Food and Beverage
UNCLE NEAREST LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO RAISE $1 MILLION FOR UNDERFUNDED HBCU
The Black-Owned and Led Whiskey Company Will Raise Funds Through Sales of Bottles and Its Most-Ordered Cocktail, the Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the top-selling Black-owned spirits brand in the world, announced the launch of its HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, a nationwide initiative to raise $1 million dollars for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Kicked off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and extending through Black History Month and Women’s History Month in February and March, respectively, the program will raise money to be distributed amongst the country’s top 58 ranked HBCUs to use as they see fit.
Through the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, Uncle Nearest not only aims to raise money for these institutions, but to shine a light on their contributions to workforce diversity and the role they play in economic mobility. HBCUs make up less than 3% of college institutions, but they enroll 10% of all African American students, and produce almost 20% of all African American graduates. These graduates have gone on to hold high income jobs, making up 40% of Black judges, 50% of Black doctors and lawyers, and 40% of Black engineers. Underfunding of HBCUs leads to lower graduation rates due to student debt and lack of resources, as well as causes understaffing and underrepresentation of Black faculty members.
“Many have opinions about Deion Sanders’ decision to move from Jackson State, an HBCU, to Colorado. I will tell you what I know to be true: Coach Prime put a much-needed spotlight on how HBCU programs can compete if they are properly funded,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “He showed us what one person with influence, shining a light on HBCUs, can do to help. Enrollment in HBCUs grew tremendously after Beyonce’s 2019 film, Homecoming. I am certainly no Beyonce, but I have a spotlight on me, and it’s my greatest honor to be able to shift that spotlight where it should be – on our incredible Historically Black Colleges and Universities. When I reached out to share this program, so many of them asked me, ‘What can we do to help?’ I told each of them that I didn’t want them to do anything. It’s our turn to be torchbearers and give back, asking nothing in return.”
The launch date of the Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned Challenge on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, was strategically chosen to spotlight the legacy of HBCUs in the life of one of our greatest American leaders. At the age of 15, following in the footsteps of his father Martin Luther King, Sr., MLK Jr. enrolled at Morehouse College, a historically Black, men’s liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. Both MLK Jr. and Sr. received their undergraduate degrees from Morehouse. The Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned Challenge extends through Women’s History Month as an homage to Spelman College, a historically Black women’s college and the number one ranked HBCU in America.
From January 16 to March 31, 2023, consumers will be able to participate in the challenge in one of four ways:
- For every Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned sold at participating bars and restaurants, one dollar will be donated to the challenge.
- Uncle Nearest will donate one dollar for each bottle of whiskey sold at participating online and brick-and-mortar retail stores.
- ReserveBar will sell Old Fashioned Cocktail Kits, featuring a bottle of Uncle Nearest as well as syrup and bitters from Hella Cocktail Co., the Black-owned bitters and soda company. For every kit sold, both Uncle Nearest and ReserveBar will donate one dollar to the challenge.
- During the time period, brand fans can also submit a photo of a homemade Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned at www.oldfashionedcocktail.com. Uncle Nearest will donate one dollar for each image received.
“As a proud Morehouse Man and member of Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, I’m honored and grateful to work for a company where I didn’t need to go to the leader and say HBCUs need our help,” said W. Jay Madison, IV, Director of Legacy and Strategic Partnerships for Uncle Nearest. “Fawn came to me and said, ‘We have to do something.’ Every one of my team members immediately embraced the mission of this initiative, and our distributors, retail stores and outlets, restaurant, hotel, and bar partners came on board. One million dollars is just the beginning. We expect to see this program get bigger and even better every year, and our hope is other corporations will join with their own initiatives to support HBCUs.”
For more information on the HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge, including a list of participating bars, restaurants, and retailers, and to follow along on the road to $1 million raised, please visit www.oldfashionedcocktail.com.
About Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey honors the world’s first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. It was the first spirits brand in the world to be named after a Black American. The portfolio is the Most Awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, with over 600 awards and accolades since the brand’s 2017 launch, including 406 Gold medals or higher, 71 Best in Class honors and an average critic’s score of 92. Uncle Nearest is currently sold in all 50 states and 12 countries, and is sold in more than 25,000 stores, bars, hotels, restaurants, as well as at its 323-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tenn. For more information, please visit the Uncle Nearest website, and follow on Instagram and Facebook @unclenearest.
SOURCE Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Foodie News
Wingstop Kicks Off Football Season With Lemon Pepper Trio and First-Ever Wing Pass
Wingstop is kicking off football season with two new twists on its iconic Lemon Pepper flavor and its first-ever Wing Pass, offering select fans weekly Watch Party Bundles throughout the regular season.
Two new takes on Wingstop’s popular Lemon Pepper flavor are joining the menu as the chain rolls out a limited-edition Wing Pass aimed at football watch parties.
