Sorel liqueur is made by Jack from Brooklyn, a small craft distillery located in Brooklyn, New York. The founder, Jackie Summers, started making Sorel in his apartment kitchen as a hobby and eventually turned it into a successful business. I had the pleasure of visiting their distillery and meeting Jackie himself, and I must say, his passion for his craft is truly inspiring.
Jackie sources all the ingredients for Sorel from local farms and markets, ensuring that only the freshest and highest quality ingredients are used in the production process. The key ingredient in Sorel is hibiscus, which gives the liqueur its vibrant red color and distinctive floral notes. The hibiscus is carefully handpicked and dried to preserve its flavor and aroma.
In addition to hibiscus, Sorel also contains a blend of other spices such as cloves, cassia, and ginger. These spices are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious flavor profile that is both complex and balanced. The cloves add a warm and aromatic note, while the cassia adds a subtle sweetness and the ginger adds a hint of heat.
The production process of Sorel involves macerating the spices in a neutral spirit, allowing the flavors to infuse over time. This is followed by a careful distillation process to extract the essence of the spices and create a smooth and flavorful liqueur. Jackie and his team take great care in every step of the production process, ensuring that each batch of Sorel meets their high standards of quality and taste.
I had the pleasure of tasting Sorel during my visit to the distillery, and I must say, it was a truly unique and enjoyable experience. The blend of spices was perfectly balanced, with the cloves and hibiscus taking the forefront and the cassia and ginger providing a subtle sweetness and heat to round out the flavor. The liqueur had a smooth and velvety texture, and the flavors lingered on the palate long after each sip.
Sorel liqueur is a testament to the craftsmanship and artistry of Jack from Brooklyn. Jackie's dedication to using only the finest ingredients and his meticulous attention to detail in the production process shines through in the final product. Whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as a key ingredient in a cocktail, Sorel is sure to delight the senses and leave a lasting impression.