"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.

* * *

Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality

LinkedIn: Brad Johnson

E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com



For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/

Theme Music: Bryce Vine

Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC

<blockquote>
"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
</blockquote>
A couple of years ago, I read an article about <a href="https://jackiesummers.nyc/">Jackie Summers</a> 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sorelofficial/">Sorel Liqueur</a>.
 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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/fawn.weaver/"> Fawn Weaver</a>, owner of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/unclenearest/">Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey</a> 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" (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/foodandwine/">Food &amp; Wine Magazine</a>), several times "100 Most Influential Bar Industry Figures" (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drinksinternational/">Drinks International Magazine</a>), and included on the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/imbibe/">Imbibe 75</a> 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, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/postandbeamhospitality/">Brad Johnson</a>, and Jackie for this inspirational conversation. on Corner Table Talk.
* * *
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cornertabletalk/?hl=en">Corner Table Talk</a>  and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/postandbeamhospitality/?hl=en">Post and Beam Hospitality</a>
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-johnson-hospitality/">Brad Johnson</a>
E.Mail:  <a href="mailto:brad@postandbeamhospitality.com">brad@postandbeamhospitality.com</a>
 
For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: <a href="https://postandbeamhospitality.com/">https://postandbeamhospitality.com/</a>
Theme Music: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brycevine/?hl=en">Bryce Vine</a>
Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post &amp; Beam Hospitality LLC

After years of lowering the velvet rope and pulling out chairs on both coasts for countless guests, Brad Johnson puts his warm, present and welcoming hospitality skills to use as the host of Corner Table Talk, covering topics spanning FOOD + DRINK + CULTURE. Following the guest conversation, international speaker, writer, and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and lets us in on some of the interesting people, places, and things that have her attention in HOW WE MOVE.

Brad Johnson’s career in hospitality began in the early 70s in the dish pit of his father’s renowned NYC restaurant, The Cellar, followed by his subsequent storied road creating high profile establishments, from the lavish LA nightclub The Roxbury (yes, that Roxbury) to the Melrose Avenue soulful hotspot, Georgia, and the James Beard Award-nominated Post & Beam.

Instagram: cornertabletalk and postandbeamhospitality

LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Hospitality

E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com

For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/

Theme Music: Bryce Vine

Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC

After years of lowering the velvet rope and pulling out chairs on both coasts for countless guests, Brad Johnson puts his warm, present and welcoming hospitality skills to use as the host of Corner Table Talk, covering topics spanning FOOD + DRINK + CULTURE. Following the guest conversation, international speaker, writer, and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and lets us in on some of the interesting people, places, and things that have her attention in HOW WE MOVE.
<hr>
Brad Johnson’s career in hospitality began in the early 70s in the dish pit of his father’s renowned NYC restaurant, The Cellar, followed by his subsequent storied road creating high profile establishments, from the lavish LA nightclub The Roxbury (yes, that Roxbury) to the Melrose Avenue soulful hotspot, Georgia, and the James Beard Award-nominated Post &amp; Beam.
<hr>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cornertabletalk/?hl=en">cornertabletalk</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/postandbeamhospitality/?hl=en">postandbeamhospitality</a>
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-johnson-hospitality/">Brad Johnson Hospitality</a>      <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-johnson-hospitality/"></a>
E.Mail:  <a href="mailto:brad@postandbeamhospitality.com">brad@postandbeamhospitality.com</a>
For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: <a href="https://postandbeamhospitality.com/">https://postandbeamhospitality.com/</a>
Theme Music: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brycevine/?hl=en">Bryce Vine</a>
Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post &amp; Beam Hospitality LLC

Corner Table Talk

After years of lowering the velvet rope and pulling out chairs on both coasts for countless guests, Brad Johnson puts his warm, present and welcoming hospitality skills to use as the host of Corner Table Talk, covering topics spanning FOOD + DRINK + CULTURE. Following the guest conversation, international speaker, writer, and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and lets us in on some of the interesting people, places, and things that have her attention in HOW WE MOVE.

Brad Johnson’s career in hospitality began in the early 70s in the dish pit of his father’s renowned NYC restaurant, The Cellar, followed by his subsequent storied road creating high profile establishments, from the lavish LA nightclub The Roxbury (yes, that Roxbury) to the Melrose Avenue soulful hotspot, Georgia, and the James Beard Award-nominated Post & Beam.

Instagram: cornertabletalk and postandbeamhospitality

LinkedIn: Brad Johnson

E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com

For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/

Theme Music: Bryce Vine

Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC

After years of lowering the velvet rope and pulling out chairs on both coasts for countless guests, Brad Johnson puts his warm, present and welcoming hospitality skills to use as the host of Corner Table Talk, covering topics spanning FOOD + DRINK + CULTURE. Following the guest conversation, international speaker, writer, and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (eldest daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and lets us in on some of the interesting people, places, and things that have her attention in HOW WE MOVE.
<hr>
Brad Johnson’s career in hospitality began in the early 70s in the dish pit of his father’s renowned NYC restaurant, The Cellar, followed by his subsequent storied road creating high profile establishments, from the lavish LA nightclub The Roxbury (yes, that Roxbury) to the Melrose Avenue soulful hotspot, Georgia, and the James Beard Award-nominated Post &amp; Beam.
<hr>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cornertabletalk/?hl=en">cornertabletalk</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/postandbeamhospitality/?hl=en">postandbeamhospitality</a>
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-johnson-hospitality/">Brad Johnson</a>      <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-johnson-hospitality/"></a>
E.Mail:  <a href="mailto:brad@postandbeamhospitality.com">brad@postandbeamhospitality.com</a>
For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: <a href="https://postandbeamhospitality.com/">https://postandbeamhospitality.com/</a>
Theme Music: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brycevine/?hl=en">Bryce Vine</a>
Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post &amp; Beam Hospitality LLC

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