Football season is underway, and Wingstop is betting that wings will remain a major part of the weekly game-day spread.
The Dallas-based restaurant chain is expanding one of its signature flavors with the launch of its new Lemon Pepper Trio, featuring the familiar Original Lemon Pepper alongside two new variations: Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch and Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze.
The trio will receive an early release for Club Wingstop members beginning Sept. 10 before becoming available nationwide at participating U.S. locations on Sept. 15 for a limited time, according to the company.
Three Takes on Lemon Pepper
Wingstop’s Original Lemon Pepper combines lemon flavor with cracked black pepper in the dry rub that has become one of the chain’s best-known offerings.
The two newcomers take that familiar flavor in different directions.
Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch starts with the traditional Lemon Pepper dry rub and adds crispy Korean chili crunch, introducing additional texture and heat.
Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze goes in a sweeter and saucier direction, combining citrus flavor and sweet heat with crispy Korean chili crunch.
All three flavors can be ordered on Wingstop’s classic wings, giving customers the option of sticking with the original or trying one of the spicier variations.
“Lemon Pepper is an iconic flavor, and Wingstop is proud of the role we’ve played in bringing it to fans around the world,” Wingstop President and CEO Michael Skipworth said in announcing the promotion.
The new flavors arrive as restaurants and food brands compete for a place in one of the biggest recurring food occasions of the fall: football watch parties.
Wingstop Introduces Its First Wing Pass
Wingstop is also taking an unusual approach to football-season promotions with its first Wing Pass, essentially turning weekly wing orders into the restaurant equivalent of a season ticket.
Each Wing Pass provides access to as many as 18 Watch Party Bundles, representing one bundle for each week of the regular football season.
A Watch Party Bundle includes 20 classic wings in as many as four flavors, a large order of fries and a large ranch.
Here’s where the promotion becomes especially notable: Wingstop says the Wing Pass costs $27.99 — the price of a single Watch Party Bundle.
Only 100 passes are being made available.
Club Wingstop members can purchase the limited passes beginning Sept. 10 at noon Central Time through Wingstop’s Wingshop. Passholders will then receive a Watch Party Bundle offer through their Wingstop app account each Sunday morning during the 18-week season, subject to the promotion’s terms and conditions.
With only 100 passes available nationwide, the Wing Pass is less a traditional discount program than a limited promotional event designed to generate attention around Wingstop’s football-season push.
Wings and Football Remain a Powerful Combination
The promotion highlights just how closely chicken wings have become associated with watching football in the United States. Restaurants routinely introduce larger bundles, limited flavors and game-day promotions as fans gather at homes, sports bars and restaurants throughout the season.
For Wingstop, the strategy combines both sides of that equation.
The Lemon Pepper Trio gives customers something new to try, while the Wing Pass encourages the idea of making Wingstop part of a weekly football routine.
Founded in 1994, Wingstop has grown to more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide. The company reported more than $5 billion in system-wide sales during fiscal 2025 and has ambitions of becoming one of the world’s top 10 restaurant brands.
Whether Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch or Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze develops the following of Wingstop’s original version remains to be seen. But for Lemon Pepper fans looking for something different during football season, the starting lineup just got a little bigger.
Source: Wingstop Restaurants Inc., press release issued Sept. 9, 2026.
Availability and promotional offers may vary by participating location. The Lemon Pepper Trio is a limited-time offering while supplies last. The Wing Pass is subject to Wingstop’s official terms and conditions.
Sources
- Wingstop — Lemon Pepper Trio and First-Ever Wing Pass announcement — Wingstop’s official Sept. 9, 2026 announcement covering the Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch, Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze and Wing Pass.
- PR Newswire — Wingstop Kicks Off Football Season with New Lemon Pepper Trio and Wing Pass — Original distributed press release dated Sept. 9, 2026.
Related Links
- Wingstop Lemon Pepper Flavor Guide — Background on Wingstop’s original Lemon Pepper dry rub, including its lemon and cracked-pepper flavor profile.
- Wingstop Investor Relations — Corporate information, financial results and current company announcements.
- Wingstop News & Press Releases — Additional Wingstop product launches and company news, including its recent Carolina Gold and Jamaican Jerk promotion.
Craving Something Delicious? 🔥🍴
Turn up the flavor with STM Daily News Food & Drink — your destination for sizzling food news, must-try restaurant trends, crave-worthy recipes, game-day eats and the flavors everyone’s buzzing about.
Come hungry. Discover what’s cooking. Find your next obsession.
WESTON, Mo. — Kansas City barbecue is heading north to historic Weston, Missouri, where dozens of competition pitmasters are battling for more than prize money. The winner could soon be serving their barbecue to travelers from around the world. UPDATE: Smokey Bey’s BBQ of Liberty, Missouri, led by pitmaster Charles Bey, was crowned Grand Champion of the 2026 Made for KC BBQ Championship. The victory earned the team $10,000 and an 18-month licensing agreement to become the featured pitmaster at the Made for KC BBQ Experience at Kansas City International Airport beginning in March 2027. The final competition included 44 teams, according to post-event reports.
