Podcasts about du nord craft spirits

Safe social space for people of color in America — and Minnesota — can still feel rare. Bars and restaurants are an important part of providing that space. Food writer Mecca Bos spoke to three people of color active in the business side of the Twin Cities bar scene about the places important to them.As a person of color in Minneapolis, when I head out with my friends for a cocktail, I often have much more than what's in the glass in mind. What's the vibe? Who's going to be there, and who's not? Will I feel welcome? And by who's not going to be there, I'm thinking specifically, will there be any Black people, either behind the bar or out front? In 2021 I co-produced an audio documentary, “The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis.” That “Godfather”: Anthony Brutus Cassius, a social activist and a bar owner. His activism was couched in the idea that Black people deserve safe space in America — and in Minneapolis. The safe space he fought to carve out for 47 consecutive years were bars. Social spaces that nobody should have to contemplate living without. Since that time, I've been preoccupied with the question of safe eating and drinking spaces for people of color in the Twin Cities. I've been a food writer here for the better part of 20 years, and I've become overly accustomed to being the only person of color — and certainly the only Black person —  in many bars and restaurants here. I wondered what other BIPOC people in the industry had to say about this issue and I sat down with three of them at bars of their choosing. Elle Rhodes is director of sales for Du Nord Craft Spirits, the only Black-owned distillery in the state, and one of very few in the country. She's also co-founder of Brewing Change Collaborative, a collective that seeks to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the brewing and beverage industry. The organization was formed in 2019 after Rhodes realized she and brewer Ramsey Louder were one of two Black people in the local beer industry at that time. “It really started to grate at me,” she explains, over a Du Nord cocktail at Northeast Minneapolis corner bar institution Grumpy's. “Being in a space where you are an only and you are a unicorn. . . And then you're like, why though?” The “Why, though?” became more amplified when Louder moved to Minneapolis from Michigan to start a brewery here. He looked around and asked Rhodes: Where are all the Black people in this industry? So together, they decided to try and change some things. “And I said, if we're going to do this, this can't be casual, like it can't just be like, and we'll we'll do a little something here, just a conversation, and it's going to fix itself. This is something that's going to require actual effort,” she remembers. That effort blossomed into the collective and Rhodes says they recently had a victory where a person of color came to them without a clue as to how to enter the industry, and now that person is gainfully employed thanks to their efforts. She says it's an exhilarating feeling. Just across the street from Grumpy's sits Hai Hai, a second generation Vietnamese restaurant owned by Christina Nguyen and her husband Birk. The couple opened Hai Hai five years ago in what was once an infamous strip club called the “Deuce Deuce.” Hai Hai translates to the same thing in Vietnamese. Nguyen said she wanted to open something that reminded her of her travels in Vietnam when she opened the bar and restaurant, and that vibe included a spirit of ease, and inclusivity. “I'm always happy and amazed that we do have such a diverse group of people, whether it's age ranges, people of different colors and ethnicities all coming here. We just have a super diverse crowd.” “Super diverse” is not something just any bar in Minneapolis can boast, so I asked her how she thinks she cultivates that. Keeping prices reasonable, channeling a relaxed atmosphere and having a come-as-you-are ethos are all part of it. But I think she might have been leaving something out: the fact that they are a BIPOC owned and operated place with a liquor license, something else that is too rare in Twin Cities bar culture. Daniel Torres is part of the “Behind a Bar collective,” a group of Latinx bartenders and chefs looking to carve out a more inclusive space that celebrates Mexican and Latin culture specifically. He chose to meet up at Meteor Bar, which is not Latinx owned, but does have the same laid back, old school vibes that Rhodes says she likes in Grumpy's, as well as the “all-are-welcome here” spirit.The collective, which meets periodically in rotating spaces and celebrates the work of different bartenders and food professionals each time, is another way to make more space for cultural differences that are not always easy to find around town. “To create a space for Latin American culture, focusing on our traditional roots, our flavors, what it means to be Mexican in our blood,” Torres says of the events. “A lot of that has to do with showcasing our talent with mixology, agave spirits, also Latin American spirits, and just having a great time with everybody — it's a home for everyone, of course.” Anyone who has had a fave neighborhood bar, or has become a regular at one, knows how crucial that space can become for making a home-away-from-home. “Third places” as they are sometimes called: not home, not the office, but a third place that you can call your “own,” make for better community, interaction, identity and simple relaxation. It's crucial that these spaces feel safe, in an America where safe space cannot be taken for granted. Correction (Sept. 12, 2023): An earlier version of this story misspelled Christina Nguyen's name.

