Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Butler.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The initial idea for Yes Cocktail Company began while my now husband and I were on an international theatre tour. We spent our off stage time exploring the local culture, sampling the local cocktails, and developing our palates in each of the over 150 cities and towns we visited worldwide. When we left tour and settled in Central California, we discovered our thirst for cocktails hadn’t been quenched, but our ability to source the ingredients necessary to make these exotic libations had become quite difficult. Many of the products we purchased from big-box stores lacked in flavor and contained disappointingly fake ingredients. We knew there was a better way, so we began crafting our own syrups, bitters, and tinctures for home use. After many test batches, we decided it’d be fun to share our creations at our local farmer’s markets. Soon, we were frequenting nearly a dozen markets county-wide and developed a great local following. It wasn’t long before we began bottling product for distribution and shipping it nationwide! Today, we still handcraft (and personally taste test) every batch of Yes Cocktail Company products we make!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Creating a business from the ground up has not been easy! With each step forward, a new obstacle seems to present itself. For me, the ideas come easily, but the execution is the challenge. Sourcing ingredients, packaging, and even machinery is a huge challenge as we continue to grow, especially within the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting out, the biggest struggle was the unknown. Having never manufactured a product before, I didn’t even know where to begin. How to develop a product, manufacture it, package it, sell it, distribute it… all of these factors are unknowns. It was only by diving in with no fear, asking a TON of questions, and failing many times, that I was able to reach the place I am today. There is no one place to go to have every question answered! It’s not as though you can take a course or read a book or listen to a lecture and suddenly find yourself running a business successfully. It’s only through much trial and error that you’ll discover the answers you need to move forward. And even then, you’ll need to continue to adapt to each new challenge. I don’t believe I will ever have all the answers as a business owner — each day, I learn and grow a little bit more!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Yes Cocktail Company?
Yes, Cocktail Company crafts small-batch mixology goods for every kind of drinker; from the home bartender to the seasoned mixologist. Our focus is on 100% natural ingredients– only real fruit, herbs, spices, and botanicals make it into the finished products. In addition to our mixers, syrups, garnishes, and bitters, we also offer mixology classes in our Paso Robles tasting room!
Our Drink at home Club subscription box brings craft cocktails to your doorstep each season with club-exclusive products and recipes developed by professional mixologists.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Craft cocktails are on the rise! When we started Yes Cocktail Co. 5 years ago, we encountered many customers who not only weren’t ‘into cocktails’ they didn’t even know what a mixer was or how to make a simple drink! Craft mixology is currently where craft beer was in the early 2010s– there is still so much room for growth as consumers become more knowledgeable about spirits and cocktails!
Pricing:
- Mixers $17
- Syrups $15
- Bitters infused cocktail cubes $14
- Drink at Home Club $60/shipment
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.yescocktailco.com
- Instagram: @yescocktailco
- Facebook: @yescocktailco
Image Credits:
Mary Laiger Carlee Tatum
