For this week’s, Puff-Sip-Chat, I sat down with the owner of Majesty Bourbon’s Founder and CEO, Jonathan Gillard.
An Atlanta native, Jonathan has been an entrepreneur for the past fifteen years. It’s such a stimulating opportunity to sit down with various business owners and learn about their passions and interests, and Jonathan was no different.
His love for bourbon is unparalleled. You can taste the effort he’s put in his product from the very first sip. We talked about how he turned his focus on creating a quality product and what got him started in the first place.
We discuss the importance of staying focused, and he shares his secrets behind his great success. Jonathan tells me about the team behind the scenes and what he considers to be the most challenging part of the entire process.
How He Got Started
Majesty Bourbon isn’t Jonathan’s first taste of success within the entrepreneurial world. He got his start in the spirits industry, first building another successful brand. It was practically an overnight success, but he struggled with the hurdle of it not fully being his a venture with his own stamp on it.
It was a short-lived victory, and that company fizzled out almost as quickly as it started. Jonathan Gillard wasn’t discouraged by this outcome but instead even more determined to release a product on his own terms.
And that’s essentially how Majesty Bourbon was born. A big part of creating a product on his own terms was honoring the history that came before him. Bourbon was more than just a business venture for Jonathan and his peers but instead a cultural staple of his upbringing.
He grew up seeing his granddad, dad, and uncles enjoy this spirit for him, and probably many of you. And though bourbon is deeply intertwined with black cultural roots, he realized that there was a vast lack of representation in the marketplace.
So he set forth to carve out a place of ownership for the black entrepreneur while also creating a product that could compete against industry giants.
What Jonathan Gillard Has Learned
The journey hasn’t been easy by any means. From the very beginning, his goal has been to penetrate the market where black entrepreneurs rarely get to see the light of day. To say doors have been closed or even shut in his face would be an understatement.
The opportunity to just get noticed has meant he’s had to work harder, smarter, and tirelessly for the shot at recognition. Just for the possibility of getting seen as a real player in this game. This has meant cultivating a focus and a drive that is unparalleled.
It truly requires a different level of discipline. Jonathan credits his team and business partners for helping him stay on track and keep the vision alive. Some of the hardest moment of come from learning how to play the game and make sure their strategy is on point. And even beyond that is the connections.
He credits some of his success in networking and connecting with others in the industry and even a bit of good faith. Opportunities have come up for him that he can’t explain or even plan for, and his ability to jump into those blessings has paid off in dividends.
About Majesty Bourbon
And his hard work has truly, truly paid off! Jonathan is playing in the big leagues with contracts with Walmart and Total Wine. Majesty Bourbon is located in 150 locations with a home-base here in Georgia.
His success is such a testament to his vision. He has kept his eye on the prize and never let his faith in himself or the product waver. And his product is good! Majesty Bourbon is an 80-proof that’s got a laid-back flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel. It’s got that perfect polished finish that pairs perfectly with an evening stick.
Be sure to check out this 30-month-old bourbon next time you hit the store. It really is that good!
