Jackie Summers
Jackie Summers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, author, CEO |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | First Black person in the U.S. granted a liquor license post-Prohibition; founder of Jack from Brooklyn |
Jackie Summers is an American entrepreneur in microdistilling, author, and the chief executive officer of Jack from Brooklyn. In 2012, he made history as the first Black individual in the United States to be granted a liquor license following the Prohibition era.
Early life
Summers hails from Queens and is of Caribbean heritage. His grandparents emigrated from Barbados during the 1920s. He fondly remembers his childhood experiences with sorrel, a hibiscus-based tea that adults often enhanced with rum. His father was a pianist who performed alongside legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday, while his mother pursued a career as a research scientist.
Jack from Brooklyn
Following a cancer diagnosis in 2010 and subsequent tumor removal near his spinal area, Summers transitioned from his role in magazine publishing to establish Jack from Brooklyn. The company produces Sorel Liqueur, a contemporary interpretation of the Caribbean roselle drink.
In 2012, he became the first Black person in the U.S. authorized to manufacture liquor. His artisanal sorrel liqueur is characterized by its rich garnet hue and infused with flavors including hibiscus, cloves, cassia, nutmeg, and ginger. After Hurricane Sandy caused damage to his distillery, production of Sorel was restarted in 2013 but was temporarily halted in 2015.
The brand saw a revival in October 2021 following financial backing from the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund.
Additional endeavors
Prior to venturing into distilling, Summers held positions in magazine publishing and contributed articles to publications such as Edible Brooklyn, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast, and Plate. His 2019 essay titled "Rice is at the Intersection of Poverty" earned the Best Food Essay award from the Association of Food Journalists. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he partnered with Daniella Veras to create a widely attended Virtual Happy Hour on Zoom.
Recognition
In 2014, Brooklyn Magazine included him among the 50 most influential figures in Brooklyn’s culinary scene. He was featured on Drinks International's list of the top 100 most influential personalities in the bar industry for three consecutive years: 2019, 2020, and 2021. His essay published in Plate garnered an American Food Journalists award for Best Food Essay in 2019. In 2021, he was named one of the Imbibe 75 People to Watch. The following year, Summers was honored as one of Food & Wine's Drinks Innovators of the Year, and his article for Epicurious received a nomination for a James Beard Foundation Award.