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Sorel Liqueur
Est. 2012Spirits

Sorel Liqueur

Founded by Jackie Summers · Brooklyn, NY

The Story

Sorel Liqueur was born from Jackie Summers' childhood memories of sorrel tea in his Caribbean household. Growing up, there was always a pitcher of sorrel — a type of hibiscus tea — in the kitchen. After the kids were in bed, the adults would add a splash of rum. Summers turned that memory into a 30-proof liqueur flavored with hibiscus, cloves, cassia, nutmeg, and ginger. Launched in 2012 from Red Hook, Brooklyn, Sorel made history as the first spirit produced by a Black-licensed distiller since Prohibition.
Jackie Summers

Jackie Summers

Founder

Jackie Summers is the founder of Jack from Brooklyn and creator of Sorel Liqueur. In 2012, he became the first Black man in the United States to be granted a license to make liquor since Prohibition ended in 1933. His hibiscus-based liqueur draws from his Caribbean heritage and has become one of America's most awarded craft spirits.

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From the Encyclopedia

Own this brand?

DISTRYB is where Black-owned beverage businesses run the commercial side — catalog, wholesale ordering, licensing and state compliance in one place. Bring Sorel Liqueur onto it.

How we know this

A note on ownership. Sorel Liqueur relaunched in 2021 after an investment from the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, which supports Black-owned distilleries.

On this being a Black-owned business:

Jackie Summers founded the very first black-owned spirit in 2012 with Sorel artisanal liqueur.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2024/01/29/sorel-continues-its-impressive-expansion-and-growth-after-its-relaunch/