Uncle Waithley’s

Uncle Waithley’s is a non-alcoholic Caribbean-style ginger beer made using traditional fermentation and brewing methods, developed by renowned mixologist and restauranteur Karl Franz Williams. Inspired by Karl’s heritage and coined “Vincy Brew” in reference to the island country Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uncle Waithley’s is the first ever packaged ginger beer made using Scotch bonnet chili peppers, a prized staple of Caribbean cuisine.

Named after Karl’s grandfather “Uncle Waithley”—who actually owned a ginger farm on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—Uncle Waithley’s began in Harlem in 2015 as a house-made ginger beer. As a mixologist and owner of acclaimed cocktail bars such as Harlem’s 67 Orange Street and New Haven’s Anchor Spa, Karl sought to create a ginger beer that was produced using traditional methods and real ingredients, could be enjoyed on its own as well as in cocktails, and most importantly, could credibly represent the Caribbean with cultural authenticity. After years of research and development, Uncle Waithley’s officially launched in 2022, quickly securing placements with both grocery chains and cocktail bars. 

Uncle Waithley’s is produced in small batches in Los Angeles, California, by lightly fermenting fresh, organic-certified Peruvian ginger, organic turmeric, and yeast for up to three days. After filtering the yeast, the fermented mash is combined with additional fresh ginger, Scotch bonnet chili peppers, lime juice, and mineral water in a nod to the abundant springs found throughout Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. After brewing, each batch is sweetened using cane sugar, carbonated, bottled, and pasteurized for shelf stability.

Versatile, complex, and packing plenty of heat, each expression of Uncle Waithley’s embodies the essence of the Caribbean by using spices and flavors found throughout the region. When used in cocktails, these are transformative ginger beers that can liven up or reinvent classic cocktails like the Dark and Stormy or Moscow Mule. Every Vincy brew, however, is delicious all by itself, from the bottle or poured over ice.