Coconut Cartel

What Coconut Cartel does

Coconut Cartel is a US-based, founder-owned premium rum brand founded in 2012 by the Zig siblings, headquartered in Miami, Florida, with rum production split between Guatemala (Añejo) and the Dominican Republic (Blanco). The company's signature production technique uses freshly harvested cold-chain coconut water as the proof-reduction diluent — replacing conventional water dilution — to brighten fruity and floral notes and suppress bitterness in the finished spirit. The Añejo (aged 4-12 years in new charred American white oak, $38 per 750ml) targets the sipping occasion, while the Blanco (a pot-and-column still blend at 92 proof, $29 per 750ml, launched Spring 2024) targets the cocktail occasion. Both SKUs are marketed as low-carb (<1g per serving) and free of artificial flavors or coloring, and are sold individually and through co-branded bundles with Chinola liqueurs.

The go-to-market blends direct-to-consumer e-commerce (coconutcartel.com, free shipping on 2+ bottles) with wholesale distribution through 2,000+ US retail doors including Total Wine, Publix, Walgreens, ABC Liquor, Spec's, and Goody, plus hundreds of independent retailers. Park Street Imports (Miami) serves as the official US importer and sole channel for the on-trade. Marketing is asset-led via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and an email newsletter, supported by a 18+ signature cocktail recipe library and a founding origin story (coconut smuggling into South Florida, celebrity clientele including Drake, Prince Harry, and Martha Stewart) that anchors earned media and brand cachet.

Revenue is undisclosed. The company received its first disclosed institutional capital from Endeavor Miami in September 2024 and operates with a 1-10 person team. Product has accumulated 2021 industry recognition including a San Francisco World Spirits Competition award and a 93-point rating, and the website reports 4.8/5 stars from 645 reviews with 93% five-star ratings.

Name

Coconut Cartel

Legal name

Coconut Cartel

Website

https://www.coconutcartel.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Coconut Cartel is a Miami-based, founder-owned premium rum brand that produces small-batch Guatemalan Añejo and Dominican Blanco rums cut to proof with fresh coconut water, sold through DTC e-commerce and 2,000+ US retail doors to premium spirits consumers and HoReCa accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through coconutcartel.com. Free shipping on 2+ bottles. One-time purchase model for bottles and bundles.
2. Retail Distribution: Wholesale distribution through major retail chains (Total Wine, ABC Liquor, Spec's, Publix, Goody, Walgreens) and independent retailers. Over 2,000 stores nationwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coconut Cartel produces and sells small-batch premium rums cut to proof with freshly harvested coconut water instead of traditional water dilution. The portfolio includes an aged Añejo rum (aged 4–12 years in new charred American white oak barrels, 80 proof, produced in Guatemala) and a Blanco rum (blend of unaged pot still and one-year-old column still rum, 92 proof, produced in the Dominican Republic), sold individually and as bundles to consumers and on-premise hospitality accounts.

