Juneteenth is a national holiday that celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States as well as African American history and culture. Americans have celebrated Juneteenth for generations, but it was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
As Beverage Architects, we're excited to honor this holiday by uplifting the African Americans who've been making bold innovations in the beverage industry for decades. So, we wrote this blog to spotlight five Black leaders who helped shape the world of beverages as we know it.
There are many unsung and unnoticed African Americans who have helped shape the modern world through inventions and skills. Through obscurity, Nathan Green's story was nearly lost to the sands of time. Thanks to the research of 20 Journalists, historians, archivists, archaeologists, conservators, and genealogists, his legacy has been brought to light.
Nathan Green was born into slavery and owned by a preacher named Dan Col. After being freed by the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Green continued to work with Col in his side hustle of distilling whisky. Dan Col took in a boy (later known as "Jack Daniel") who wanted to be involved in the whisky business. Not much older than Jack, Green was charged to teach him the technique of distilling Tennessee whisky. Green derived his method from West Africa, which is called "sugar-maple-charcoal" filtering. It was also known as "the Lincoln County process," a method of distilling whiskey that gave it a unique smoothness. Once Jack got older, he made a career selling whiskey around town and to soldiers during the Civil War. Later on, he bought the business from Dan Col and hired Nathan, or "Uncle Nearest" as he liked to call him, as the first master distiller of Jack Daniel's whiskey company. Jack would later employ Green's sons Eli, Lewis, and George in the business.
Nathan Green's contribution to the whiskey industry went unnoticed for years, but his work in establishing one of the most well-known spirits should be etched into history. His methods were not only innovative beyond their time, but they also stemmed from his African roots that had been ripped away, making his story and contribution more paramount. Thanks to dedicated historians and endorsement from actor Jeffery Wright, Nathan Green was finally given his own whisky brand in 2019 by the Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey company. The premium whiskey has now earned 450 awards for three consecutive years, is available in all 50 states, and has been dubbed on the website as the "Malt Disney World."
Mikaila Ulmer became an entrepreneur at 17 years old and is now the C.E.O. of "Me and the Bees Lemonade." Ulmer's journey began when she was stung by a bee twice and researched ways to ease her pain. She then became fascinated with bees and their vital role in the ecosystem. One day, her parents told her about a Children's Business competition, and Ulmer got the idea to use her grandmother's "flaxseed" lemonade recipe. To make the lemonade more unique, Ulmer thought back to her fascination with bees and decided to use honey as a sweetener rather than sugar. Passionate about the environment and preserving bee populations, Ulmer dedicates a percentage of her lemonade sales to organizations that help save bees. Ulmer's business motto is "Buy a bottle, save a bee."
Me & the Bees Lemonade is now sold in stores across the country. Miakaila Ulmer continually works with environmental organizations such as the Healthy Hive Foundation and has also published a book titled Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid. Her innovations and ideas are not only in the beverage industry but also in the overall preservation of the ecosystem and the bees, which are in danger of extinction.
Marc Farrell, a Trinidadian native, not only crafted a delicious rum from authentic ingredients but also used the spirit to connect people with Caribbean culture and history. As an M.I.T., Cambridge, and Harvard Business School graduate, Marc Farrell became the youngest Vice President of Starbucks. After leaving the position, Farrell became fascinated with rum and the public perception it carried. He wanted to disassociate the spirit from slavery, pirating, and British colonialism and imbue it with proud Caribbean history and culture. From this passion, he founded his own brand of rum, Ten to One.
The flavoring and ingredients of "Ten to One" rum are authentic to Caribbean traditions. His dark rum blends barrel-aged Barbadian, Dominican, Jamaican, and Trinidadian rums with no added flavoring or sugar. The brand's white rum blends Jamaican pot-still rum and Dominican column-still rum with zesty jasmine and honeysuckle.
Marc Farrell is a trailblazer for his company and the rum industry overall by bringing the spirit closer to the culture that helped produce it. He is also using his product to promote other Caribbean artists with clothing brands and musicians associated with the brand, including Ciera and those of the "New Calypso" movement.
Houston, Texas native Tamala Austin is the founder and C.E.O. of a juice and smoothie company known as J.I.V.E. juice, which stands for "Juice Is Very Essential." After receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure, Tamala started seriously thinking about her health and wellness. Around this time, she began making juices and smoothies from natural fruits and ingredients for herself. Eventually, Tamala started selling the juice and smoothies from her Texas home and became famous through word-of-mouth marketing. Austin's beverages grew more popular, and suddenly, J.I.V.E. juice was born! As a certified health professional, Tamala Austin believes, "Your health is your wealth. Your health is our business."
When the company expanded, the J.I.V.E. juice company became the first business owned by an African American to be shelved and stocked in Whole Foods. The mix of ingredients is said to help boost energy, improve digestion, and improve the immune system. The J.I.V.E. team can also customize drinks with the clients' health in mind. They are made with natural fruit ingredients free of additive sugars or fats.
Tamala Austin and her J.I.V.E. company are making strides within the beverage world and capitalizing on a passion for their customers' health. Many brands and companies seek to make a profit, and while J.I.V.E. does charge, it also aims to please and help the customer achieve long-term health and wellness.
An Afro-Latino who grew up in the urban neighborhoods of Washington, Andra Aj Johnson has worn multiple hats within the food and beverage industry since she was 14. Her titles range from cocktail mixologist to managing partner and director of her own restaurant and bar, Serenata. As a hospitality industry leader, Johnson is Level One in the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Cicerone-Certified Beer Server - a few of many accomplishments that demonstrate her wide range of skills and knowledge. She also spearheads an initiative cocktail program called "Back to Black." The program strives to raise funds for overlooked and underfunded organizations in Washington, DC, especially those within predominately Black and Brown neighborhoods.
Andra Johnson is a legend in the food and beverage industry for telling stories through the art of mixology. She loves to use the combination of cocktail ingredients to reflect a culture, a moment in history, or her people. "Crafting cocktails is a gateway to storytelling and collaboration. Each cocktail is imbued with a meaning and a story to tell." Andra Johnson intends to share her industry knowledge and tell more stories in her upcoming book White Plates, Black Faces.
Our company understands the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion not only on Juneteenth but every single day. Beyond these five innovators, thousands of scientists, mixologists, and distillers of color are shaking up the beverage industry. Some of those individuals work here at The Beverage Campus, and we couldn't be more grateful for their contribution! We at Flavorman encourage our clients and colleagues to seek out and honor stories from underrepresented communities that can Change What the World is Drinking.
Do you have a great drink idea? Our team of beverage experts can help you bring it to life-and change what the world is drinking. Get started by filling out this webform or by giving us a call at (502) 273-5214.
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