Interview with Samara Davis, December 10, 2021

Interview Summary

Samara Davis talks about the creation of Black Bourbon Society on Memorial Day 2016. She talks about how she came up with the name for the organization. She talks about the atmosphere in some white male-dominated bourbon groups and her goal of creating a group that did not tolerate that sort of behavior. She talks about the dual purpose of Black Bourbon Society: to create a safe space for African Americans to discuss bourbon, and to show bourbon brands that this demographic exists and should be included in their marketing. Davis talks about the messages she would post in the Black Bourbon Society online group and her goal of educating the members to become more conscious consumers of bourbon. Davis talks about teaching herself to be a bourbon expert. She talks about some of the certifications and other credentials she has earned over the years, including becoming an Executive Bourbon Steward, among other titles. Davis discusses the impact of politics and racial violence on the Black Bourbon Society community. Davis talks about Black Bourbon Society's organizational structure. She talks about the volunteer ambassadors who help run in-person events in various cities across the country. She talks about the importance of maintaining a consistent image for the company across these many ambassadors and events. She talks about how her other organization, Diversity Distilled, aims to increase diversity and inclusion in leadership roles within the bourbon industry. She talks about how including more people of diverse backgrounds in leadership positions can benefit the companies and the consumers. Davis talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Black Bourbon Society. Davis describes how she teaches people to develop their palate for tasting bourbon. She talks about the importance of mentorship, especially in increasing diversity and inclusion within the bourbon industry. Davis describes her daily life and how she balances running the Black Bourbon Society with her family life and her personal well-being.

Interview Keyword

Diversity and Inclusion Black/African American Experience Bourbon Black Bourbon Society Tales of the Cocktail Diversity Distilled Makers Mark Women in the whiskey industry Minorities in the whiskey industry Black people in the whiskey industry

Interview LC Subject

African Americans in the whiskey industry Alcohol industry. Alcoholic beverages. Bourbon whiskey Branding (Marketing) Consumers. Maker’s Mark Distillery Marketing. Sales promotion. Target marketing. Whiskey industry Whiskey industry--Kentucky Whiskey.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.