Product overview

Coconut Cartel is a premium rum brand producing small-batch rums cut to proof with fresh coconut water. The core product lineup includes Añejo Rum (aged 4-12 years, 80 proof) and Blanco Rum (launched spring 2024, 92 proof), both featuring the brand's signature use of freshly harvested coconut water to naturally brighten flavors and cut the bite. These are sold individually and as bundles, including collaboration bundles with Chinola liqueurs (Tropical Bundle and Mango y Blanco Bundle). All products are made in collaboration with growers and distillers in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum Premium aged sipping rum (750mL, 40% ABV / 80 proof) aged 4–12 years in new charred American white oak barrels and cut to proof with freshly harvested coconut water. Features tropical aromas of coconut, banana, mango, and vanilla with tasting notes of plantain, caramel, sandalwood, and burnt brown sugar. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Targeted at premium spirits consumers.
• Coconut Cartel Blanco Rum Premium white rum (750mL, 46% ABV / 92 proof) launched Spring 2024, made from 100% estate-grown sugarcane juice in the Dominican Republic and blended with fresh coconut water. Features tasting notes of fresh cane, unripe banana, marshmallow, white pepper, and coriander. Best enjoyed in cocktails such as Daiquiris, Mojitos, and Espresso Martinis.
• Coconut Cartel Rum Bundle Bundle containing one 750mL bottle each of Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum and Blanco Rum, offering two distinct rum profiles for both sipping and cocktails. Priced at $67.00.
• Coconut Cartel x Chinola Tropical Bundle Collaboration bundle with Chinola passion fruit liqueur including one 750mL bottle of Coconut Cartel rum, one 750mL bottle of Chinola passion fruit liqueur, and a recipe card for four tropical cocktails. Priced at $70.99.
• Coconut Cartel Mango y Blanco Bundle Bundle featuring Coconut Cartel Blanco rum paired with Chinola Mango Liqueur, including one 750mL bottle of each plus a recipe card. Priced at $61.99.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of reviews are 5-star ratings with 4.8 average from 645 reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ChinolacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branding partnership for tropical cocktail bundles. Products include Tropical Bundle (Coconut Cartel + Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur) at $70.99 and Mango y Blanco Bundle (Coconut Cartel Blanco + Chinola Mango Liqueur) at $61.99. Chinola is the world's first vine-to-bottle fresh fruit liqueur, estate grown and handcrafted in the Dominican Republic since 2014.
• Park Street ImportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial US importer for Coconut Cartel rum products. Based in Miami, FL. Handles all US distribution logistics for the brand.
• Total WinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail distribution partner. Available in Total Wine stores nationwide.
• PublixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail distribution partner. Available in Publix grocery stores.
• WalgreensmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner. Available in Walgreens stores nationwide.
• ABC LiquormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner. Available in ABC Liquor stores.
• Spec'smajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner. Available in Spec's liquor stores.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ron Zacapa: Guatemalan premium sipping rum aged in the highlands using solera method. Most directly comparable peer — same country of origin as Coconut Cartel's Añejo, similar premium positioning, and similar use case as a sipping rum with rich tasting notes.
• Flor de Caña: Nicaraguan premium aged rum from estate-grown sugarcane, marketed as a sipping rum with sustainability credentials. Comparable as another Central American premium rum with terroir-driven positioning and multi-year aging.
• Diplomático Rum: Venezuelan premium sipping rum with multi-year aging portfolio. Comparable as a craft-positioned, award-winning sipping rum targeted at premium cocktail bars and dark-spirit crossover consumers.
• Brugal: Dominican Republic premium rum producer with both aged and unaged offerings. Directly comparable geographic overlap with Coconut Cartel's Blanco production in the Dominican Republic, with similar sugarcane-to-bottle estate operations.
• Plantation Rum: French-owned premium rum brand with Caribbean-sourced aged rums. Comparable as a craft premium sipping rum brand with cocktail mixology heritage and presence in upscale on-premise accounts.
• Rhumerie Clément: Martinique AOC agricole rum producer with aged sipping portfolio. Comparable as a terroir-driven, estate-produced premium rum with strong collector/sipping positioning and limited US distribution scale.
• Don Q: Puerto Rican rum producer with broad portfolio spanning sipping and mixing expressions. Comparable as a Hispanic Caribbean premium rum brand with broad retail and on-premise distribution across the US.

Broad incumbents

• Mount Gay: Established Barbados rum producer with mass-market and premium expressions. Comparable as a premium aged sipping rum targeting cocktail enthusiasts, with substantially larger marketing and distribution scale.
• Captain Morgan: Mass-market spiced rum owned by Diageo with dominant US off-premise shelf presence. Comparable as a rum brand competing for the same retail buyer attention and consumer occasions, though positioned at much lower price point and scale.
• Malibu Rum: Mass-market coconut-flavored rum owned by Pernod Ricard. Comparable as a coconut-themed rum consumer brand, though positioned as a sweet, low-ABV mixer rather than a premium sipping spirit like Coconut Cartel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/coconutcartel
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoconutCartel
• Instagraminstagram.com/coconutcartel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coconut Cartel