The first taste of peanut butter changed his life forever.
Successful founder and entrepreneurs are often asked what they wanted to be when they grew up . It ’s a fairly round-eyed interrogation that is meet with answers that range from “ astronaut ” to “ fire-eater , ” but for most ofSkrewball Peanut Butter Whiskeyfounder Steven Yeng ’s puerility , he was simply focused on subsist .
Born in Cambodia , Yeng became a victim of polio at the young geezerhood of one , leave his left leg paralyze . Without the ability to access quality healthcare in Cambodia , his parents made the tough decision to go away the country and move to Thailand , where they lived in a refugee camp for six years .
Skrewball ’s signature peanut butter - flavored whisky was inspired by that feeling , and the brand ’s ethos represent Yeng ’s spirit in more ways than one . The name “ Skrewball ” was straightaway inspired by how he felt growing up as a self - described outsider , or bootleg sheep , being a non - English speaking immigrant in America .
Founder of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Steven Yeng|Photo by Walking Eagle Photography, Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist
“ I had about six surgeries , and my peg had thole the size of a pencil going through one to the other , because the depart one was growing slower , ” he says . “ So , guess a Kyd that did n’t verbalise a word of English , was in a wheelchair , and was extremely wretched , and I would tire the same clothes a lot of the time . meet in was really problematic . ”
put forward Buddhist , Yeng and his siblings were taught lessons about never fall back to violence or ire — instead choosing kindness . Reflecting on that time , Yeng say his category also felt the demand to constantly fit the stamp of the “ model nonage , ” not acting up or standing out .
Yeng state that develop up , he matte up embarrassed of his Cambodian culture , refuse to watch movies or heed to songs from his place body politic — wanting so bad to agree in with the American refinement he now saw around him at school .
Despite Yeng ’s difficultness fit in as a minor , it was actually during unproblematic school that he satisfy his now - wife and business partner , Brittany . Yeng ’s parents possess a sinker shop that Brittany ’s female parent would play her to , and the two of them quickly created a friendly relationship that has evolved into a lifelong partnership . A attorney and chemist , Brittany put her skills to the work helping Yeng make for his vision of a delicious - taste monkey nut butter whiskey to life , and shrugged off rejections and naysayer along the way .
“ No enquiry and development squad even scram back to us , ” Yeng say . “ But [ Brittany ] was able to employ her background to make the stigma , using the sympathy of my heritage , my tale , why earthnut butter is so important to me and my family , and used her chemistry backcloth to formulate the world ’s first peanut butter whisky . ”
Since launch Skrewball in 2019 , the duo has seen their efforts devote off big fourth dimension . In just two yr , the troupe has sold over one million cases of their Arachis hypogaea butter whiskey , and in 2021 , it achieved a thinker bowl over consumer retail growth pace of nearly 2,000 % . A shrewd merchandising scheme has involved partnership with societal medium influencers , local bartenders , and well - known distributors around the state .
Steven Yeng and his family in the refugee camp|Photo courtesy of Steven Yeng
Plus , the familiar flavor of peanut butter ( in anever - growingflavored whisky category ) pull on some nostalgic heartstrings while also adding something unexampled and exciting to popular cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Espresso Martini .
“ When you evidence your parents , ‘ Hey , I want to be in the alcohol industry , ’ they ’re like , ‘ Oh my god , we have a black sheep on our hands . ’ ” Yeng says . “ But I find out a team of citizenry who think in this companionship , and now we work together as a family . We found our crew , and at the end of the twenty-four hours , we ’re just hoping that Skrewball wreak more people together . ”
Through it all , Yeng has even learned to embrace his root and reconcile with his hard past . He and Brittany even took their young daughter to confabulate the Kampuchean refugee inner circle that Yeng once called home .
Photo courtesy of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
“ Now interpret the culture , understanding the songs and watching the movies with my parent , which I hat before , I ’ve realized there are a lot of life lessons and battle that prompt me of what they ’ve get going through in their biography , ” he says . “ Now it really bring me back to well-chosen memories of my block puerility . ”
The Skrewball Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients:• 1½ ounces Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey• ¾ ounces rye whiskey whiskey• 4 dash Angostura Bitters
Directions : conjure all of your ingredients together in a mixing glass using a cocktail spoonful , then stream into a rocks glass with one large ice cube . Garnish with a cherry and orange plait .
Brittany Merrill-Yeng and Steven Yeng|Photo courtesy of Steven Yeng
Skrewball Old Fashioned|Photo courtesy of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