The 4th Annual Made for KC BBQ Championship, held August 21–22, 2026, brought 47 of the region’s top competition barbecue teams to downtown Weston, with Holladay Distillery serving as a host partner.
The weekend began Friday with a VIP event on the grounds of the historic distillery before teams settled in for an overnight cook ahead of Saturday’s competition.
More Than a Barbecue Trophy
Created by OHM Concession Group in partnership with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), the Made for KC BBQ Championship offers competitors an unusually valuable prize.
The 2026 championship features a $33,500 total purse, including $10,000 for the Grand Champion. But the biggest opportunity may come after the smokers cool down.
The winning team receives an 18-month licensing agreement to become the next featured pitmaster at the Made for KC BBQ Experience at Kansas City International Airport, beginning March 1, 2027.
The Grand Champion’s name, recipes, rubs and sauces will be showcased at the approximately 8,000-square-foot restaurant, putting the winning team’s barbecue in front of travelers passing through Kansas City.
That makes the competition more than a traditional barbecue contest. For one pitmaster, it could provide a major platform to introduce their food and brand to an international audience.
Competition Barbecue Meets Kansas City’s Airport
The Made for KC BBQ Experience opened alongside Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal in 2023. Its concept gives competition barbecue teams an opportunity rarely available on the traditional barbecue circuit: moving their food from cook-offs and judging tables into a major commercial restaurant.
A new Grand Champion is featured at the airport restaurant every 18 months.
In 2024, Meat Rushmore BBQ of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, captured the championship and later became the featured pitmaster at the airport location.
The competition is designed to continue that rotation while highlighting the deep barbecue culture associated with the Kansas City region.
Barbecue and Bourbon in Historic Weston
Weston provides a fitting setting for the competition.
Holladay Distillery was founded there in 1856 and is celebrating its 170th anniversary in 2026. According to the company, it remains the oldest continuously operating distillery on its original site in Missouri.
“Hosting the Made for KC BBQ Championship is exactly the kind of opportunity we’re proud to bring to Weston,” Patrick Fee, Holladay Distillery’s vice president of sales and marketing, said in the announcement.
“This competition celebrates the craftsmanship and traditions that make our region special, while bringing talented people from across the barbecue community right here to our hometown.”
The combination of bourbon, barbecue and a historic Missouri town also gives the championship an identity that extends beyond the judging tent.
“Bourbon and barbecue have always been a natural pairing,” Fee said.
A Bigger Prize for Kansas City Pitmasters
Competition barbecue can require years of practice, specialized equipment, travel and countless hours tending smokers in pursuit of trophies and recognition.
The Made for KC championship adds something different: the possibility of turning a competition victory into a lengthy restaurant residency.
For the 2026 Grand Champion, that means going from an overnight cook in Weston to having their recipes served at one of the region’s busiest transportation gateways.
And for travelers arriving in Kansas City, it offers something equally interesting — an opportunity to experience barbecue created by the people who compete seriously in one of America’s best-known barbecue regions.
The Made for KC BBQ Championship may take place in Weston, but for the winning pitmaster, the journey is only beginning.
Source: Holladay Distillery press release, August 21, 2026. The Made for KC BBQ Championship was created by OHM Concession Group in partnership with the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
Source & Related Links
Primary/official sources
Holladay Distillery — Official site for the historic Weston distillery, which says it has been making bourbon for 170 years.
Kansas City Barbeque Society — Made for KC Championship background — Background on the competition and its relationship with the airport restaurant.
Kansas City International Airport — Made for KC BBQ Experience — Official airport background explaining how championship pitmasters rotate through the airport restaurant.
Vantage Group — Meat Rushmore airport residency — Details on previous champion Meat Rushmore and the 18-month airport showcase.
2026 results
FireBoard — 2026 Made for KC BBQ Championship results — Reports Smokey Bey’s BBQ as the 2026 Grand Champion.
KCTV — Smokey Bey’s wins 2026 championship — Post-event coverage of the winner and upcoming airport residency.
For more Food and Beverage News visit our “Food & Drink” page.
Recipe of the Week
Score Big on Game Day with Winning Tailgate Recipes
A Game Day Win: Football, family, friends and food are a winning combination during tailgating season, especially if your recipe game is locked in. A main course of Grilled Chicken Kebabs served alongside Steakhouse Hasselback Potatoes and Simple Salami Sliders will fuel you and your crew all the way from the pre-game festivities to the after party.
