Hardware Podcasts

Founder Feature: Emmanuel Waters and Courtney Tucker of Old Hillside Bourbon

The Startup CPG Podcast · 6 Mar 2026 · 35m · Episode 269

What this episode covers

Emmanuel Waters and Courtney Tucker, co-founders of Old Hillside Bourbon Company, discuss bootstrapping their premium spirit brand for six years to tell Black history through products like Last Ride Rye, Trifecta, and Harlem Hellfighters. They explain how leveraging stories of Black jockeys and the Harlem Hellfighters helped them break records as the fastest-selling bourbon in North Carolina despite facing significant barriers in a $40 billion industry where Black ownership is less than 1%. The founders emphasize their commitment to quality and community, aiming to be the best bourbon period rather than just the best Black-owned brand, while navigating a crowded market with limited capital.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Old Hillside Bourbon Company, Buffalo Trace
Products
Last Ride Rye, Trifecta, Harlem Hellfighters, Jack Daniel's

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