Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast

What if you took 2,000 years of Italian history… and turned it into vodka?This week on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, I’m joined by Frank Grillo, founder of Altamura Distilleries, and this is a brilliant story of how a chance idea became a premium Italian vodka now being poured around the world.It all started with Frank baking a loaf of Pane di Altamura in his kitchen in Atlanta, using the ancient durum wheat grown around Altamura in Puglia.One thought followed:“If you boil that, it would have been a bottle of vodka.”And that was the beginning. 🥃In this episode, we talk about:🌾 The 2,000-year-old wheat behind Altamura Vodka, and why its provenance and terroir make it so distinctive💡 How a completely accidental idea turned into Frank's first entrepreneurial venture🇮🇹 Moving from the US to Italy, and discovering the realities of trying to build a drinks business there🤝 Why convincing the local wheat-growing family to let him distil their prized grain felt like “asking for a daughter’s hand in marriage”🍸 How relationships with some of the world’s leading bartenders and cocktail bars transformed the trajectory of the brand🚀 Going from a small Italian launch to distribution across 20+ countries and 25 US states🏨 Breaking into luxury hospitality and seeing Altamura behind the bars of some of the world's most prestigious hotels🎯 Why Frank believes a great liquid is only the starting point, and that every successful drinks brand needs a story people can genuinely connect with🦁 The story behind Altamura's lion, and the brand's growing relationship with the Born Free Foundation🍹 And Frank's wonderfully Italian approach to entrepreneurial frustration:"Get one thing done before lunch. If you can't? Have a Negroni and try again tomorrow!"This is a fantastic conversation about provenance, storytelling, taking chances, navigating rapid growth and building a global drinks brand from an idea that almost happened by accident.🎙️ Frank Grillo | Altamura DistilleriesComing Friday on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🍸 From Bar to Bottle: Building Rythmik Cocktails with Tash & Antosh SamekWhat happens when an experienced bar owner and a drinks branding strategist decide to build a cocktail brand together?For brother and sister Antosh and Tash Samek, the answer became Rythmik Cocktails - a range of bar-quality bottled cocktails where mixology meets music, with every drink accompanied by its own carefully curated playlist.But Rythmik wasn't originally supposed to become a drinks brand.When lockdown closed Antosh's bar after more than a decade in hospitality, customers started asking whether they could have his cocktails delivered to their homes. What began with small batches and blank bottles soon revealed a much bigger opportunity.Antosh brought years of experience behind the bar - including an earlier career with Bacardi Brown-Forman - while Tash brought a career spent creating and positioning drinks brands. Together, they began figuring out how to turn cocktails designed for a busy bar into a product capable of sitting on a retail shelf.And that meant learning an entirely new business almost from scratch. In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, we explore:🍸 How lockdown transformed a bar product into a drinks brand - and why Antosh ultimately chose the scalability of bottles over opening more bars.🎵 Why every Rythmik cocktail has its own soundtrack - and how music became an authentic part of the brand rather than simply a marketing device.🧪 The obsession behind creating genuinely bar-quality bottled cocktails - from testing ingredients and perfecting shelf-stable recipes to refusing to compromise simply to reduce costs.🎨 What happens when a professional brand strategist builds her own brand - and Tash's experience of going from working with major drinks budgets to discovering the very different realities of entrepreneurship.🛒 Breaking into retail and hospitality - including Rythmik's journey into John Lewis, events such as Henley Regatta and the Affordable Art Fair, and the growing opportunity within the on-trade.📈 The economics of building a drinks business - why every marketing opportunity has to be a calculated gamble and the brilliantly simple question they use when considering expenditure: how many cocktails do we need to sell to pay for this?👫 What it's really like building a company with your sibling - the advantages of trust, discovering how differently you work, finding clear responsibilities and even drafting Mum and Dad into the operation when Christmas demand takes off.💡 The lessons five years of entrepreneurship have taught them - including becoming comfortable with not knowing the answer, asking others for help and learning that sometimes you simply have to ask for the opportunity.Rythmik is now stocked in John Lewis, has built a loyal direct-to-consumer following and is expanding its presence across retail, hospitality and events - but Tash and Antosh are equally candid about how much work sits behind that progress. It's a conversation about cocktails, branding and music, but also about something much bigger: making the leap from being an expert in your profession to becoming an entrepreneur — where suddenly everything is your responsibility.