Du Nord Craft Spirits is known in the industry as the nation's first Black-owned micro distillery. It's a distinction founder Chris Montana would like to shed. “I'm sick of being the ‘Black' distiller,” Montana says. “I want it to be irrelevant, but the only way to do that is to get more people into the industry.” A year after the Minneapolis distiller nearly burned to the ground when protests turned violent following the murder of George Floyd, Du Nord is poised to take off nationally thanks to a partnership with Delta Airlines that puts its Foundation Vodka on all domestic flights. Du Nord's first Delta order required more proof gallons than the small company had produced in its entire eight-year history. “To make Delta work is a Herculean lift,” Montana said. One that required partners like Jack Daniels to help Du Nord step up its manufacturing. “When Delta Airlines reached out…I told them we hardly have a distillery,” Montana said. “They made it clear they understood this would be a special deal…the business community has stepped up in a tremendous way.” It's the same approach Montana takes to hiring at Du Nord, where the entire leadership team, besides himself, is female and 44 percent of the staff is people of color. “We had to hire people who didn't know everything already. People who didn't have all the skills, but are good people and wanted to work hard. We are a force for diversification in the industry and I hope our model gets stolen.” Getting to this point of being a successful business owner and role model isn't something Montana could have imagined when he was a troubled teen experiencing homelessness. He shares his story of adoption, learning to believe in himself, becoming a lawyer, and then a business founder too stubborn to throw in the towel even when time and again, many around him thought he should. Today, in addition to growing national distribution deals, Du Nord runs a foundation to support its community and is working to create a business incubator for other founders in Minneapolis. “Whenever we took a step toward the community,” says Montana, “good things happened.” Following our conversation with Montana we go Back to the Classroom with the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. Associate professor Nakeisha Lewis, ambassador of diversity, equity, and inclusion, urges companies to examine inherent barriers and think about how to create a more inclusive culture. When it comes to hiring, she says, “Rather than looking for the right degree, think about what unique perspective a person could bring to the role.” Focus on purpose and passion, Lewis says. “When Du Nord leaned into serving first, then they found the profits.”

Our latest guests on The Craft Spirits Podcast are Chris Montana and Maria Kustritz of Minneapolis-based Du Nord Craft Spirits. Kustritz is the distillery's production manager. Montana, who is also ACSA's immediate past president, founded the distillery in 2013 with his wife, Shanelle. During the unrest of the George Floyd protests in late May of 2020, rioters broke into Du Nord's warehouse and set fires. While the sprinkler system prevented the fire from destroying the building, the damage was vast. Fortunately, insurance covered most of the damage, and numerous fundraisers—including one started by the American Craft Spirits Association—helped lead to the formation of the Du Nord Foundation, which addresses racial inequities in the Twin Cities through numerous initiatives. One of those efforts in 2020 disbursed nearly $500,000 in emergency funds to dozens of local businesses. Editor-in-chief Jeff Cioletti spoke to Montana and Kustritz this summer in Louisville, Kentucky, when they were in town for the Heartland Whiskey Competition. They looked back on a dramatic year for the country, Minneapolis and the distillery. They also discussed the dynamics of the team at Du Nord, what it was like for Montana to speak virtually before congress this summer, and some updates about ACSA's STEPUP Foundation.

