you feel about that when she shout it you? Yeah, people have been tagging me when her whiskey came out last week. I think I was in London and doing literally because Love and Whiskey dropped in London and I was doing non stop interviews and so people are tagging me with Beyonce situation. And from what I understand from my husband, I have a really beautiful gift at home with her whiskey in it when I get back home, So I'm super excited about that. She gave you guys a really good shout out and talked about how good it was. Yeah, all that, but she also like literally the next question after they asked her about like just navigating business and industry, and she talks about how like when it comes to brands, women have always had to kind of be forced into the face of the brand, but you never like the strategy, the planner and the like the boss of the CEO. So to hear you say that is in line with like she really identifies with your story. Oh no, absolutely, and she's the queen, so you know, we kind of all bow down there.

There's a few things I got to go back to, at least why did he call you a heavy?

There's a few things I got to go back to, at least why did he call you a heavy?

Just the crazy part is is at that time it sounds funny now, but at that time is when black people we thought we had enough natural SPF where we didn't have to wear it. So I was dang near your complexion at that time. But it was the eyes because because I would literally sit in the sun to get my skin darker because I love that. My eyes were so bright, the darker my skin was, and so my skin was actually much darker complexion, but my eyes were bright green when when my skin was darker.

Just the crazy part is is at that time it sounds funny now, but at that time is when black people we thought we had enough natural SPF where we didn't have to wear it. So I was dang near your complexion at that time. But it was the eyes because because I would literally sit in the sun to get my skin darker because I love that. My eyes were so bright, the darker my skin was, and so my skin was actually much darker complexion, but my eyes were bright green when when my skin was darker.

And the second question, you mentioned niggas and gardens, right, yeah, and you know the niggas and gardens. Did you when you were launching Uncle Nearyth, did you reach out to anybody there, like like a top.

And the second question, you mentioned niggas and gardens, right, yeah, and you know the niggas and gardens. Did you when you were launching Uncle Nearyth, did you reach out to anybody there, like like a top.

Dog or a j Rock?

Dog or a j Rock?

You know those people had capital like when you No.

You know those people had capital like when you No.

So when I began, first of all, I was there, but I like in high school, I wasn't popular, so nobody would know, nobody would know who I am. And and but when I began, she.

So when I began, first of all, I was there, but I like in high school, I wasn't popular, so nobody would know, nobody would know who I am. And and but when I began, she.

Was probably out of it, but she was out of there before before all that.

Was probably out of it, but she was out of there before before all that.

So you're talking. I mean, we're talking about ninety four, ninety so I would have been there around it's gotta be ninety two, right. She was there in ninety two.

So you're talking. I mean, we're talking about ninety four, ninety so I would have been there around it's gotta be ninety two, right. She was there in ninety two.

Definitely, but they didn't have to label successful like they did. She was probably around one time talking about.

Definitely, but they didn't have to label successful like they did. She was probably around one time talking about.

That, but the connection let me let me let me tell you I had I had no, I wouldn't have known like I literally, but I can tell you this. For my Seed series, every black person I pitched turned it down. For series A, every black person except for uh, there's I only have one Devin Johnson, which is mav and Lebron's COO. Yeah, only person, only black person. Series B. I think maybe I picked up maybe one or two. But unfortunately for US, we tend not to believe in US and so we won't invest in US until we've already succeeded. And one of the most frustrating things for me is the only reason I even have African American investors in Uncle Nearst is in one of the series, I gave us a two month head start, get through all the paperwork, look at before I before I opened it up to everybody else. It's the only and I'm so grateful I have incredible investors that I was able to go to them and say, listen, y'all are white, and I actually want my community to also make money off of this. So do you mind standing down on this next investor around and allowing them so they had such a head start, still didn't take the majority of the round.

That, but the connection let me let me let me tell you I had I had no, I wouldn't have known like I literally, but I can tell you this. For my Seed series, every black person I pitched turned it down. For series A, every black person except for uh, there's I only have one Devin Johnson, which is mav and Lebron's COO. Yeah, only person, only black person. Series B. I think maybe I picked up maybe one or two. But unfortunately for US, we tend not to believe in US and so we won't invest in US until we've already succeeded. And one of the most frustrating things for me is the only reason I even have African American investors in Uncle Nearst is in one of the series, I gave us a two month head start, get through all the paperwork, look at before I before I opened it up to everybody else. It's the only and I'm so grateful I have incredible investors that I was able to go to them and say, listen, y'all are white, and I actually want my community to also make money off of this. So do you mind standing down on this next investor around and allowing them so they had such a head start, still didn't take the majority of the round.

