Uncle Nearest, a Black-owned spirit company, just acquired Square One Organic Spirits. In 2004, Square One became the first company that exclusively produced USDA certified organic spirits and was the first organic rye vodka brand, the company states.
Last year, Uncle Nearest acquired Domaine Saint Martin, an estate with over 350 years of history and a connection to cognac-making luminaries. Now, the company is adding another pillar to their spirits house: vodka.
“In 2020, I expressed our vision for Uncle Nearest to not just be a brand, but to become the first spirits conglomerate in America founded by a woman or person of color,” stated Fawn Weaver, Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, in a news release. “Many saw this as wishful thinking since we were only three years into our journey at the time.”
Square One to Debut New Spirits
Under the new partnership, Square One will introduce a new line of organic, gluten-free options designed to appeal to a broader consumer base, the company states. Evanow will continue to play a leadership role, ensuring the brand’s principles remain at the forefront of its expanded operations. A rebranding of Square One Organic Vodka, led by The Formulation Group, will be unveiled prior to expanding into all 50 states this summer.
“While we have really loved being an independent brand so that we could focus on quality organic ingredients and unique flavor profiles, the intense demands of handling nearly all sales personally underscored the need for stronger backing,” said Evanow in the release. “Uncle Nearest will not only preserve our independent spirit and world class quality, but also bring the robust sales and distribution capabilities we need to reach our full potential.”
