Diversity Rules Magazine

Tomeka Lynch Purcell and her husband Herbert Pur- cell have officially put a spin on the cocktail scene by adding a bourbon element appealing to women. Fill- ing the gap and spicing it up with sexy bourbon, it's made for women who want to drink it straight, with a hint of sweet, floral notes, or add it to a cocktail. In an effort to spend more me together, the cou- plepreneurs took their last name and spun it into a brand that works for women but doesn't exclude the men, along with the founding date of their home- town, Winston-Salem, N.C.-- PurCellos1789. But the spirit travels through several states in the produc on process: dis lled in Indiana, aged 30 months in new charred oak barrels and bo led in Colorado Springs. Tomeka says, "Making decisions together brought about an in macy and love I never could have imag- ined and was the best decision we ever made for our marriage, and of course, for bourbon drinkers." Wearing many hats, Tomeka will con nue to focus on marke ng, and changing the current narra ve. "So- ciety has led us to believe bourbon is a man's drink when it clearly can take on many different forms that also women will enjoy." Examples? Drinking it straight with the right amount of sweetness or crea ng an amazing cocktail. Un- expected uses? Cooking with it in cakes as well as sauces and rubs. She says, "Nothing I tasted was sexy enough for a woman, but s ll intense enough for a man. Search- ing for this taste is how the flavors were born. We needed it to be different, which is why the mash bill for our bourbon is 99% corn." The sweet, candied taste, similar to candied corn, with notes of fruit and vanilla, creates the floral aroma, and is sexy for women. The black tea flavors come from the hint of spice in PurCellos1789, work- ing well alongside the 90 proof volume, giving it the kick it needs to assure men also love the taste. Working closely with the dis llery, choosing mate- rial, working on the formula and discussing the ag- ing was key in the development process. They chose PLD in Colorado since it was the only dis llery that allowed 100% control over the product, the brand, aging, bo ling and more. With complete autonomy, the duo chose Indiana for the bourbon to be dis lled and MGP was able to birth the exact formula. Stemming from being a connoisseur with a passion for bourbon and scotch, Tomeka knew what she liked and didn't, with this knowledge and research, along with trial and error, concoc ng the perfect spirit for the woman of today was created. For juleps, try the official Kentucky Derby, a drink served since the late 1700's: a simple mixture of Pur- cellos, sugar and ice garnished with mint. Or a bourbon sour: Purcellos, lemon juice and Chic Chef simple syrup. Shake, pour, garnish with an orange wheel and enjoy. One of Tomeka's favorite recipes is the Old-fashioned: Purcellos, bi ers, sugar and a dash of water. Give it more sex appeal by adding honey for the drink Shadow Woman. The S le o cocktail: Purcellos, amare o and lemon juice-- just right for a night out with the girls. The Honey Bear: Purcellos, Peach schnapps, Triple sec, Lemon juice and Chic Chef Simple Syrup. Their business strategy is partnering with restaurants looking to pair Purcellos1789 with food or in their cooking process. For example, Chic Chef 77 in Tempe, Arizona has S cky Fingers (wings) on the menu that is exclusive to PurCellos1789. PurCellos1789 Bourbon, $65 for 750 milliliters, purcel- los1789.com. Diversity Rules Magazine | Mar 2023 | 9 Stiletto Cocktail Drink Officially Unveiled It Is Not What You Might Expect!

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