Episode 61 Turf Club Martini

Feb 14

Ep 61: Turf Club Martini - Conversation with Du Nord’s Chris Montana

Welcome to Season 4 episode 61 of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle

We talk with Chris Montana, founder of Du Nord, Minnesota’s FIRST black-owned distillery. DuNord is a favorite of Uncle Brad's, and it is likely to be yours after hearing Chris’ story and how they operate at Du Nord. We hear how Chris got started, his philosophy on hiring talent and pie, and the foundation they created from the ashes of their business when it burned down during the George Floyd riots of 2020. Oh, and Brad gives us the recipe for the Turf Club Martini

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Get the Turf Club Martini recipe here

Meet Chris Montana, founder of Du Nord

CHRIS MONTANA NEVER PLANNED ON DOING ANY OF THIS.

“It was the high school teacher who saw promise and gave a push. It was lawyerly tenacity, strategy, and happy hour appreciation. It was his ambitious co-founder and spouse, Shanelle. And her family farm, which had enough corn around to make for a few batches. Soon it was Du Nord. And that grew into a team of three, of four, of more. Industry outsiders putting it all in the bottle. But still, Chris was the only Black man in the room at trade events. He decided to make that different. Then George Floyd was murdered in our hometown. Du Nord did what needed to be done. From the fury came the fuel. The team’s action became a Foundation. Both for others and for Du Nord.”

Du Nord Spirits

FOUNDATION VODKA
- Easy on its own, infinitely mixable in any situation.
  Sales support the Du Nord Foundation.
PROMINENCE GIN
- Deeply juniper with a botanical soul.
MIXED BLOOD WHISKEY
- Different is good, even better together.
CAFE FRIEDA COFFEE LIQUEUR
- Made for those who keep us going.
PRONOUNCED APPLE LIQUEUR
- Autumn in a glass, true as September skies.