🎙️ A brilliant founder story for anyone interested in drinks, hospitality, branding or the realities of building a consumer brand from the ground up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🍷 How a Lockdown Pivot Became a Drinks Industry Innovation | Online Tasting CoOpening a new wine business just 36 days before the UK went into lockdown could have been the end.Instead, it became the beginning of something entirely unexpected.In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with Jamie Smith, co-founder of Online Tasting Co and EcoSip, to explore how a business built around in-person wine experiences reinvented itself during COVID and went on to create an innovative packaging solution that's now trusted by organisations including The Wine Society, Naked Wines and WSET.From delivering wine samples by hand during lockdown to building a specialist clean-room production facility and producing more than two million premium wine samples, Jamie shares the entrepreneurial journey behind one of the drinks industry's most innovative businesses.We discuss:🍷 Opening a wine business just weeks before lockdown📦 Creating EcoSip's pioneering single-serve wine technology🚀 Turning a crisis into an entirely new business model🌍 Why alternative packaging could transform the future of wine💡 Building trust, scaling innovation and challenging industry traditionWhether you're a drinks entrepreneur, wine lover or founder looking to innovate in a traditional industry, this episode is packed with practical lessons on resilience, creativity and spotting opportunity where others see obstacles.Out on Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and also on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ Coming This Friday | Episode 9What do you do after spending 37 years as a Royal Marine?For Rory Copinger-Symes, the answer wasn't consulting, retirement or the corporate world.Instead, he launched Commando Spirit.In this week's episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Rory shares the remarkable journey from military service to building an award-winning spirits brand inspired by the values, traditions and ethos of the Commandos.🥃 How a whisky blending session in Scotland changed everything🏄 Living in Hawaii before retirement and discovering a new purpose🚀 Launching a spirits brand with no previous drinks industry experience⚔️ Navigating trademark battles, business setbacks and industry challenges🍸 Creating unique products inspired by Dartmoor and Commando training📈 Growing a premium brand through authenticity, community and storytelling❤️ Supporting military charities through the businessOne comment from Rory really stood out:"I had no business plan. I had no idea what I was doing. I just had an idea and decided to make it happen."A fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, brand building and finding a new mission after a lifetime of service.🎧 Episode 9 launches Friday.#DrinksEntrepreneurPodcast #CommandoSpirit #Entrepreneurship #RoyalMarines #FounderStory #DrinksIndustry #Whisky #Gin #Rum #BrandBuilding #PremiumSpirits #BusinessGrowth #VeteranOwned #CraftSpirits #DrinksEntrepreneur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, I sat down with Oliver Day, founder of G&D (Gin & Dubonnet) and creator of The Spirit of British Mischief.From his background as a dairy farmer in Somerset to launching a premium ready-to-drink version of the late Queen Elizabeth II's favourite cocktail, Oliver shares the fascinating story behind the brand and how a simple idea evolved into a growing drinks business.We discuss:🥃 The inspiration behind G&D and its royal heritage👑 Why Gin & Dubonnet became known as the Queen's favourite cocktail🐄 Oliver's journey from dairy farming to drinks entrepreneur🎠 Building the brand at events including Badminton Horse Trials and Chelsea Flower Show📈 Growing a premium drinks business while staying true to the brand vision💡 The realities of launching a new product and getting it into consumers' handsA brilliant conversation packed with entrepreneurial insight, determination, and a healthy dose of British mischief.🎧 Coming soon on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast#DrinksEntrepreneur #Podcast #GinAndDubonnet #Gin #Entrepreneurship #DrinksIndustry #FounderStory #BritishBrands #BusinessPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Sylvester Herman, founder of Island Slice Rum.From creating a Caribbean-inspired rum brand in Scotland to navigating the challenges of launching in a crowded drinks market, Sylvester shares the story behind Island Slice and the lessons he's learned along the way.We discuss:🍍 The rise of flavoured rum🥃 Building the Island Slice brand🌴 Bringing Caribbean heritage to the UK market📈 Growing a drinks business from scratch⚖️ Balancing quality, authenticity, and accessibilityA fascinating conversation with a founder whose journey is as unique as the brand he's building.🎧 Available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there still room to stand out in the crowded gin market?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with the founder of Warwickshire Gin Company, Dave Blick, to explore how they’re building a distinctive craft spirits brand rooted in quality, provenance, and local identity.From starting small to scaling a premium gin business, this conversation dives into the realities of building in one of the UK’s most competitive categories.They cover:The origin story of Warwickshire Gin CompanyStanding out in an oversaturated gin marketThe role and importance of local identity and craft in brand buildingScaling from start-up to established brandLessons learned along the journeyWhether you're a drinks founder, brand builder, or gin enthusiast, this episode offers a grounded look at what it really takes to succeed in craft spirits today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to build a premium rum brand in a category still fighting outdated perceptions?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with the Dave Howarth, the founder behind House of Rum to explore how they’re reshaping the way consumers think about rum and building a brand to match. Dave also has a very interesting backstory before he entered the world of rum as well!From positioning and storytelling to the realities of launching in a competitive spirits market, this is a deep dive into what it really takes to create a modern premium drinks brand.They cover:The story behind House of RumWhy rum is misunderstood and how that’s changingBuilding a premium brand in a crowded spirits categoryThe importance of education and storytellingLessons from launching and growing a drinks businessAnd, a first for the podcast, tasting 3 fantastic rums, live on the recordingWhether you're a founder, brand builder, or spirits enthusiast, this episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the most exciting categories in drinks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to reinvent one of the UK’s oldest drinks categories?