To celebrate the launch of our new Americana Collection, which includes the Heartland Bow Tie, Fuse Pin, and New England Multi Bezel Drop Earring, we teamed up with the exceptionally talented Julie McAllister to bring a bit of Nantucket magic to our world of feathered artistry. Inspired by wicker baskets, blooming hydrangeas, the glimmer of the sea, charming lighthouses, and the rich traditions that define the East Coast, this collection encapsulates the spirit of a classic coastal summer - a feeling you can carry with you all year long.
This is more than just a collection; it’s a romantic view into a lifestyle forged by nature, tradition, artistry, and pure relaxation. So, let’s unveil the creative process - slice by slice - and celebrate the rich stories that bring these handcrafted pieces to life.
The Americana Collection - A Celebration of All Things All-American
At Brackish, our Made in America philosophy guides everything we do. Each piece we create is handcrafted by a team of skilled artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, honoring traditional techniques while adding a sophisticated, stylish twist. The Americana Collection stands as a testament to this, reflecting a deep reverence for the enduring spirit of our country. This year, we’re proud to unveil a collection designed to celebrate that spirit - through artistry, texture, color, and careful details - made to be treasured for a lifetime.
The Heartland Bow Tie - A Modern Nod to Tradition
The Heartland Bow Tie is a true manifestation of the character, spirit, and resilience that define the American heartland. Crafted from goose and rooster feathers, this sophisticated piece boldly encapsulates the iconic stars and stripes - a rich symbol of unity, loyalty, and hope for the future. The Heartland Bow Tie resonates just as well at a stylish rooftop wedding, a Fourth of July barbecue, or a sophisticated dinner in town - a piece that merges classic style with a distinctly modern appeal.
Pair it with a crisp linen shirt or a tailored seersucker suit, and let your style celebrate all that’s boldly, beautifully, and unmistakably American.
The Fuse Pin - A Symbol of Celebration and Pride
Fireworks illuminate the night sky - a moment when magic, unity, and happiness collide. This feeling is precisely what we captured in The Fuse Pin. Crafted from a dramatic blend of vibrant rooster and goose feathers, The Fuse Pin is a sophisticated representation of our collective spirit - a testament to freedom, renewal, and tradition.
Whether you’re adding it to your lapel for a wedding, a holiday gathering, or simply a dinner by the water, The Fuse Pin adds a stylish spark, honoring a rich tradition while making a dramatic, stylishly modern, patriotic statement.
The New England Multi Bezel Drop Earring - Effortless Seaside Sophistication
When thinking about the classic Nantucket lifestyle, we picture the sun glimmering off the water, a gentle breeze tugging at a linen shirt, a classic woven basket filled with flowers, and the feeling of pure happiness. The New England Multi Bezel Drop Earring resonates with that feeling - a blend of seaside ease and sophisticated artistry.
Crafted with red, white, and blue rooster and goose feathers, these earrings pay homage to summers by the sea - sailboats gliding gracefully alongside the shore, children laughing, flags whipping in the breeze, and a deep reverence for the traditions that bring us together.
Whether you’re headed to a glamorous dinner by the docks or simply wish to add a stylish, coastal twist to your everyday look, these earrings illuminate your style with their refined, effortless allure.
The Story Behind Nantucket - A Heartfelt Nod to Coastal Tradition
The Americana Collection by Brackish is more than just a set of accessories - it’s a rich, soulful expression of a way of life. This collection is a heartfelt nod to the golden-hued nostalgia of summers by the sea - a time when worries fade, flags ripple in the breeze, children chase fireflies, and nights are filled with the magic of a community forged by shared traditions.
Inspired by the effortless allure of Nantucket summers, this capsule collection encapsulates the feeling you get while walking barefoot down a sun-bleached boardwalk, wearing lightweight linen, with the scent of salty air in your wake. Each piece resonates with stories of a rich past - a deep reverence for the traditions that connect us, a sincere passion for artistry, and a sophisticated understanding of style.
Brackish invites you to carry these stories forward - honoring the rich heritage while adding your own chapters - making every moment feel both timeless and distinctly your own. The Americana Collection doesn’t just celebrate a season; it encapsulates a way of life - a way that resonates with freedom, simplicity, unity, and renewal.
Serving Up Nantucket Style - Our Collaborative Experience with Julie McAllister
When we set out to bring the spirit of Nantucket to life, we knew we wanted to collaborate with someone who shared our passion for artistry, creativity, and the power of tradition. That’s why we turned to Julie McAllister, a renowned custom cake designer whose hyper-realistic creations blend artistry with flavor, turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary, sculptural delights.
