|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The spirits industry has a new champion for untold stories, and her name is Tracie Franklin. As the liquid curator behind Edmond’s Honor, Franklin has created a premium bourbon whiskey that celebrates Edmond Albius, the prodigy botanist whose vanilla pollination technique changed the world.
Albius developed a revolutionary hand-pollination method on Bourbon Island (now Réunion), which eventually spread to Madagascar, transforming the island into the world’s leading vanilla producer within 50 years – a status the country still holds today. Despite his global impact, Albius’ contribution was largely forgotten until Pronghorn chose to commemorate his legacy through bourbon whiskey.
“The goal was to not just showcase Edmond, but for his story to shine a light on the fact that there are thousands of tastemakers around the world whose stories were never told,” says Franklin.
From Broadway to Bourbon Whiskey
Franklin’s journey to the spirits industry began with a childhood focused on flavor and exploration. Growing up as an Air Force brat with a father of Louisiana heritage and a Texas-born mother, she experienced cuisines from around the world. This early exposure to varied flavors would later influence her approach to producing bourbon whiskey.
After studying theater at Cal State Fullerton, Franklin performed internationally, touring the Mediterranean with cruise ships and performing Disney Live’s Winnie the Pooh production in nine languages across multiple continents.
Her transition to the spirits industry began during her years of theatre in New York, where she discovered whiskey as the only spirit that didn’t compromise her vocal performance abilities.
“The reason I fell in love with whiskey is because it was the one thing I could drink and still sing in the morning,” the thespian jokes.
After years of dazzling in Broadway tours, her love for whiskey led to her role as a Glenfiddich Single Malt ambassador, where she reshaped conversations around whiskey demographics and accessibility while building industry credibility.
During the COVID pandemic, Franklin pursued her passion for the science behind spirits. Through the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative, a joint program by Nearest Green Distillery and Jack Daniel’s that supports BIPOC professionals in the spirits industry, she worked her way through production distilleries, earned her diploma in distillation and tasted her way across the U.S., learning from numerous master blenders, distillers, and grain specialists.
“I used my time to learn as much as I could,” Franklin explains. “I reached out and studied with anyone who would let me into their distillery.”
What Legacy Tastes Like
When Pronghorn, a spirits company dedicated to diversifying the industry, approached Franklin about creating a vanilla-enhanced whiskey honoring Albius, the connection felt kismet. The horticulturalist lived on Bourbon Island, creating natural narrative symmetry between place, person and product. Edmond’s Honor became Pronghorn’s first subsidiary brand and exemplifies what happens when historically underrepresented voices are empowered to lead and create.
Rather than using the traditional title of master blender, Franklin created her own designation as “liquid curator.” This title better represents her focus on creating bourbon whiskey that fits naturally into people’s daily routines.
“Whenever I’m planning for a beverage product, I think about who will be drinking it, where and why,” the self-dubbed liquid curator notes. “I want people to taste joy, feel at ease and curate moments that can live at a dinner party, in a cocktail bar or on a quiet night at home.”
Edmond’s Honor launched in October 2024 using a dual-aging production process. The bourbon whiskey starts with a high-corn mash bill aged in new American oak barrels, then receives additional finishing in French oak cognac casks infused with Madagascar vanilla extract.
Franklin describes the libation as approachable yet complex, designed to soften the harsh ethanol notes that often intimidate whiskey newcomers. At 43% ABV, the sensory experience begins with orange blossom, brown sugar and toasted oak aromas, progresses through bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, candied almonds, citrus and baking spice flavors and concludes with a long, smooth finish featuring lingering vanilla and toasted spices.
Built for versatility, the bourbon whiskey works equally well served neat or mixed in cocktails. Edmond’s Honor’s signature cocktail, the Madagascar Mule, demonstrates this range:
Madagascar Mule Recipe
- 1.5 oz. Edmond’s Honor
- 0.75 oz. fresh lime juice
- 0.75 oz. pineapple syrup*
- 3 oz. ginger beer
Add whiskey, lime, and syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake, strain over fresh ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a pineapple leaf or slice.
*Pineapple syrup: Heat 1 cup of Pineapple Juice and 1 cup of Demerara Sugar until dissolved. Seal and store refrigerated for up to three weeks.
Breaking Barriers in Bourbon Whiskey
Franklin stands among the few Black women in the whiskey industry leading a brand’s production from inception, and intentionally uses her leadership role at Pronghorn to open doors for others inside and outside the spirits industry.
Her dedication to quality establishes Edmond’s Honor in the ultra-premium category, demonstrating her resolve to challenge preconceptions about flavored bourbon whiskey while educating communities to make informed purchasing decisions.
“When people see flavored whiskey or bourbon, it’s easy to immediately think it’s filled with artificial flavors and sugars,” says Franklin. “We want to ensure when people experience Edmond’s Honor, they know all of the premium touch points – from the ingredients to the actual bottle.”
Albius’ legacy permeates the bottle design, with the cloche shape referencing botanical protection and etched orchid vines combining with a pronounced hand reaching toward the flower to represent the pollination moment. The brand’s “a story in every pour” tagline reinforces that each pour carries the weight of a nearly forgotten legacy, supported by a QR code linking directly to Edmond’s complete story.
RELATED: The Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey Explained
The Legacy Continues
Edmond’s Honor is proof of concept for a niche model of spirits creation that prioritizes historical justice alongside a premium beverage experience. The Madagascar Vanilla Bourbon whiskey has earned recognition with awards, including “Best in Class” at Las Vegas Global Spirits and gold medals at the New York and San Francisco International Spirit Awards. The product’s success validates that the spirits industry is ready for more inclusive storytelling approaches.
Through Pronghorn’s expansion strategy, Franklin envisions using premium spirits as vehicles for education, ensuring that voices like Edmond Albius’ are no longer silenced by history. Her future plans include additional releases with unique cask finishes, different proofs, and older whiskeys.
Edmond’s Honor is currently distributed across New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, DC, Maryland and Georgia. With plans for national distribution and international expansion, Franklin and the Edmond’s Honor team continue to innovate with a commitment to quality and storytelling.
For more information about Edmond’s Honor, visit the brand’s website or connect on Instagram and Facebook, and follow Franklin’s ongoing work as a liquid curator and industry advocate on Instagram.
