First Black Owned Bourbon Brand in Tennessee Launches in Nashville

   February 23rd, 2022             Client News

On the Heels of National Cigar Day Nashville Firefighter’s Reverence Bourbon Announces Companion, Infused Cigar

Nashville, TN (Feb. 23, 2022) – Nashville’s newest spirit is Reverence Bourbon, the first black-owned bourbon brand in the state. The spirits startup launched last week with a welcome event at Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar. Home to the most famous bourbon maker in the world since 1866, Tennessee’s rich whiskey history is getting a revamp led by local firefighter and Tennessee State University grad Michael Frazier.

Tennessee’s bourbon history runs deep. Before prohibition, the Volunteer State registered hundreds of distilleries across the state. Today the number is around thirty. The Tennessee Whiskey Trail was established in 2017 and last year, May 21 was declared as “International Tennessee Whiskey Day,” marking 84 years since the state’s repeal of prohibition-era laws. 

“Reverence means deep respect for someone or something,” says Michael Frazier, founder and CEO, Reverence Bourbon. “This bourbon was made for first responders. Reverence is dedicated to giving back to that community, who safeguard our families and our community. We should honor those who protect us in our moments of need.”

Frazier gets his drive to give back from his mother, who served in the military and was deployed after 9/11. Today, Michael Frazier serves as a firefighter with the Nashville Fire Department and is the co-founder of Hydrate the Hood, a local nonprofit.

Reverence is curated from two different aged barrels, creating a blend rich with taste and delivering a unique flavor that cannot be duplicated. Every batch of the locally made bourbon is aged in brand new charred oak barrels, with a precise corn to rye ratio and a touch of barley that delivers the premium oak flavor that bourbon aficionados desire. Tasting notes include caramel, maple, and kettle corn as well as chocolate, malt, and oak. The finish is smooth and refreshing, with a hint of fresh cut spearmint. In addition to launching the spirit, Reverence Bourbon also announced the launch of a companion, handmade cigar crafted with Nicaraguan tobaccos and a Sumatra wrapper, each imbued with Reverence Bourbon.

Launch event attendees included actor Timon Kyle Durrett (Cheaper By the Dozen (2022), Queen Sugar), Jason Ridgel, founder of Guidance Whiskey and spirits mentor, H. Beecher Hicks, III (Henry), President & CEO of the National Museum of African American Music, Don Hardin, President of the Don Hardin Group and Tequila Johnson, co-founder of The Equity Alliance. 

Reverence Bourbon and cigars will be delivered direct to consumers via online sales and available at local retailers, as well as bars, restaurants, country clubs, private clubs and nightclubs in Nashville and Memphis. By March, Reverence will be available to ship to 46 states. 

The brand’s local launch partners include Casa De Montecristo Cigar Lounge, EG&MC Cocktail Bar, The Tennessee Tribune-Nashville Airport, The WKND Hang Suite, Minerva Cocktail Lounge, Willie B’s Restaurant, The W Hotel, The Loews at Vanderbilt Hotel, Lighthouse on the Lake Private Club, The Smashin’ Crab, Alley Pub, R&R Liquor Store, and LaVergne Depot Liquor Store.

Learn more: https://www.reverencebourbon.com/ 

High-res images of the launch event are available here.

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