Passion births greatness. That is a fact. And it is clear that Jack from Brooklyn (Jack Summers) is full of passion. A humble, down-to-earth man who calls Red Hook home is the mastermind behind the unique spirit Sorel. One sip of this beverage might have you thinking it’s a great Fall drink, but its origin is in the Caribbean. Sorel is a hibiscus liqueur comprised of five spices — Brazilian clove, Indonesian cassia, Nigerian ginger, Indonesian nutmeg, and Moroccan hibiscus — mixed with pure cane sugar and 100% organic grain alcohol. It is common in the Caribbean islands to pick hibiscus and make it into tea…and then add alcohol. It is something that Jack grew up with and now he is bringing it to the masses.
Although Jack has been concocting what is now Sorel for decades, he has only been bottling it for a year. And since it came to the market in 2012, Sorel (15% alcohol) has won numerous accolades. Sorel, which takes its name from the sorrel root of the hibiscus flower, is an artisanal production. Jack designed both the bottle and the label himself and hosts ‘bottling parties’ where he invites over friends for drinks and pizza while they gather round and hand label each and every bottle of Sorel. So you can see that it must be tough to keep up with demand! Although they make a whopping 1000L per day, they are currently distributing far and wide to 15 states and three countries. Jack is hoping to automate bottling and labeling in the near future in order to lessen the workload.
Sorel is a truly one-of-a-kind spirit. It is wonderful on its own, but can be mixed into cocktails, topped with champagne, and even tastes delicious warmed up. It’s versatility allows for everyone to enjoy it, no matter what your preferred drink may be. Additionally, it can also be used in cooking! Jack mentioned that he recently made slow roasted pork belly that had been marinating in Sorel. With the colder months ahead, we look forward to drinking glasses of Sorel all winter long. The possibilities of how to enjoy it are endless.
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