Southbound Tequila
Southbound Tequila is a Nashville-based premium tequila brand launched in 2023, selling Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions made from a Jalisco lowland-highland agave blend, distributed via DTC e-commerce (ReserveBar-powered) and select Tennessee and Florida retailers to cocktail enthusiasts and home entertainers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Southbound Tequila does
Southbound Tequila, operating as SB Brands, LLC (DBA Southbound Tequila), is a US-based premium tequila brand headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, that launched commercially in August 2023. The company produces three 100% Blue Agave tequila expressions — Blanco (unaged), Reposado (aged 2+ months), and Añejo (aged 1+ year) — all crafted from a proprietary blend of lowland and highland Jalisco agave, processed via a hybrid brick-oven and autoclave cooking method with up to 60 hours of open-air fermentation, and aged in Tennessee Whiskey barrels. The brand was co-founded by Ivey Childers (former IveyCake founder), Ryan Santi, and Austin Sherman, supported by $3.3 million in pre-launch funding.
The company monetizes through one-time product sales of its three tequila SKUs plus branded merchandise (t-shirts), distributed via a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at drinksouthbound.com powered by ReserveBar/Liquid (with nationwide shipping) and through select retail accounts in Tennessee and Florida. Its go-to-market centers on content marketing through a 35+ recipe library, earned media across Parade, OK! Magazine, and StyleCaster, and a celebrity-driven YouTube series ('Garden to Glass' with Carrie Underwood). Primary customer personas are cocktail enthusiasts, at-home entertainers, and professional mixologists, with the brand positioning itself as a versatile, all-occasion premium spirit designed to perform in cocktails while remaining palatable as a neat sipper.
The business is privately held with 1–10 employees and no disclosed revenue or institutional funding beyond the initial $3.3M raise; ownership is concentrated among the three co-founders with no publicly identified institutional investors, PE backing, or parent company. Distribution remains regionally limited (TN/FL retail) despite nationwide e-commerce reach, and the brand has not yet disclosed awards, patents, regulatory actions, or material leadership changes since launch.
Southbound Tequila firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southbound Tequila
- Legal name
- SB Brands, LLC
- Website
- https://drinksouthbound.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Southbound Tequila is a Nashville-based premium tequila brand launched in 2023, selling Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions made from a Jalisco lowland-highland agave blend, distributed via DTC e-commerce (ReserveBar-powered) and select Tennessee and Florida retailers to cocktail enthusiasts and home entertainers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southbound Tequila industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise) (CRANAAAA)
Keywords
Where Southbound Tequila is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southbound Tequila business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Spirits Product Sales: Southbound Tequila generates revenue through direct-to-consumer online sales via their e-commerce platform and retail sales through select Tennessee and Florida retailers. The company sells three tequila expressions: Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo. Additional revenue derived from merchandise sales (branded t-shirts).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Southbound Tequila product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southbound Tequila produces and sells three premium 100% Blue Agave tequila expressions — Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo — crafted from a proprietary lowland-and-highland Jalisco agave blend, with the aged expressions finished in Tennessee Whiskey barrels. The company distributes through its own e-commerce store and select retailers in Tennessee and Florida, and also sells branded merchandise.
Product overview
Southbound Tequila is a premium tequila brand offering three core expressions—Blanco (unaged), Reposado (aged 2+ months), and Añejo (aged 1+ year)—all crafted from 100% Blue Agave grown in Jalisco, Mexico's lowland and highland regions. The brand was co-founded by Ivey Childers, Ryan Santi, and Austin Sherman in 2023, with funding of $3.3 million. Southbound Tequila positions itself as an all-occasion spirit ideal for both cocktail mixing and neat sipping. The company also sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, and maintains an online recipe collection featuring their tequila products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Southbound Blanco Tequila Unaged premium tequila made from 100% Blue Agave from Jalisco, Mexico, with tasting notes of cooked agave, complex pepper and spice, herbs, citrus with a hint of fruit. Distilled to 80 Proof (40% ABV). Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO, and Vegan.
- Southbound Reposado Tequila Premium Reposado tequila aged over 2 months in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels, with tasting notes of cooked agave, soft spice, subtle wood notes, and light chocolate. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO, and Vegan.
