Interview with Eboni Major, April 21, 2022

Interview Summary

Eboni Major shares how her drive to pursue opportunities that made her happy led to her turning an internship during her MA program at Alabama A&M into a career in the Bourbon Industry as the first Black female whiskey blender. Along with discussing her process for creating Blender’s select, she also shares other initiatives she started, such as a scholarship, while at Bulleit Distillery. While Eboni says that her internship offered her hands-on training to prepare for whiskey blending, the lack of diversity and inclusion in the Bourbon industry resulted in her having to learn some things via trial and error and deal with microaggressions. Adding to what has been discussed in a New York Times article regarding her lawsuit against Diageo, Eboni explains the importance of resisting efforts to silence her, not only for herself and for others who are experiencing discrimination. She also shares her plans in motion to start her own brand, Major Whiskey.

Interview Keyword

Black female whiskey blender food science Blender’s select Major whiskey The New York Times Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Bourbon industry Women in bourbon Bulleit Distillery Diageo Alabama A&M

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Interview Usage

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