The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative is a project of Jack Daniel Distillery and the Nearest Green Distillery to further diversity within the American whiskey industry. Both companies are supporting it equally with an initial combined pledge of $5 million to help create the Nearest Green School of Distilling, develop the Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) for apprenticeships and establish the Business Incubation Program (BIP), focused on providing expertise and resources to African Americans entering the spirits industry as entrepreneurs. This program is exciting and seems to be meaningful. We talk to Katherine Jerkens from Uncle Nearest , Amit Singh, and Kevin Larkai about the program, how they feel about it, and where their companies are going. Amit Singh and Marcin Malyszko, Mission Craft Cocktails Listen to Amit on the podcast. Kevin Larkai of Blackleaf Organic Vodka Katherine Jerkens from Uncle Nearest Get full access to Tip of the Tongue at tipofthetongue.substack.com/subscribe