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with John Logue, founder of Chance Clean Cider, to unpack how he’s building a modern cider brand designed for today’s consumer.From early-stage challenges to standing out in a crowded market, John shares the realities of launching and scaling a drinks business—and why “clean” is more than just a buzzword.They cover:The origin story behind Chance Clean CiderWhat “clean” means in today’s drinks landscapeBreaking into the cider category as a challenger brandThe role of weather, seasonality, and consumer trendsLessons learned from building a drinks startupWhether you're a founder, operator, or just curious about the future of cider, this is a candid look at what it really takes to build a brand in today’s drinks industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if wine could still feel like wine — just without the full-strength consequences?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Russ Lamb, co-founder of 6Percent Wine: a brand built around a simple but powerful idea: creating genuinely good-tasting, mid-strength wine for people who still want the wine experience, but not the next-day fog.Russ shares how he and his wife, Gabi, went from loving wine and running wine tastings to spotting a clear gap in the market after becoming parents. Frustrated by the lack of quality lower-alcohol options, they decided to create their own, and ended up building an entirely new proposition in the process.From searching the world for the right partners, to spending two years developing the liquid in Bordeaux, to helping define the emerging mid-strength drinks category, this is a brilliant conversation about spotting an opportunity, backing your instincts, and building a challenger brand in a traditional industry.In this episode we discuss:• The story behind launching 6Percent Wine• Why parenthood changed Russ and Gabi’s relationship with wine• The gap between full-strength and alcohol-free drinks• How they developed a genuinely good-tasting 6% wine in Bordeaux• Why 6% became the sweet spot for flavour, balance and occasion• The creation of the Mid-Strength Collective• Building a new category in drinks rather than just a new product• Retail growth, subscriptions, supermarkets, and the next phase of expansionThis episode is perfect for:• Drinks founders and entrepreneurs• Anyone building a challenger brand• People interested in the future of alcohol consumption• Wine lovers looking for smarter ways to enjoy it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when you can’t find a drink you actually want to drink?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Kerry and Amy, co-founders of Eufloria — a Norfolk-based functional drinks brand created to offer a genuinely enjoyable alternative to traditional soft drinks and alcohol.Frustrated by the lack of sophisticated, low-sugar, alcohol-free options, they decided to build their own. What followed was a journey of kitchen experiments, herbalists, production setbacks, crowdfunding, and a steep learning curve in an industry they had never worked in before.The result is Eufloria — a premium range of botanical drinks designed to give people more choice, without compromising on taste or experience.This is an honest and refreshing conversation about starting from scratch, figuring things out as you go, and building something meaningful in the drinks industry.In this episode we discuss:• The moment they decided to create their own drink • Building a drinks brand with no industry experience • Developing functional botanical flavours from scratch • Early production challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned • Funding the business through Kickstarter • Finding customers and getting onto retail shelves • Their plans for growth, including cans, new flavours, and expansionIf you’re interested in drinks startups, alcohol-free innovation, or the reality of building a brand from nothing, this is a brilliant episode.Follow Euphoria on social media to keep up with their journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if wine lovers could help decide how a wine is made?In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Alex Brogan, founder of Not Yet Named Wine Co. — a unique wine company where members vote on the key decisions that shape each vintage.From choosing the vineyard and harvest date to fermentation methods and label design, Alex has built a community-driven wine business that puts drinkers at the heart of the winemaking process.Alex shares the fascinating story behind the idea, how he moved from management consulting at PwC into winemaking, and how the concept has evolved into a global project producing wines across Portugal, Chile, California, South Africa, Slovenia, Australia, Italy and now Argentina.The conversation explores the challenges of building a drinks brand, the realities of winemaking across different regions, and how community can become a powerful driver of loyalty in the wine world.In this episode we discuss:• Alex’s journey from Majestic Wine to PwC and eventually into winemaking• The story behind Not Yet Named Wine Co. and its democratic winemaking model• How members vote on key decisions that shape each vintage• Producing wines across multiple countries and regions• Building a subscription wine business and loyal community• Expanding into premium wines and trade distribution• The unexpected realities of harvest — including wild boar eating an entire vineyardIf you’re interested in the drinks industry, wine entrepreneurship, or the stories behind how great drinks brands are built, this is a fascinating look inside a truly unique wine business.To learn more about Alex Brogan and Not Yet Named Wine Co., visit:notyetnamedwineco.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.