(Feature Impact) Football, family, friends and food are a winning combination during tailgating season, especially if your recipe game is locked in. Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd in the stadium parking lot or putting together a savory plate to enjoy while you chill on the sofa, these recipes bring plenty of flavor and keep the energy going until the final whistle.
A main course of Grilled Chicken Kebabs served alongside Steakhouse Hasselback Potatoes and Simple Salami Sliders will fuel you and your crew all the way from the pre-game festivities to the after party.
Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes to inspire your game plan.
Fire Up the Grill for Mouthwatering Chicken Kebabs
Tailgating and grilling go together like touchdowns and victory dances, and some of the best game-day recipes are the ones you can make well ahead of kickoff so you aren’t rushing around to get ready. These sweet-and-smoky Grilled Chicken Kebabs can be prepped and marinated up to 8 hours in advance so all you need to do is pull them out of the fridge and get them to the grill.
With lean protein from the chicken plus vitamins and fiber from a generous amount of bright, colorful veggies, this recipe is a score for more than your taste buds.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Recipe adapted from Dinner at the Zoo
Prep time: 20 minutes
Marinating time: 1 hour
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Marinade:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or other vinegar
- 1/8 cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Kebabs:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 orange bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 small zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices
- 1 small yellow squash, cut into 1-inch slices
- 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 wooden skewers
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- To make marinade: In large bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- To make kebabs: In bowl, toss chicken, bell peppers, zucchini, squash and red onion with marinade. Cover and refrigerate 1-8 hours.
- Soak wooden skewers in cold water at least 30 minutes to prevent burning. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread chicken pieces and vegetables onto skewers, alternating ingredients. Cook 5-7 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Fuel Your Tailgate Team with a Steakhouse Side
If you’re looking for a tasty twist on tailgating tradition that’ll give you as much energy in the stands as the athletes on the field, look for a steakhouse-worthy side dish that’s loaded with complex carbohydrates and fueling flavor.
These Steakhouse Hasselback Potatoes, loaded with caramelized onions and crispy bacon, feature Wisconsin Russets – a complex carbohydrate that plays an important role in the body by providing energy to cells, the brain and certain parts of the kidney. As a healthier choice than simple carbs, which are composed of sugars that break down faster in your system, potatoes are also a good source of vitamin B6, potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, dietary fiber and pantothenic acid, making them a superstar selection on game day.
Tackle your next tailgate with more delicious recipes by visiting eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.
Steakhouse Hasselback Potatoes
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 90 minutes
Servings: 8
Hasselback Potatoes:
- 4 Wisconsin Russets (about 1 pound each)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
Caramelized Onions:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2.2 pounds yellow onions, sliced thin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 cup cognac or brandy (optional)
To Plate:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 12 ounces hickory smoked bacon, cooked and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- To make Hasselback potatoes: Using vegetable brush, wash potatoes. Dry well and place on cutting board. Arrange handles of two wooden spoons so they are alongside potatoes to prevent knife from slicing all the way through. Make several cuts down each potato about 1/4 inch apart. Repeat with remaining potatoes and arrange on baking sheet fitted with wire rack.
- Drizzle with olive oil, making sure some oil is in slices. Sprinkle salt on each potato.
- Bake 90 minutes, or until potatoes are crispy on outside, fluffy in center and internal temperature is 205 F. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- To make caramelized onions: In heavy-bottomed shallow pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add sliced onions and season with salt. Continue to cook, stirring regularly until onions are deep brown and caramelized. Deglaze pan with cognac or brandy, if desired, scraping caramelized bits off bottom of pan. Remove from heat and set aside.
- To assemble, sprinkle potatoes with cheese, about 1/4 cup per spud, ensuring some cheese is in potato slices. Place cooked bacon pieces in some slices.
- Return potatoes to oven for about 5 minutes, just long enough to heat potatoes slightly and melt cheese. Place potatoes on serving platter and garnish with caramelized onions, sour cream and chopped chives.
Slide Into the End Zone with Salami
A tailgating MVP recipe is easy to assemble, easy to eat and packed with flavor – and these Simple Salami Sliders check every box. Soft slider buns, melty cheese and savory salami are baked in a buttery sauce for craveable bites that will disappear as soon as you pass the basket around.
Switch up the sauce, use a different cheese or add your favorite extra toppings to customize your perfect slider.
Simple Salami Sliders
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6
- 1 package slider buns
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 8 slices salami
- 8 slices ham or other deli meat
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- everything bagel seasoning (optional)
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Halve slider buns, creating top and bottom portions. Set top portion aside, leaving bottom portion in original container. Place bottom portion and container in baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Layer Swiss cheese, salami and ham then cover with top buns.
- Mix melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Parmesan cheese, onion powder and garlic powder. Pour over sliders.
- Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes then remove foil, sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning, if desired, and bake, uncovered, 10 minutes.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (kebabs)
SOURCE:
Find more recipes on our “Food & Drink” page!
