How Tipsy Lady Turns Heritage Into A Premium RTD w/ Toni Gilliard

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.A great drink story is never just about what’s in the can. We’re joined by serial entrepreneur and attorney Toni Gilliard, the founder behind Tipsy Lady, a Caribbean-inspired ready-to-drink canned cocktail line built from her own recipes and backed by a clean-ingredient mindset. We talk about what it really takes to turn a 20-year rum punch tradition into a premium RTD brand at 12% ABV, why that alcohol volume changes everything from grocery eligibility to state-by-state strategy, and how packaging choices like a 200 ml can fit the real moments people drink: on the boat, on the course, or at an outdoor event. Then we get into the unglamorous truth of beverage entrepreneurship and alcohol distribution. Tony breaks down the gatekeeping power of distributors, what happens when that middle layer changes overnight, and why supply chain control matters when your formula has 13 readable ingredients sourced from around the world. We also dig into the role of tasting and sampling, award credibility, and how earned media can move a brand when ad budgets are limited. If you care about CPG marketing, spirits industry rules, or how founders build traction, you’ll get a clear look at the playbook and the pressure. We also go beyond cocktails. Toni shares why she launched Resort Beverage Company, an all-natural mixer line designed for cocktails and mocktails, including pairing options for THC spirits, and why the non-alcohol market is not a trend but a long-term shift. Finally, she introduces Re-Entry OS, her recidivism prevention and re-entry tech concept that uses AI and workflow tools to help people transition from incarceration, build resumes, and stay compliant. If you like founder stories with real numbers, real obstacles, and real ambition, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people find the show.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors. King & Columbus is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in South Carolina that helps brands grow through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven strategy. They offer everything from branding and content creation to media planning, digital advertising, and PR—focused on delivering measurable results across digital, social, and traditional channels. https://kingandcolumbus.comSupport the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...