PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A former Philadelphia Eagle is partnering with a South Kensington distillery to help create more diversity and opportunity in the craft spirits industry.
Retired safety Malcolm Jenkins and New Liberty Distillery plan to make whiskey with ingredients like barley, wheat, rye, and corn, that are sourced exclusively from Black and Latino farmers.
“This venture was a natural fit for me and Malcolm Inc. as our companies are focused on creating equitable opportunities for Black and brown entrepreneurs as well as storytelling,” Jenkins told KYW Newsradio.
“As the first spirit group to source from Black and brown farmers and vendors from grain to glass, we will be creating a delicious scratch-bourbon that will help make serious systemic changes. To be an owner of a spirit that I've come to love makes it even more special.”
The first batch will take at least two years to be ready for consumption, according to Jenkins. In the meantime, the partners have started seeking farmers.
"Ironically, it has not been that easy to find Black farmers that can keep up with our demand, which has been our entire ethos behind what we are doing,” said Jenkins, who retired from football last year after a 13-year NFL career.
Related
“So we have been engaging with farmers as far up north as Maine all the way down through Virginia and some other places and still looking for partnerships, but right now it's looking great."
“Until we started this process, I honestly had no idea how challenging it would be to source yellow dent corn from a Black or Brown farmer — anywhere in the United States,” said master distiller Robert Cassell.
“Almost every other celebrity brand fakes it, they merely white label a spirit and are paper champions. This whiskey, however, will exemplify Malcolm’s altruism through genuine, real, and impactful social change that is long overdue for our industry. In short: we look forward to creating fanciful block chain whiskey, with a social purpose.”
The parent company of New Liberty Distillery, Millstone Spirits Group, said a farmer selling grains directly to a whiskey distillery makes far more profit than selling those grains in bulk to an aggregator. This gives the farmer freedom from commodity pricing.
Farmers interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact New Liberty via email.
Related
