Two spirits companies, including one Black-owned, will get access to mentorship and networking opportunities as part of a business incubation program from Jack Daniel Distillery and Nearest Green Distillery.

Blackleaf Organic Vodka, a sustainable, USDA-certified organic vodka produced in the heart of the Cognac region of France, will benefit. Meanwhile, Mission Craft Cocktails, created by Amit Singh and Marcin Malyszko, which offers ready-to-pour classic cocktails made with local ingredients and authentic spirits, will also join the program.

“Being selected for the Business Incubation program is a great honour that excites us. It’s humbling to have such iconic brands and their leaders acknowledge our dedication to making Blackleaf Organic Vodka a world-class brand,” Kevin Larkai, co-founder of Blackleaf Organic Vodka, said in a statement.

Monte Burrow, co-founder and former operations and marketing leader for Diageo, said that inequities and barriers prevent BIPOC spirit founders from excelling in the spirits industry.

“Organizations like the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative taking action against them is invaluable,” Burrow said. “We are honoured they have chosen Blackleaf Organic Vodka and humbled to have gained more than a few powerful relationships that will help us show the world how special we know we are.”

Launched in June 2020 by the Jack Daniel Distillery and Nearest Green Distillery, the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative aims to advance diversity within the American spirits industry through its leadership acceleration program, the business incubation program, and the Nearest Green School of Distilling. The business incubation program provides mentorship in all areas of the distilling business, including access to marketing firms, branding executives, expanded distribution networks, and other assets and opportunities for growth.

This is the second year of the business incubator program; Du Nord Social Spirits graduated in 2022.

The first-of-its-kind incubator started with an initial combined $5 million pledge by Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to create the Nearest Green School of Distilling, a STEM-based and employable skills-focused program at Motlow State College and the leadership acceleration program to accelerate the development of future BIPOC master distillers, distillery managers, and other senior management positions.

For Singh and Malyszko, this is a full-circle moment. They met at a charity event and discovered their shared love for giving back. They give back five per cent of their proceeds from sales of their cocktails to California food banks.

“After gaining so much industry insight from the Spirits on the Rise Summit, we are honoured and humbled to have been selected as one of the brands to participate in this year’s incubation program,” Singh said.

Malyszko echoed his sentiments: “Being part of the Business Incubation Program and having the opportunity to lean into the expertise, resources, and industry-leading knowledge of the Jack Daniel’s and Uncle Nearest’s teams will allow us to scale and amplify our mission faster and further than we ever thought possible.”

The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative has also announced the return of its Spirits on the Rise Summit, which will take place on April 15 and 16, 2024. The two-day event will bring together entrepreneurs and industry veterans to commiserate about the future of distilling. Last year, the Spirits on the Rise Summit saw over 200 attendees nationwide.