I wish you thought we had money back then.

I wish you thought we had money back then.

Do you think that.

Do you think that.

People didn't invest because they didn't believe or at the time, quote unquote, whiskey wasn't as popular.

People didn't invest because they didn't believe or at the time, quote unquote, whiskey wasn't as popular.

Oh no, whiskey was at its height when this came out. So it wasn't It wasn't whiskey. It was that you have a woman in an industry in which never succeeded, a black person, an industry in which never succeeded, not as founder and CEO. And then you have a person who knew nothing about this industry that was about to go toe to toe with a twenty four billion dollar heavyweight in the industry. And so it was such a huge risk. But also I think that a lot of times we just don't believe in us. So if I had been If I had had this exact same story, had this exact same brand, My business plan was fifty pages deep. The swat analysis was no joke. I think if that had landed on desks and it wasn't a black woman, there's a really good shot that black people would have invested. And that's the crazy part. But because we're so new to business, we're so new to succeeding in business, and because we're first generation money and so we feel more comfortable in the things we can see in our garage than we do in a portfolio that is completely on paper.

Oh no, whiskey was at its height when this came out. So it wasn't It wasn't whiskey. It was that you have a woman in an industry in which never succeeded, a black person, an industry in which never succeeded, not as founder and CEO. And then you have a person who knew nothing about this industry that was about to go toe to toe with a twenty four billion dollar heavyweight in the industry. And so it was such a huge risk. But also I think that a lot of times we just don't believe in us. So if I had been If I had had this exact same story, had this exact same brand, My business plan was fifty pages deep. The swat analysis was no joke. I think if that had landed on desks and it wasn't a black woman, there's a really good shot that black people would have invested. And that's the crazy part. But because we're so new to business, we're so new to succeeding in business, and because we're first generation money and so we feel more comfortable in the things we can see in our garage than we do in a portfolio that is completely on paper.

Always say a lot of times we look at I don't want to say low hanging fruit, but a lot of times we invest in what we can see.

Always say a lot of times we look at I don't want to say low hanging fruit, but a lot of times we invest in what we can see.

Right, you always see people investing. It was the everywhere. Yeah, but Crown Royal.

Right, you always see people investing. It was the everywhere. Yeah, but Crown Royal.

But you don't understand it really whiskey. Let's talk about that. That is vodka that is colored and flavored?

But you don't understand it really whiskey. Let's talk about that. That is vodka that is colored and flavored?

You think it?

You think it?

Ask me, has that sat in a barrel? Is it? Because it's so saturating now like it's everywhere that it? Did it start out as a whisky? What are you are you talking about? Crown Row? Yeah? I don't know. I can tell you what it is now. We're taking flavored and colored vodka is what we're having right now. Those in that purple bag.

Ask me, has that sat in a barrel? Is it? Because it's so saturating now like it's everywhere that it? Did it start out as a whisky? What are you are you talking about? Crown Row? Yeah? I don't know. I can tell you what it is now. We're taking flavored and colored vodka is what we're having right now. Those in that purple bag.

Any of these celebrities, especially the ones that you named earlier, reached out to you for advice because you've you've conquered you, you're working you, you you put your foot in these people's asses where they're having a bunch of problems, whether it's a Diddy back then or a Ja or a fifty or Kevin Hard or everybody else that has their own liquor snoop, Has anybody ever reached out to you for advice or help?

Any of these celebrities, especially the ones that you named earlier, reached out to you for advice because you've you've conquered you, you're working you, you you put your foot in these people's asses where they're having a bunch of problems, whether it's a Diddy back then or a Ja or a fifty or Kevin Hard or everybody else that has their own liquor snoop, Has anybody ever reached out to you for advice or help?

So none of those, uh, the people who have reached in to me are generally those who want to start a brand, and their response is always when I say why, it's always Clooney And I'm like, okay, so what is you know about the Cloney deal? And that's it. They don't know. They don't know why that one worked, why that was one out of like easily ninety nine percent plus celebrity brands fail easily in this industry, And everyone keeps pointing to that one, and I'm like, if you're going to point to you have to know why he succeeded. It wasn't just his celebrity and just kind of So I usually spend the whole conversation breaking down for them why that customer goes actually succeeded, And by the time we get to the end of the call, I usually don't see them come out because they don't want to do It's a lot of foot Like when I used to be in the market, I used to always see you in all of my accounts, and I always wondered, like, how did you get It's hard to get an account. I was in those accounts. Yeah you were, and you were. People don't understand there's a business. And when you sit at the bar, you front and center at the bar, people can see you. That means your people are out there doing the work. Absolutely, it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. Yeah, this is not a this is not posted on social media and hold up your bottle, hold up your glass, and you think that. I mean, if you're a big celebrity, a really big celebrity, that will allow you to have a great launch. But the work is not in the launch. The work is how you grow it after the launch. And that's where almost all of them fail.

