Juneteenth is full of history and heritage and one heritage that I love to honor is the history of Black women in hospitality and spirits. Today, we are featuring two black women continuing this legacy and joining forces to honor Juneteenth.
Black woman-owned AVEC premium mixers are nodding to the holiday’s customary red food + drink with their Hibiscus & Pomegranate mixer, sweet-tart in flavor and pink-rouge in color.
AVEC has teamed up to create two special cocktail recipes in the spirit of Juneteenth: The first, a Whiskey Hibiscus Pomegranate Highball, alongside award-winning Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first major spirits company to be founded and run by an African American woman.
The second was created with Mo Coulie, an independent mixologist in Harlem who can often be spotted at local favorites Ponty Bistro and Cafe Amrita. AVEC co-founder, native New Yorker Denetrias ‘Dee’ Charlemagne, recognized Mo’s talent + penchant for natural ingredients, and sought him out to craft cocktails that were “inspired by the neighborhood we both live in and love.”
Whiskey Hibiscus Pomegranate Highball | AVEC x Uncle Nearest
Bright and tart, AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate is a perfect compliment to the slightly sweet, powerful complexity of Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch whiskey.
2oz UN 1884
4-6 fresh black cherries
.75oz Lillet Blanc
.75oz Fresh pink grapefruit juice
.25oz Fresh lemon juice
AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate
Method: Remove pits and muddle 4-6 fresh black cherries in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Lillet Blanc, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and ice and roll to combine. Strain (or double strain if you don’t want any fruit chunks) over new ice in a Collins glass. Top with AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate. Garnish with Fresh grapefruit peel.
Juneteenth Spritz | Courtesy of Mo Coulie2 oz St Germain2 oz prosecco4 oz AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate
Hibiscus & Henny | Courtesy of Mo Coulie2 oz Hennessy
2 oz AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate
2 oz Yuzu and Lime
squeeze of lime**Optional: 2 oz Cointreau, but the bonus of AVEC cocktails is less sugar
AVEC premium mixers | www.avecdrinks.com
Named after the word with in French, AVEC wants to rethink what we mix with our spirit through full flavored, low cal (<20calories)/ low sugar (<4g) canned mixers made with real juices, botanicals and spices — replacing bland vodka sodas + sugar-packed whiskey gingers. Co-founder Dentrias ‘Dee’ Charlemagne is a WOC/native New Yorker; while her co-founder Alex Doman is UK born, but Australian Canadian. They have a passion for making a brand that is part of culture and were inspired by so many things in creating AVEC’s flavors — Gingerby Dee’s West Indian aunt’s rum punch,Jalapeño & Blood Orange by a classic NYC spicy marg, and Hibiscus & Pomegranate by a trip to Mexico with way too many agua frescas.
Launched in Brooklyn in summer 2020, AVEC ships free nationwide ($36 for a 12-pack; or $45 for a Sampler Pack) at www.avecdrinks.com (affiliate links available via Skimlinks and Viglink).
Uncle Nearest | https://unclenearest.com/
The most awarded American whiskey or Bourbon of 2019 and 2020, which honors the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first African American master distiller on record. Uncle Nearest is founded and led by Fawn Weaver, the first African American woman to run a major spirits company and the first African American woman to found one.
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