- Southbound Añejo Tequila Premium Añejo tequila aged over 1 year in Tennessee Whiskey Barrels, featuring notes of vanilla, chocolate, hints of spice, and wood notes. Designed as the ultimate slow sipping experience. Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO, and Vegan.
- Southbound Merchandise (T-Shirts) Branded apparel including faded t-shirts in various colors (Black, Brown, Eucalyptus, Indigo) featuring Southbound logo and Rediscover Tequila messaging.
Quantifiable outcome
- Featured in Parade's '21 Women-Led Spirits Brands You Need to Know About'
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Southbound Tequila
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Southbound Tequila technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Southbound Tequila partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ReserveBar/LiquidcoreReserveBar/Liquid provides the e-commerce platform infrastructure for Southbound Tequila's online sales. Liquid is owned and operated by ReserveBar and powers the checkout, payment processing, and fulfillment for online orders placed through drinksouthbound.com.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southbound Tequila competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teremana Tequila: Dwayne Johnson-founded premium tequila brand; comparable as a celebrity-anchored premium tequila with DTC emphasis and storytelling around craftsmanship and heritage.
- Casamigos Tequila: Celebrity-founded (George Clooney) premium tequila brand offering Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions; sold to Diageo for ~$1B. Most directly comparable to Southbound on celebrity-backed premium positioning and three-expression portfolio.
- Casa Del Sol Tequila: Eva Longoria-founded ultra-premium tequila with multiple aged expressions; directly comparable on celebrity-founded premium tequila positioning and storytelling-led brand building.
- Código 1530: Premium tequila brand with Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions backed by George Strait and others; comparable on premium positioning, aging program, and celebrity-driven distribution strategy.
- Clase Azul: Ultra-premium tequila brand known for handcrafted decanters and gifting positioning; comparable on premium gifting, special-occasion positioning, and emphasis on artisanal production narrative.
- 818 Tequila: Kendall Jenner-founded premium tequila brand with Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions. Direct comparison on celebrity-led premium tequila positioning and direct-to-consumer-led launch strategy.
- Lobos 1707: Premium tequila brand with celebrity investors (LeBron James) and a Blanco/Reposado/Añejo line; comparable on premium positioning, celebrity backing, and DTC-led launch playbook.
- DeLeón Tequila: Premium tequila brand with celebrity association (Diddy) and full Blanco/Reposado/Añejo lineup; comparable on premium positioning, celebrity-driven marketing, and DTC emphasis.
Broad incumbents
- Patrón Tequila: Bacardi-owned premium tequila brand with broad national and global distribution across multiple expressions; comparable as the incumbent premium tequila category leader Southbound competes with for shelf and mind share.
- Don Julio: Established premium tequila brand (Diageo) with broad Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and 1942 lineup; comparable as a category-defining premium tequila benchmark Southbound must measure against.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southbound Tequila social profiles
Digital presenceSouthbound Tequila financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southbound Tequila leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Southbound Tequila funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southbound Tequila M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southbound Tequila
What does Southbound Tequila do?
Southbound Tequila produces and sells three premium 100% Blue Agave tequila expressions — Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo — crafted from a proprietary lowland-and-highland Jalisco agave blend, with the aged expressions finished in Tennessee Whiskey barrels. The company distributes through its own e-commerce store and select retailers in Tennessee and Florida, and also sells branded merchandise.
Is Southbound Tequila a public or private company?
Southbound Tequila is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Southbound Tequila founded?
Southbound Tequila was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Southbound Tequila based?
Southbound Tequila is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southbound Tequila make money?
One revenue line is on record: spirits Product Sales.
Who are Southbound Tequila's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teremana Tequila, Casamigos Tequila, Casa Del Sol Tequila, Código 1530, Clase Azul, 818 Tequila, Lobos 1707 and DeLeón Tequila. Broad incumbents are Patrón Tequila and Don Julio.
Does Southbound Tequila have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southbound Tequila.
What industry is Southbound Tequila in?
Southbound Tequila's product category is Premium Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANAAAD, Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise), with a secondary code of CRANAAAA, Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.