"If you go back 500 years, West Africans knew hibiscus to be a powerful medicinal plant, full of antimicrobials, full of antioxidants, natural source of vitamin C. It's a natural aphrodisiac. They would make a tea from this flower, and this was part of their ceremony and their traditions. Then around 500 years ago, the transatlantic slave trade starts, and bodies and spices are stolen from the continent of Africa. This flower, the hibiscus flower, takes physical roots in the Caribbean islands, but the people who knew what to do with it were transported along with it in the bottom of ships." Jackie Summers
A couple of years ago, I read an article about Jackie Summers being the first African American in the United States be granted a license in 2011 to make liquor, post-prohibition. Prohibition ended in 1933, almost 80 years ago. That is a story in and of itself, possibly for another day. After a cancer scare that turned out to be a benign tumor in his spine, Brooklyn-based Jackie quit his job as an advertising executive and with no formal training or background in the beverage industry, began to make Sorel Liqueur.
Jackie's story is inspirational, full of stops and starts, including 623 attempts to fine tune the recipe, a period of homelessness, a hurricane that destroyed his first distillery, reneged deals from investors that led to a several year shutdown for Sorel, getting knocked down and having the determination to get back up, guided by the spirit of his ancestors, and a strong desire to bring Sorel, a widely known but never before, distilled and distributed beverage with its roots in Africa to people all over the world.
In 2021, Jackie took a major step towards realizing that goal when he teamed up with powerhouse Fawn Weaver, owner of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and the Tennessee-based Nearest Green Distillery.
In less than a year back on the market, Sorel Liqueur is receiving glowing accolades and major beverage industry awards. Jackie himself was named among "Drink Innovators of the Year" (Food & Wine Magazine), several times "100 Most Influential Bar Industry Figures" (Drinks International Magazine), and included on the Imbibe 75 list. His writing has been published in various outlets, James Beard-nominated and winner of "Best Food Essay" (Association of Food Journalists).
Join me, your host, Brad Johnson, and Jackie for this inspirational conversation. on Corner Table Talk.
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