So none of those, uh, the people who have reached in to me are generally those who want to start a brand, and their response is always when I say why, it's always Clooney And I'm like, okay, so what is you know about the Cloney deal? And that's it. They don't know. They don't know why that one worked, why that was one out of like easily ninety nine percent plus celebrity brands fail easily in this industry, And everyone keeps pointing to that one, and I'm like, if you're going to point to you have to know why he succeeded. It wasn't just his celebrity and just kind of So I usually spend the whole conversation breaking down for them why that customer goes actually succeeded, And by the time we get to the end of the call, I usually don't see them come out because they don't want to do It's a lot of foot Like when I used to be in the market, I used to always see you in all of my accounts, and I always wondered, like, how did you get It's hard to get an account. I was in those accounts. Yeah you were, and you were. People don't understand there's a business. And when you sit at the bar, you front and center at the bar, people can see you. That means your people are out there doing the work. Absolutely, it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. Yeah, this is not a this is not posted on social media and hold up your bottle, hold up your glass, and you think that. I mean, if you're a big celebrity, a really big celebrity, that will allow you to have a great launch. But the work is not in the launch. The work is how you grow it after the launch. And that's where almost all of them fail.

Did Beyonce they reach out?

Did Beyonce they reach out?

No, well years years years, not Beyonce. Let me say that, not Beyonce. Ye.

No, well years years years, not Beyonce. Let me say that, not Beyonce. Ye.

I couldn't tell because the way I mean, the way she shout it out, I couldn't tell if she had spoke to y'all prior to launching her brand or not.

I couldn't tell because the way I mean, the way she shout it out, I couldn't tell if she had spoke to y'all prior to launching her brand or not.

But I can say this, and it's and it's because the person who reached into me had me sign an NDA. That's why I possed. But it was. It was quite a few years ago, and I gave my advice on it. I said, these are the things that will need to happen if it's going to succeed. And and I said, and by the way, I'm around, so any person in this industry who was a woman or personal color will tell you if they reach out to me, I give them all the keys. Everything that I know, I share freely because it's not mine to keep. It's not mine to hold. If the information came to me and it's going to help you succeed, I'm going to give it to you. But you better still do the work right. And so I told them this was probably about four years ago. I told them, as you're working on this project, feel free to reach out to me at any time and I will share with you whatever I know. And I didn't hear anything, so.

But I can say this, and it's and it's because the person who reached into me had me sign an NDA. That's why I possed. But it was. It was quite a few years ago, and I gave my advice on it. I said, these are the things that will need to happen if it's going to succeed. And and I said, and by the way, I'm around, so any person in this industry who was a woman or personal color will tell you if they reach out to me, I give them all the keys. Everything that I know, I share freely because it's not mine to keep. It's not mine to hold. If the information came to me and it's going to help you succeed, I'm going to give it to you. But you better still do the work right. And so I told them this was probably about four years ago. I told them, as you're working on this project, feel free to reach out to me at any time and I will share with you whatever I know. And I didn't hear anything, so.

Woww man, you got a story.

Woww man, you got a story.

That's why you got a book for congratulations on everything.

That's why you got a book for congratulations on everything.

Is one point one B.

Is one point one B.

I need to I want to taste whiskey.

I need to I want to taste whiskey.

I'm not gonna lie, all right, And I've never thought about drinking it before because whenever I think whiskey, I think cowboys.

I'm not gonna lie, all right, And I've never thought about drinking it before because whenever I think whiskey, I think cowboys.

Yeah right yeah.

Yeah right yeah.

But then when y'all got Uncle Neir's, I was definitely appreciative of it and supportive of it, but I just never hasted it, like.

But then when y'all got Uncle Neir's, I was definitely appreciative of it and supportive of it, but I just never hasted it, like.

Really, it took your time. Let me tell you so, I personally I love to drink a neat but it just depends. That's with no ice snow. But a lot of people will put it on a single cube. A lot of people will fashion a cocktail. Old fashion is I.

Really, it took your time. Let me tell you so, I personally I love to drink a neat but it just depends. That's with no ice snow. But a lot of people will put it on a single cube. A lot of people will fashion a cocktail. Old fashion is I.

