We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Brannan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jon, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have always viewed risk as an adventure. Sure, there is plenty that could go wrong, but the path to the goal and the potential reward has always been a driving force for me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have owned a few businesses and my approach has always been either I will win or I will learn, maybe sometimes a blend of both…but I’ve never failed. To me, you only fail if you never try.
What should our readers know about your business?
Around 1840, my great, great, great grandfather Ambrose Brannan, and his fiancé Mary Anne Murray, arrived in Savannah, Georgia from Ireland. Presumably stowaways, the young couple had seen the early stages of the great potato famine and decided to run away together to seek a better life. Traveling by horse and carriage they ended up settling in Columbus, Georgia. Ambrose, worked as a farm laborer. The work was hard, and the wage was fair, but he dreamed of more. “More” came to him in the form of an old family recipe for a traditional Irish “moonshine” whiskey called Poitín/Poteen (pronounced “po-cheen”). The drink quickly gained a popular following, selling in local shops and pubs. Ultimately, the family opened their own dry goods store J.R. Brannan Dry Goods & Groceries. To this day, the original building still stands in uptown Columbus, on Broadway.
After further research, I found a partial family recipe for the drink and also discovered that no one in the United States was commercially distilling Poitín. Working with a local distillery (Swamp Fox), we completed the recipe, and ran some test batches. The unique taste really blew everyone away. I decided that this drink needed to be resurrected.. I’ve also hired Master Mixologist and star of the hit TV show “Bar Rescue”, Phil Wills, to create custom cocktails and as a consultant.
Ambrose Poitín is a sole proprietorship based in Columbus, Georgia. Ambrose is a small-batch, specialty spirit distilled from a multi-grain mash, with a few “family secret” ingredients added in along the way. The taste is quite unique and can be described as blend of Irish Whiskey and Moonshine, with a splash of Tequila thrown in. It is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed straight or mixed in your favorite cocktail. It is a suitable substitute for any drink made with whiskey, vodka or tequila to add a twist. The only Poitín commercially distilled in the United States, and a proud product of Georgia with Irish Roots, it’s my pleasure to resurrect this unique, history-rich spirit and share it with you. Launching in Georgia only, Summer 2022.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m based in Columbus, Georgia and have many friends who own bars and restaurants. I have so many favorites and would never be able to name them all without leaving a few out, so let’s just say that the Uptown area around Broadway is highly recommended for amazing dining, cocktails, and entertainment. Columbus is home to the longest, urban setting white water rafting course in the world, so that would be a must try when visiting Columbus. Also, the National Infantry Museum is amazing and definingly worth a visit.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I started this business with zero experience or knowledge of the liquor industry. The amount of government oversight and regulation can be very intimating, as well as all the details and steps that go into creating a branch new liquor brand and category. I would not have been able to do it without the guidance and expertise of Britt Moon, owner of Swamp Fox Distilling Company in Buena Vista, GA. Ambrose Poitín contracts with Swamp Fox for the distilling and bottling of our product. Britt and his staff have been amazing to work with and I would not have been able to proceed with this dream without them.
Website: www.drinkambrose.com
Instagram: @drinkambrose
Facebook: @drinkambrose