business

Black-Owned, Locally Distilled Vodka with Charitable Bent Launches on Juneteenth

Black-Owned, Locally Distilled Vodka with Charitable Bent Launches on Juneteenth

Ron Lockett II, Rasheedah Polk, Michael Williams and Eugene Padgett

THERE’S A NEW vodka in town.

General Orders No. 3 (GO3) is a Black-owned premium vodka distilled in Houston’s Fifth Ward. It launches on Saturday, June 18, during the Juneteenth HBCU Alliance Music Fest, a concert and scholarship benefit at 713 Music Hall. The concert features performances by Nigerian-American rapper Wale, Grammy-winning R&B singer Chrisette Michele, British pop singer Aiyana-Lee, and others; proceeds benefit TSU and Prairie View A&M University.

Founded by 10 African-American entrepreneurs and friends, GO3 is rooted in the celebration of freedom and diversity. The name homages the name of the document read on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, which declared the institution of slavery had officially ended.

Smooth and sophisticated, GO3 is made from a proprietary mix of Texas sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and russet potatoes infused with pure glacial melt from the Teton Mountains of southeastern Idaho. The vodka offers a rich blend and full-bodied flavor with buttery notes and a hint of caramel.

“We are from Houston, and wanted to make sure our story and product tied us to the Houston area,” co-founder Ron Lockett II tells CityBook. “It's important for us to not only have our business right here in Houston, but to be able to give back to the communities where we reside and do business." To ensure opportunities for success exist for institutions that foster and support freedom, equality, education and economic freedom, GO3 Vodka will donate a percentage of all sales to historically Black colleges and universities.

Houstonians can order GO3 at Permission Whiskey and Bar 5015, and purchase bottles at Bottles and the Bellaire and Gessner outposts of Andrew Liquor.

Related Articles Around the Web
Food
events

Weathering Three Years of Cancellations — and a Devastating Fire — the Fresh Arts 'Thunder Ball' Rolls In

Sebastien Boileau (photo by Aisha Khan)

FOR THE PAST three years, due to COVID-19, Houston’s artists’ advocacy and support organization Fresh Arts has had to cancel its popular annual fundraising gala, which accounts for around 20 percent of its operating revenue. And this year’s gala was nearly derailed by a devastating fire at Winter Street Studios in December, which destroyed several artist studios and displaced all of its tenants, including Fresh Arts.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment
parties

‘Houston Sweethearts’ Gather at Saks, Raise a Glass to Serving to Others

Chris Kase, Roz Pactor, Joyce Frassanito

“SAKS FIFTH AVENUE was awash in red and pink as guests arrived for the 12th Annual Houston Sweetheart Tea on Monday to celebrate seven outstanding ‘Houston Sweethearts’ who share much of their time, expertise and ‘heart’ in community service,” said the premier Houston Sweetheart, Warner Roberts, one of the hostesses of the event. Her fellow hostesses Sylvia Forsythe, Deborah Duncan, Alicia Smith, Kim Moody and Anne Carl welcomed almost 100 guests, who sipped wine and Champagne and noshed on beautiful delight bites “with very little tea in sight,” Roberts laughed.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties