We Ask Yael “Stormborn” Vengroff how to shape today’s cocktail culture

Yael “Stormborn” Vengroff, is a fierce talent shaping today’s cocktail culture with her innovative libations.

Stormborn, a dynamic figure shaping today’s cocktail culture with her innovative libations, embarked on her journey in New York City’s East Village, starting as a barback and seizing every opportunity to learn. Her relentless drive and eagerness to master the craft led her to work alongside industry giants like Alex Day, Audrey Saunders, and Giuseppe Gonzalez. Her accolades include winning the national Speed Rack Championship and earning the title of “Fastest Hands in the West.” She’s also been recognized in Zagat’s prestigious “30 Under 30” list, showcasing her ascent from barback to nationally acclaimed mixologist, mirroring the evolution of modern culinary and cocktail scenes.

Stormborn’s newest venture is brand ambassador for STRANGE WATER Coconut Water. With a background in beverage operations for STRANGER THAN, Stormborn has collaborated with Tal Ohana for about three years. Their partnership began with a shared passion for creating unique and experiential impacts in the event space. When Ohana expressed interest in developing a coconut water brand, Stormborn immediately offered a connection, leading to the first samples and subsequent development of the product. This collaboration has allowed Stormborn to make significant contributions to product development alongside her partner.

Outside of traditional hospitality, Stormborn serves as the VP of Beverage and Operations for globally recognized events such as Mayan Warriors, Boiler Room, and STRANGER THAN. This extensive experience in the event industry has fueled her desire to make a global impact through beverage programming. Stormborn aims to influence people across state and country lines by bringing innovative drinks to festivals, events, and the product development sphere with STRANGE WATER.

“I would love to make a global impact. As a beverage programmer for corporate international entities, the idea of affecting people across state and even country lines with liquid to lips is immensely stimulating to me,” says Stormborn.

Stormborn has recently been experimenting with sparkling coconut water in her cocktail creations. With zero-proof cocktails on the rise, Stormborn says coconut water is a perfect fit. “I am an absolute sucker for anything sparkling. To us (Tal Ohana), it was important to be able to provide a hydration worthy beverage that also packed immense flavor. I had messed around with attempting to carbonate coconut water for years and the yield was always a bummer. The idea and influence for the sparkling SKU (STRANGE WATER) was very much based on hydration, but also on impacting the flavor and dilution of a drink in a much more magnificent way.” Her creations, such as the perfectly balanced Guava Coconut Paloma with tangy Blanco Tequila, the boldly complex Smokeshow driven by Mezcal, and the uniquely aromatic Yuzu Spritz, highlight her innovative approach and commitment to quality, while keeping approachability intact. As someone who has successfully navigated a highly competitive industry, Stormborn has simple advice to give to aspiring mixologists:

“Learn how to build your own knight. No one else is doing this for you anymore.”

Guava Coconut Paloma

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Blanco Tequila
0.75 oz Grapefruit Juice (fresh or perricone if possible)
0.75 oz Lime Juice (fresh or perricone if possible)
0.75 oz Guava Cordial (special Yael concoction)
0.5 oz Ancho Reyes Verde
1 oz Sparkling Coconut Water

Yuzu Spritz

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Gin
3 oz Junmai Sake
0.5 oz Lime (fresh or perricone if possible)
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Yuzu Juice
2 oz Sparkling Coconut Water

Smokeshow

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Mezcal
0.75 oz Lime (fresh or perricone if possible)
0.75 oz Pineapple Juice
0.75 oz Cinnamon Syrup (use Monin Cinnamon or make your own*)
1 oz Sparkling Coconut Water

For each cocktail: Combine all ingredients in a chilled glass and enjoy!