"It is never easy, but never give up.”

These are the words of encouragement from entrepreneur Candice Hughes who ventured into a business that she had no idea about.

While she is no stranger to owning a business, the leap to produce a beverage line – Exquisite Liquors – was a chance worth taking.

Hughes, 39, is the owner of Exquisite Brands – a travel tour business – and also juggled the role of onsite coordinator and lecturer for the Pacific Lutheran University's Trinidad and Tobago summer semester programme until the covid19 pandemic struck in 2020.

Exquisite Brands was shut down because of the covid19 restrictions and her roles as coordinator and lecturer also came to a halt since schools and overseas travelling were stopped.

What to do? Hughes thought.

When she became jobless, Hughes said she thought that she would wait out the downturn. Months later, after applying for many jobs she was still without an income to support her two daughters, ages seven and 19.

[caption id="attachment_906866" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Candice Hughes connects with local farmers for ingredients to make Exquisite Backyard Punch. - Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

“Exquisite Liquors was born out of the need and determination to persevere because I did not have a stream of income after completely losing my jobs.

“It was the inspiration out of desperation because I needed to take care of my children and survive.”

Hughes said she was disappointed by not being able to find a job through the normal channels but was able to turn a skill she took for granted into income.

“I’m educated so I thought I would apply to various companies for a job. My savings started depleting and I was heading towards a low point.

“Within my family I have always been the juice queen. I never really thought I would end up making liquors and thought it would be my job.”

Hughes said by October 2020 she was still not convinced that her idea of Exquisite Liquors would be a success.

She decided to make sorrel liquor – a fusion of rum and sorrel — entering the Christmas season and realised doing so was not just about mixing juice and rum.

“I did not know anything about mixology and I reached out for help. There is no shame in asking for help because collaboration can help your business.

“You start where you are at and as you go along you learn, you network, you ask for guidance and get help from people and then you tweak and make it you own.”

Exquisite Liquors has two flavours — sorrel and a rum punch flavoured with oranges, pineapple and lime, which are available in supermarkets. Sorrel Liquor and Back Yard Rum Punch are sold at 750 millilitres.

[caption id="attachment_906863" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Candice Hughes checks the quality of her Back Yard Rum Punch. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

Hughes said the idea behind the products was to incorporate local flavours using local products.

“I connect with local farmers for my ingredients to make my rum punch, such as pineapple, orange and other local fruits and purchas

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