Meet the founder distilling greatness (and fusion flavors) into Kansas’ first Black-owned vodka brand 

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. 

WICHITA — Greatness isn’t given; it’s earned, said Troy Brooks. But it comes one step at a time, and not without its challenges, he said.

Troy Brooks, Greatness Vodka

The entrepreneur behind Kansas’ first Black-owned spirits company didn’t initially set out to create his own liquor brand, but he always wanted to leave a legacy behind — and knew it was up to him to remove the cap on his own potential.

“I wanted to be somebody, and I wanted to do my own thing at some point,” said Brooks, who founded Wichita-based Greatness Vodka at age 25. “I knew I wanted to create something that people would want to continue to interact with, have fun, and never get bored with.”

Committed to crafting clean drinks, the brand’s original premium vodka contains zero sugar, zero carbs, and is gluten-free. Distilled six times from corn, it’s a base for neat drinks or to mix up with cocktails. Its fusion drinks are also all-natural, extracting the juice straight from the fruit.

“Most people don’t want drinks burning their chest,” said Brooks. “They want something that’s enjoyable, something that’s smooth and high quality.”

Strive for greatness

Discovering the recession-resistant nature of the alcohol industry, Brooks launched Greatness Vodka in 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. He diligently researched starting a liquor brand and reached out to distilleries, learning how to sell himself and his vision along the way. 

Finally, a distillery in Jacksonville, Florida, gave him a chance, he said, urging him to visit if he was serious about taking his idea to the shelves. Brooks surprised them by booking a one-way flight to the city, leading to a 10-hour meeting where he pitched his concept.

When the question of the name for the brand came up, Brooks — remembering the time when he was homeless and looking for jobs — decided to reference a mantra he repeated to himself daily to keep his head up and motivate himself.

“I used to always tell myself when I was trying to get on my feet to strive for greatness, just keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’re going to get there,” he recalled.

Despite Brooks’ lack of experience compared to the distiller’s 30-plus years, the distiller appreciated Brooks’ dedication and entrepreneurial drive, choosing to collaborate, Brooks said. Today, Greatness Vodka is available in over 30 Kansas locations.

Click here to find Greatness Vodka near you.

“You can never be shut out of anything in life, as long as you have the fortitude, and the desire and the hunger to make it happen,” said Brooks.

Greatness Vodka’s fusion flavors

Focused on fusion flavors

What makes Greatness Vodka stand out: its focus on fusion vodka flavors, Brooks said. Instead of launching with the base, original premium vodka, he debuted his product line with an unconventional twist — introducing a peach-cherry flavored vodka as the brand’s first release.

“You can truly let your mind wander,” said Brooks, noting he believes the variety of flavor pairings to choose from leads to more creativity.

“‘You could think, OK, What are all the dynamic duos when it comes to flavors?’ ‘Peanut butter and jelly?’ ‘Peaches and cream?’ ‘Chocolate and peanut butter?’ There’s so many different ways that you can spin that,” he said.

Greatness Vodka will continue expanding its fusion flavors, Brooks detailed, noting the brand recently dropping a strawberry and pineapple blend. The next launch: a mango and jalapeno flavor, just in time for the summertime heat.

Troy Brooks, Greatness Vodka

Leading by example

With Greatness Vodka already sold on the Kansas side of Kansas City, Brooks sees the brand expanding to Missouri, and also has Oklahoma on his radar, along with other markets across the region.

Despite his entrepreneurial success so far, Brooks finds his motivation grounded in being a positive role model for his two daughters, he said, aiming to set the standard on what success looks like to them.

“I want them to know that it’s possible for you to do anything that you truly want to do,” Brooks said. “There’s no limit to what you can do, as long as you’re willing to work.”