Equal Access with Chris Montana

Shift Drink

Just a decade ago, Chris Montana opened DuNord spirits. In the ten years since, his role has grown in ways that he could have never imagined. Looking around rooms filled with craft distillers, he noticed that no one looked like him. So he set about to help remedy that through educational programs to teach young men and women of color how distillation works, how 3-tier distribution operates in the United States, and honed their business acumen.

Then COVID-19 hit and brought a new set of problems. But that’s now how Chris saw it. The pandemic shutdowns and subsequent George Floyd protests, literally in his backyard, brought new opportunities for communication and community in Minneapolis and beyond. How he has accomplished all of this and still maintains the quality and service with his distillery is a testament to his tenacity and enthusiasm for the industry.