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 Louisiana heritage father 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.”
By Marcus Avery Christon
