Have you ever tasted vodka made from sweet potatoes? The Future of Black Spirits with JJ Braden

Behind the Pour

JJ Braden did not start in spirits. She started in inventory and logistics — and her path from supply chain clerk to brand ambassador for Delta Dirt Vodka is the kind of story that makes the spirits industry feel like somewhere worth being. Delta Dirt is a Black-owned, farm-to-bottle operation in Arkansas making vodka from sweet potatoes. That is not a gimmick; it is a grain-bill decision with real flavor consequences. Crystal sits down with JJ to explore what happens when logistics skills, community passion, and a genuinely unusual spirit all meet at the same table.

What You'll Discover

• What sweet potato vodka actually tastes like: Delta Dirt's sweet potato base produces a creamy, smooth, distinctly different spirit from wheat- or corn-based vodkas. JJ walks through the flavor profile on air — there is a natural sweetness and body that sets it apart from conventional neutral spirits.
• JJ's journey from inventory clerk to spirits brand ambassador: JJ's logistics background gives her a framework for understanding supply chain and distribution that most brand ambassadors lack. Her path shows that there are many ways into the spirits industry besides working a bar.
• Pronghorn Spirits Prep: JJ is a graduate of Pronghorn's ambassador training program, which provides education, network access, and professional development for Black professionals entering the spirits industry. The program is named in the episode as a resource for others.
• Generational wealth through spirits: JJ's conversation with Crystal connects Delta Dirt's farm-to-bottle story to the broader theme of Black entrepreneurship and economic ownership in the agricultural and spirits sectors.
• The Sister Supply Chain Network: JJ mentions the Sister Supply Chain Network — a professional community she is involved with that supports women in logistics and supply chain roles.

A Moment of Pourspective

The spirit you pour can carry a legacy. Delta Dirt is not just sweet potatoes — it is a farm, a family, a community, and a supply chain built by people who had to build it themselves. Every bottle is an argument that ownership is possible.

Explore the Conversation

The Delta Dirt episode is one of TLC's most earnest conversations about what it means to love a spirit. JJ is not just promoting a product — she is genuinely excited about what Delta Dirt represents, and that excitement is specific: the flavor, the production story, the Arkansas farm, and the community of Black-owned brands she is part of. The taste of sweet potato vodka is the episode's most concrete discovery for first-time listeners. Most vodka drinkers have never encountered a sweet potato base, and JJ's on-air description of creamy smoothness is credible because she is tasting alongside Crystal, not just pitching. The logistics background connection is the episode's most distinctive thread. JJ's professional skills translate directly to understanding how spirits get from production to shelf — a structural knowledge that most brand ambassadors do not have, and that Crystal finds genuinely interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Delta Dirt Vodka? Delta Dirt is a Black-owned craft vodka distillery in Arkansas that produces vodka from sweet potatoes. It is a farm-to-bottle operation with a flavor profile notably different from grain-based vodkas.
• What does sweet potato vodka taste like? JJ describes Delta Dirt as creamy, smooth, and slightly sweet — with more body and character than a neutral wheat or corn vodka. It is sippable neat as well as cocktail-ready.
• What is Pronghorn? Pronghorn is an initiative that works to increase diversity and representation in the spirits industry, offering professional development, capital access, and network connections for Black professionals and founders. JJ completed their ambassador training program.
• Where can I find Delta Dirt Vodka? Online at deltadirtdistillery.com and through retail distribution in Arkansas and expanding nationally.

Episode at a Glance

• Guest: JJ Braden (brand ambassador, Delta Dirt Vodka)
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Runtime: 27 minutes, 28 seconds
• Category: Gin & Vodka
• Notable: Sweet potato vodka, Black-owned, Arkansas farm-to-bottle, Pronghorn alum