Julie McAllister drew upon our Heartland Bow Tie’s rich texture and color to sculpt a stunning custom Nantucket wicker basket filled with iconic blue hydrangeas - an elegant reflection of our new collection. The result? An edible masterpiece that resonates with the feeling of a classic Nantucket summer - sophisticated, charming, and filled with pure happiness.
The Ultimate Nantucket Dessert — Julie’s Nantucket Cranberry Layer Cake
To celebrate this collaboration, Julie also created a Nantucket Cranberry Layer Cake (also known as Nantucket Cranberry Pie) - a rich, buttery, and tart dessert that encapsulates the flavor of a New England summer. This recipe invites you to bring a bit of Nantucket magic into your own home, adding a sweet note to your Fourth of July, wedding celebration, or weekend gathering.
Vanilla Almond Cake
Ingredients:
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1 ½ cup (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups (447g) granulated sugar
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2 cups (245g) cake flour
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3 ¾ tsp baking powder
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¾ tsp salt
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¾ cup (170g) buttermilk, room temp
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¾ cup (170g) sour cream, room temp
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1 tbsp vanilla extract
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1 tsp almond extract
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3 eggs
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2 egg yolks
Steps:
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Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter & lighty flour (3) 8” cake pans.
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In stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter & sugar together on medium high until light & fluffy, 5-7 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
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In a large liquid measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, vanilla, and almond extracts. Set aside.
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Once the butter & sugar are fully combined, add eggs & egg yolks on medium-low speed, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
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On low speed, add ⅓ of dry ingredients. Once combined, add ½ of wet ingredients. Repeat alternating additions of your dry & wet ingredients, ending with the the last ⅓ of dry ingredients.
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Divide batter evenly between the three cake pans. Bake for about 24 minutes, until a toothpick tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then flip out onto cooling rack & let cool completely.
Candied Walnuts
Ingredients:
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1 ½ cups walnut pieces, roughly chopped
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½ cup brown sugar
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1-2 tbsp unsalted butter
Steps:
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Line a sheet pan with a Silpat or piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
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In a sauté pan, heat the walnuts, brown sugar, & 1 tbsp of butter in a pan over medium heat until all sugar is melted (be careful not to let it burn!), about 5-7 minutes. If sugar has trouble melting, add the second tbsp of butter.
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Once all sugar is completely dissolved, remove from heat & pur covered walnuts onto your prepped sheet pan. Let cool completely.
Cranberry American Buttercream
Ingredients:
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⅔ cups cranberries (frozen or fresh)
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¼ granulated sugar
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Zest of 1 lemon
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1 ½ cups (3 sticks unsalted butter), softened
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6 cups (715g) powdered sugar
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1-2 tbsp vanilla extract
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½ tsp salt
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¼ heavy cream
Steps:
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Make the Cranberry Preserves: In a small saucepan, cook the cranberries, sugar, & lemon zest over medium heat until cranberries split & all liquid has evaporated (6-8 minutes). Remove from heat & use an immersion blender to breakup any larger cranberry pieces. Pour into liquid measuring cup & set aside (or covered in the fridge) to cool completely.
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Make the Buttercream: Once the cranberry preserves have cooled, beat butter & powdered sugar together in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium heat until smooth, 2-3 minutes. Add salt, vanilla, & heavy cream and continue mixing for another 1-2 minutes until completely smooth. Once smooth, add cranberry preserves on low speed, 2 tbsp at a time, until completely incorporated. Use to cover your cake immediately.
Assemble the Cake
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Place one cake layer on a flat plate or cake stand. Using an offset spatula, apply ¼ of the buttercream. Take ⅓ of the candied walnuts & sprinkle on top of the buttercream (if your walnuts dried in larger clumps, be sure to break apart with your fingers before adding to the cake so everything is bite-size). Repeat with remaining two cake layers. Use last remaining ¼ buttercream to cover sides of cake & sprinkle remaining candied walnuts around top rim of the cake. Enjoy!
Final Thoughts: The Americana Collection
As you gather with friends and family this summer - whether it’s for a holiday barbecue, a sunset dinner by the water, or a charming garden party - let the Americana Collection by Brackish be your finishing touch, adding character, texture, and a rich story to your style. From the sophisticated Heartland Bow Tie to the delicate New England Multi Bezel Drop Earrings, each piece resonates with the spirit of timeless tradition and coastal ease. So raise a toast to the magic of summers past, the promises of those yet to come, and the enduring allure of a well-lived, stylishly made moment - the very heart of Nantucket.
