The Leader • Saturday, October 5, 2019 • Page 1B
Area company becoming major player in mixer market By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Local residents Holly Tate and Bob Sutton used to work together at a staffing company. During the group’s evening happy hours, he shared a simple syrup he had made. “It was something he used to make sangria for family during the holidays,” Tate said of the syrup, which contains cinnamon and anise as well as cayenne pepper. “Everybody loved it.” When Sutton added it to some bourbon and had his best Old Fashioned ever, he knew he was on to something. After selling a number of bottles out of his house, Sutton asked Tate, who has sales and marketing experience, if she’d like to join forces. And Statesman Beverage Co. was born. “We’re a good team,” Tate said. For the first year, they introduced Sutton’s creation – called Sir Winston’s Spiced Simple Syrup – to the market. “It’s a fall flavor,” Tate said. “We say it’s Texas Christmas in a bottle.” Statesman’s second offering is called Sir Francis’ Mojito Simple Syrup and is marketed as a spring and summer craft cocktail staple. The names have significance. Statesman’s website explains that in the 1500s, when Sir Francis Drake visited Havana, the mojito was conceived to help sailors suffering from scurvy. In addition to cane sugar, limes and rum, the local Chuchuhuasi tree bark tea was added to the Cuban mojitos. Statesman’s version contains the organic bark. As for Sir Winston, look no further than hard-drinking politician Sir Winston Churchill, who enjoyed Scotch whiskey. Sutton and Tate’s products are gaining a wider audience, thanks to Stateman’s top20 finish in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best contest in August. Tate said they found out about the contest from the Texas Pickle Company. “There were 800 entries,” Tate said. “It was such an honor.” Tate said they are now in conversations with H-E-B about the possibility of having their syrups offered in the grocery stores. Statesman now offers its product in smaller stores across 21 states and on Amazon. com. “We love being in family boutiques,” Tate said. In Houston, customers can find them at Manready Mercantile on 19th Street, Forth & Nomad on Yale Street and the WilliamsSonoma in Highland Village and at Town & Country. Tate said they are working on a new syrup that is almost ready for market. They are also seeking to scale the business in order to meet new demand. “We are still hand-making the syrups,” Tate said. “We’re looking at Texas options to help us grow.” For more information, visit www.statesmanbeverage.co.
Bob Sutton, left, and Holly Tate have joined forces to spice up the craft cocktail with their booming business, Statesman Beverage Co.
Sir Francis’ Mojito Simple Syrup.
Photo courtesy of H-E-B
Photo courtesy of H-E-B
Photo courtesy of H-E-B
Sir Winston’s Spiced Simple Syrup.
WHITE OAK
CONFERENCE CENTER
If you haven’t visited or toured our center you don’t know how elegant and convenient we really are. Elegance and Convenience
Photo by Zarah Parker Valor Barbershop owner and former U.S. Army helicopter mechanic Brock Conrad said the common bond of military service is a conduit for talk about subjects not everyone can understand.
Barbershop giving back to those who gave it all By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
“We The People” is painted above the red, white and blue mirrors at Valor Barbershop. The chairs are accompanied by capes printed with the American flag. “I wanted a place where, No. 1, you could celebrate America,” said Brock Conrad, owner of Valor Barbershop. “People can come in and be a patriot, and veterans and first responders can feel at home.” Conrad, who served as a helicopter mechanic in the United States Army during the 1990s, opened Valor Barbershop, 2217 W. 34th St. Ste. E., on July 11. While everyone
is welcome, the space Conrad created is an outlet where veterans or first responders, both men and women, can talk about subjects not everyone can understand. “I’ll be cutting a guy’s hair and we can talk about the military or the Army, or what they’ve been through or what I’ve been through,” Conrad said. “We have a camaraderie.” Conrad experienced that recently when an elderly Vietnam War veteran came into the shop. Because of the extra time Conrad had, he didn’t have to rush the veteran’s shave or haircut, allowing him to tell multiple stories about his time in service.
While Conrad began cutting hair years ago, even during his time in the military, he didn’t go to school for it until six years ago. Then about three years ago, Conrad took a year off to study in different cities with the top brands in the hair industry to perfect his craft. “I’m licensed as a cosmetology instructor and a barber instructor, so I do both,” Conrad said. “So not only can I give a guy a really good fade and a really good shave, when it comes to the top of his hair and he has the really crazy cowlick, I can cut that hair.” His ultimate goal was to own his own shop, and the See Valor, P. 3B
Call now to get your booking early for Christmas parties or Fall celebrations.
Austin Ball Room
Choose from our uniquely designed Austin Ball Room and Houston Ball Room for your next special day or event.
Perfect for any gathering
Catering Services Available
• Conference or Office Meeting • Holiday Parties • Weddings & Receptions • Special Events
Houston Ball Room
Call now to reserve
713-895-8021
www.whiteoakconferencecenter.com