You probably know Chris Montana's name in connection with Du Nord Craft Spirits and the fact that there wasn't a single trouble from last year that did not darken the door of his distillery. From COVID closure and making hand sanitiser, to the riots and the flames that engulfed Du Nord.But even while assessing the wreckage of his business, it was not on himself where his attentions lay but rather his community and the other makers and businesses around him. In what was left of his warehouse space, Montana set up an impromptu food bank and conducted a fund-raising drive to help other businesses in the area owned by people of colour.  And that desire to focus on those around him has continued as he has taken up the role of Master Blender with a new vodka brand American Liquor Co. We talk to Montana about expert distillers, grains, blends and the sort of Vodka cocktails you should be making. For more information on American Liquor Co, go to https://www.americanliquor.com

Gray Duck Liquors, Twins slide, Gold Corner, Du Nord Craft Spirits, Goldy's Locker Room Talk, Wolves Struggles, Vikings Draft, Wild Away Stretch --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jack-cashman4/support

A recent virtual event centered on the story of a business caught in the middle of shockwaves of destruction following Floyd’s killing—after months of challenges due to COVID-19—and a broader look at the role of clean energy in rebuilding and supporting businesses along Lake Street and beyond. In the first half we speak with Shanelle Montana at Du Nord Craft Spirits, located just two blocks from the third precinct that became to focal point of the nightly damage and destruction in the days after the killing of George Floyd. Shanelle (co-owner with her husband Chris) talks about their attempts and challenges to pursue energy efficiency and solar in the building where they are tenants, what happened in the days around the unrest, and what their future plans hold. Read more

In this special episode, we delve into systemic racism in the United States from an economic lens and bring you three stories from Black entrepreneurs during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the midst of COVID-19. Featuring Kris Shelby of Atlanta's Attom Shop, Chris and Shanelle Montana of Minneapolis's Du Nord Craft Spirits, and Yelitsa Jean-Charles of Detroit's Healthy Roots Dolls. After George Floyd's killing, we felt the need to take action and have our voices heard. We spent months working on an episode exploring and explaining systemic racism from an economic lens. Our goal is to not only give these founders and their stories a platform, but to provide education on the business challenges they had to overcome as Black people in America. To learn more and support these businesses, visit the Attom Shop GoFundMe and the Du Nord Recovery Fund. For more Talk Money episodes and bonus content, visit our website. This episode features: Kris Shelby of Attom Shop, the first Black-owned luxury retail store located in the upscale shopping complex, Shops at Buckhead, in Atlanta, Georgia. Chris and Shanelle Montana of Du Nord Craft Spirits in Minneapolis. Chris is the very first Black owner of a microdistillery in America. Yelitsa Jean Charles of Detroit's Healthy Roots Dolls, one of the first start-up toy companies that creates dolls with diverse skin tones and hair textures to reinforce positive self-perceptions among young girls. https://www.thetalkmoney.com/podcast/black-in-business

In 2013, Chris Montana had a crazy idea to start a distillery in the middle of the city he loved. The goal was to start a family business that would bring together Shanelle Montana's rural upbringing on a Cold Spring, MN farm, and Chris's experience growing up in Minneapolis. The result is Du Nord Craft Spirits, a scrappy distillery born of rural practicality and city vibe. Since 2013, the Du Nord family has grown from those small beginnings; what we do today is a result of the collective efforts of a group of people who bring their unique talents to the Du Nord team. Du Nord is committed to diversifying the craft alcohol community and actively recruits the underrepresented communities of women and racial minorities to join the Du Nord family. Shanelle Montana's path wound from a small farm in central Minnesota to college in St. Paul, and a Masters degree in Washington, D.C. While living on the east coast, she maintained her Minnesota cred: showing the state of Maryland how to fish and finding time to return to the woods for the deer hunting opener. Even though on a daily basis Shanelle focuses on making sure the lights stay on by developing renewable energy projects, she also manages regulatory and reporting requirements and leads Du Nord marketing. Chris Montana grew up in several different neighborhoods in Minneapolis but spent most of his time in South Minneapolis and Prospect Park. Chris attended public schools in Minneapolis and later earned an English degree from the University of the District of Columbia, and a law degree from Hamline University. Chris is still a licensed attorney, but prefers to make booze. Chris's first passion was electoral politics which led to travels all over the country and eventually to work as a congressional aide in D.C. (working for Minneapolis of course). Chris used his organizing skills to convince a smart and sassy intern named Shanelle to give him the time of day; it only took him 7 years. When not making booze or sifting through paperwork, Chris is usually eating a dessert of some kind while playing with his sons. Chris wears many hats but primarily acts as CEO and head distiller. What you'll learn about in this episode: Chris Montana's journey into entrepreneurship How Chris became the first black distillery owner in the U.S. The birth of Du Nord Craft Spirits How Chris responded to the lack of diversity in the spirits industry Chris's experience owning a business that was located in the middle of the George Floyd riots Why Chris founded the Du Nord Foundation How Chris knows he has been successful in the long term Resources: Webiste: http://www.dunordcraftspirits.com/ Du Nord Foundation: https://www.dunordfoundation.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-montana-27a98334/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/du-nord-craft-spirits-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DuNordCraftSpirits/ Twitter: @DuNordCS Entrepreneurship and Activism Full-disclosure—before I had Chris Montana on the show, we were already huge fans of his Du Nord Craft Spirits. That was a great surprise, but Chris's work goes far beyond the bounds of his business. Chris is doing tremendous things in the city of Minneapolis to level the playing field and include disadvantaged communities. He has set out to make an impact through his business and his other endeavors, and in this episode of Intentional Greatness, he joins us to share his story. Chris talks about his journey into entrepreneurship and what it was like becoming the first black distillery owner in the U.S. He explains the different ways he has used his business as a vehicle to make an impact in the community, and what is being done to make the spirits industry more diverse as a whole. The Birth of Du Nord Chris is the founder and owner of the first black-owned distillery in the U.S. After spending a good amount of time in activism and politics, Chris eventually returned to Minnesota with his would-be wife to study law. During that time, he discovered the untapped world of micro-distilleries and saw an opportunity to spark a new trend in the Twin Cities by making great booze. But it quickly turned into something much greater than that, and Chris decided to be a disrupter in an industry where transparency is nonexistent. Diversity is Who We Are When Chris found out how homogeneous the spirits industry was, he was inspired to do something about it. Diversity is not a pin that we wear to a rally, wave our flag, and go home. Diversity is baked into our core. It is who we are and what we do. That notion was put to the test when the George Floyd riots broke out in Minneapolis right near his business. Du Nord was a beacon in the community by that point, and while it suffered some damages, the bulk of the business was unscathed. That is completely unheard of in that part of the city. But since Chris believed so strongly in the cause, he decided to give his business to the community, and the community gave it back to him.

It would have been easy for Chris and Shanelle Montana to close Du Nord Craft Spirits after arsonists set fire to the distillery's warehouse during riots in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis Police four weeks ago. It would have been even easier after more arsonists set fire to their apartment building the next night. They underestimated the Montanas, who not only plan to rebuild their distillery, but their neighborhood as well - and have already raised more than $560,000 with a GoFundMe campaign to help other minority-owned businesses repair their damage and rebuild. We'll talk with Chris and Shanelle on this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Sazerac is expanding its portfolio with the acquisition of Canadian Mist and Collingwood Canadian whiskies, the Canadian Mist Distillery in Ontario, and Early Times from Brown-Forman. As coronavirus fever begins to fade, tariff talk is back in Brussels and Washington, while Beam Suntory is reviving part of the Beam family's legacy as the company celebrates 225 years of making whiskey.

"Nobody wants to see their baby burn," said Chris Montana, founder of Du Nord Spirits, who lost his distillery in the Minnesota riots. A break from regular programming, Fred takes a moment of solidarity and shares a snippet of his recent diversity panel that included Fawn Weaver (New York Times Bestselling Author and CEO, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Clay Risen (Deputy Op-Ed Editor, New York Times), Tracie Franklin (Glenfiddich Ambassador), Melvin Keebler (VP and AGM, Jack Daniel Distillery), Dr. Michael Torrence (President, Motlow College) and Chris Montana (master distiller and founder, Du Nord Craft Spirits). You can watch in its entirety on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-fuH8aSQVhw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic took full hold on the whisky industry this week, as governments not only shut down bars and limited restaurants to take-out and delivery service, but imposed more bans on large public gatherings such as whisky festivals and even closed liquor stores in at least one U.S. state. That's led to tens of thousands of layoffs throughout the hospitality industry globally and economic stimulus programs aimed at mitigating some of the impact. We'll take a look at the big picture and a close-up view as well, including one Minneapolis distillery where the entire tasting room staff was laid off this week. Chris Montana of Du Nord Craft Spirits is still trying to keep production going while also fielding calls from his colleagues around the U.S. as president of the American Craft Spirits Association. Spirits producers have already donated nearly $2 million to help laid-off bartenders and bar workers, and we'll find out where that money is going and how you can help as well.

