Sorel Liqueur

A modern twist on a tasty Caribbean tradition.

The Red Drink tells the story of spice and slave trade that spans over centuries from West Africa to Barbados. Hibiscus was a potent botanical that people in West Africa were drinking in tea for its beneficial properties. When the slaves brought it with them to Barbados, though, the British naval officers added Rum for preservation to the concoction — that’s the official reason, at least. The drink became known as Sorrel and if you lived in Barbados in 1600s, chances are you were drinking the stuff.

Now, Jackie’s story is inspiring. A grandson of immigrants from Barbados in Harlem, New York, his connection with Sorrel runs deep in his veins. After being diagnosed with a spinal tumor, he left his corpo job of 25 years and founded his microdistillery in Brooklyn and became the first black person in America to hold a Liquor license

Sorel Liqueur is the first commercial version of the Liqueur in the world. Made with Moroccan hibiscus blended with Brazilian clove, Indonesian cassia, and Nigerian ginger, this bright red liquid is a modern twist on this classic Caribbean tradition. It’s so good it was awarded 95 points at the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Competition. If you’re not sure how to enjoy this exotic beauty, head over to their page for some cocktail inspo.