Was gonna say with meat, but it does old fashionation everything.

Was gonna say with meat, but it does old fashionation everything.

But because there are certain liquors, you drink it when you're eating. Say he look at him, he just goes to the So here's the thing. So here's the thing. I when I did research and I learned how oysters gave us freedom being able to. I determined I was going to find oysters that I like. Now I still don't like most oysters, but I found like two varieties that I like. Because it was so important to pulling us out of poverty. So was whiskey so unlike cotton, unlike tobacco. This was such a highly skilled job that you're talking about. Nearest Green immediately following the Civil War had more money than his white neighbors. It's because he was a distiller. And when you're looking at uncle nearest near St Green, so I should say this, and then I know y'all have to wrap the only difference between Kentucky bourbon and which every single person on a bottle. I don't care who it is, white, male, founded, or led owned all of that. But the only difference between Kentucky bourbon and tennessee whiskey. Number one. This takes longer to make, it's more expensive to make. But it's the process that Nearest Green tot jack. It's the process of taking a traditional bourbon, distill it, running it through sugar, maple, charcoal before it goes into the barrel to purify it. Same thing that was pumped into my stomach, except that wasn't sugar maple, but you know, same thing charcoal, and so that happens beforehand, it goes into the barrel. That process was brought here by the Africans. Wow, that came with us. And so when we're talking about spirit brands in America, if African Americans are going to drink anything, our roots are in whiskey and not Crown Royal Canadian vodka. But like legit whiskey.

But because there are certain liquors, you drink it when you're eating. Say he look at him, he just goes to the So here's the thing. So here's the thing. I when I did research and I learned how oysters gave us freedom being able to. I determined I was going to find oysters that I like. Now I still don't like most oysters, but I found like two varieties that I like. Because it was so important to pulling us out of poverty. So was whiskey so unlike cotton, unlike tobacco. This was such a highly skilled job that you're talking about. Nearest Green immediately following the Civil War had more money than his white neighbors. It's because he was a distiller. And when you're looking at uncle nearest near St Green, so I should say this, and then I know y'all have to wrap the only difference between Kentucky bourbon and which every single person on a bottle. I don't care who it is, white, male, founded, or led owned all of that. But the only difference between Kentucky bourbon and tennessee whiskey. Number one. This takes longer to make, it's more expensive to make. But it's the process that Nearest Green tot jack. It's the process of taking a traditional bourbon, distill it, running it through sugar, maple, charcoal before it goes into the barrel to purify it. Same thing that was pumped into my stomach, except that wasn't sugar maple, but you know, same thing charcoal, and so that happens beforehand, it goes into the barrel. That process was brought here by the Africans. Wow, that came with us. And so when we're talking about spirit brands in America, if African Americans are going to drink anything, our roots are in whiskey and not Crown Royal Canadian vodka. But like legit whiskey.

And people drink I drink old fashion.

And people drink I drink old fashion.

Whiskey is bourbon. It's legally it is bourbon. The only thing is is we have to do an extra step. So since we have to pay for that extra step, we like to make sure people know it's also legally Tennessee whiskey, but this is bourbon.

Whiskey is bourbon. It's legally it is bourbon. The only thing is is we have to do an extra step. So since we have to pay for that extra step, we like to make sure people know it's also legally Tennessee whiskey, but this is bourbon.

Wow. Well, thank you for for everything.

Wow. Well, thank you for for everything.

Congratulations again whiskey. Uncle Near's everything that's right. You are very very inspiring and so many differently and it's not and to me, it's not because of the one point one billion evaluation. It's just because you had a dream and you did not give up on your dream, and it's a dream connected to the ancestors. Because of you, Uncle Near's story will continue to be told. Yes, that's incredible. I feel like that's what we're here to do.

Congratulations again whiskey. Uncle Near's everything that's right. You are very very inspiring and so many differently and it's not and to me, it's not because of the one point one billion evaluation. It's just because you had a dream and you did not give up on your dream, and it's a dream connected to the ancestors. Because of you, Uncle Near's story will continue to be told. Yes, that's incredible. I feel like that's what we're here to do.

Yes, because it is. We're not here to be reservoirs. We're here to be rivers. And my life is a river.

Yes, because it is. We're not here to be reservoirs. We're here to be rivers. And my life is a river.

Forn weave of ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us.

Forn weave of ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you dj V.

Thank you dj V.

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wait to add up to her in the morning. The Breakfast Club, MHM.

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wait to add up to her in the morning. The Breakfast Club, MHM.