Under assault from blowing winds, Mary, Scott and Dave hunker down in the Deep Dark Lounge. A shot of bourbon and a glass of refreshing, non-alcoholic sarsaparilla fortify the crew's nerves as they watch and discuss Emma Tammi's 2018 supernatural western horror film, "The Wind".To relieve their sense of isolation and growing despair, they chat about the recent BBC "Dracula" adaptation, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and an alternate universe filled to overflowing with Scott Chesebrough clones. Shudder . . .The cocktail this time out was simply a shot glass of "Mixed Blood" bourbon, created by Du Nord Craft Spirits, the crew's favorite local distiller in Minneapolis. You can contact them here -http://www.dunordcraftspirits.com/

It takes a lot to drag distillers away from their stills, but when the stakes are as high as the current debate over extending a federal excise tax cut for craft distillers - that's enough to put them on a plane for Washington. More than 150 distillers from around the country converged on Capitol Hill this week for the annual public policy conference sponsored by the Distilled Spirits Council and the American Craft Spirits Association. It also gave them a chance to put some pressure on their representatives in Congress to extend that tax break currently scheduled to expire at the end of this year. We'll talk with ACSA President Chris Montana of Du Nord Craft Spirits in Minneapolis and several of his colleagues about the politics of making whiskey on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Diageo now faces strike votes by both unions representing workers at its distilleries and bottling plants in Scotland following a breakdown in contract talks. Beam Suntory is reviving an old name for its flagship Jim Beam Distillery in Kentucky as part of a $60 million dollar expansion plan that will include a new craft distillery named for master distiller Fred Noe. We also have a bunch of new whiskies to talk about, and we'll also look at whether it's possible to distill whisky in space on Behind the Label.

Chris Montana and his wife Shanelle opened Du Nord Craft Spirits and Cocktail Room in 2013 and have been developing award winning spirits ever since.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/StephanieHansen)

Chris Montana and his wife Shanelle opened Du Nord Craft Spirits and Cocktail Room in 2013 and have been developing award winning spirits ever since.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/StephanieHansen)

Chris Montana and his wife Shanelle opened Du Nord Craft Spirits and Cocktail Room in 2013 and have been developing award winning spirits ever since.Support the showFollow the Makers of Minnesota on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @MakersofMN. Send story ideas to Stephanie@stephaniesdish.com If you appreciate the work we do here, please subscribe on Patreon Please subscribe to My newsletter at https://stephaniehansen.substack.com/ so you don't miss an epiosde of the Makers of Minnesota This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 100: This week these two gays and two gals do their first LIVE episode at Du Nord Craft Spirits in South Minneapolis. Topics range from favorite cartoons and yard games to high school crushes and 80s hair bands. Yep, it’s one for the books, folks! With guest host and producer of Brewprov, Leah Isaacson. Don’t let the Minnesota accents fool ya! These two gays and two gals are solving the world’s problems two drinks at a time. Features Strong Language, Mature Themes, and Midwest Advice from the Twin Cities. Drunk-O-Meter Rating: 2 out of 5 Subscribe and rate us on iTunes. Visit our website for more content at http://www.twodrinksinpod.com Like us on Facebook: twodrinksin Email us at twodrinksinpod@gmail.com Tweet us at @twodrinksinpod Make sure to use the hashtag #twodrinksinpod Hosts: D. Marie Long, Dana Severson, Erin Roberts, and James Lekvin Guest Host: Leah Isaacson, Host/Producer of Brewprov Musician: Tanner Jordan Peck Sound: Joel Farren Producer: James Lekvin The Drinks: Minneapolis Mule, Macha Man, and Water (yes, you read that right: water) TDI Sponsor: Burnt Brews - http://www.burntbrews.com Du Nord Craft Spirits: http://www.dunordcraftspirits.com