Cocktail & Sons

What Cocktail & Sons does

Cocktail & Sons is a craft beverage company founded in 2015 by Max Messier, an award-winning New Orleans bartender and spirits consultant. The company produces all-natural, handcrafted cocktail syrups, mixers, bitters, and a non-alcoholic aperitivo designed to enable home bartenders to create professional-grade cocktails without specialized bar equipment. Products are made in small batches using Louisiana-sourced ingredients including raw sugar from Three Brothers Farm in Youngsville, organic botanicals, and Creole-style flavor profiles, with handcrafted production carried out in Denver, Colorado.

The product portfolio includes ten-plus core 8oz syrups (Spiced Demerara, Oleo Saccharum, Mint & Lemon Verbena, Ginger Honey, Honeysuckle & Peppercorns, Fassionola, Berry Grenadine, Tonic #15, plus seasonal SKUs like Holiday Grenadine and King Cake), the MAX BITTER line of 4oz bitters (Aromatic, Citrus, Crescent City), ZeroNero [red] non-alcoholic aperitivo in 750ml, and 16oz Margarita and Mojito mixers. The lineup is sold both individually and through curated bundles — a 5-syrup sample pack ($38), a mix-and-match 3-pack ($48), spirit-themed collections (Whiskey, Rum, Agave, Gin & Vodka), an annual 12 Days of Cocktails Advent Calendar, and a printed recipe guide (Volume 4, 75+ recipes). Unit pricing ranges from $16.95 for syrups/mixers and $17.95 for bitters to $27.50 for the N/A aperitivo and $55.95 for the Advent Calendar, with volume discounts (10% off for 2 bottles, 15% off for 3) and a $60 free-shipping threshold.

The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront with USD and CAD support, supplemented by an Amazon marketplace listing and a wholesale program supplying bars, restaurants, and retailers with custom sizing and pricing. Digital gift cards in $25/$50/$100 denominations and recurring seasonal launches support gift-driven and occasion-driven demand. Cocktail & Sons is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped — the only disclosed external capital is a small $25,809 round in November 2024 — with marketing executed through organic social (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr), content marketing (recipes, cocktail guide, personality quiz), email, and earned media in publications including Forbes, Liquor.com, Maxim, Food & Wine, Imbibe, and Garden & Gun.

Name

Cocktail & Sons

Legal name

Cocktail and Sons

Website

https://cocktailandsons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cocktail & Sons is a New Orleans-founded craft beverage company producing small-batch, all-natural cocktail syrups, bitters, mixers, and a non-alcoholic aperitivo for home bartenders, sold primarily through DTC e-commerce, Amazon, and wholesale channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Cocktail Syrups and Mixers

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Cocktail Mixes & Alcoholic Beverage Bases (non-alcoholic mixers, RTD spirit bases) (AFAFAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic) (CRADAIAH), Alcohol Gift, Basket & Specialty Packaging Retail (CRANABAG)

Keywords

• Cocktail syrups
• Cocktail mixers
• Cocktail bitters
• Non-alcoholic aperitivo
• Craft beverage ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through Shopify-powered website. Products shipped to individual customers with free shipping threshold at $60. Core revenue stream from syrups, bitters, mixers and gift packs.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale channel for distributors and retailers. Custom wholesale sizing and pricing available for bulk orders. Provides access to restaurant and bar supply channels.
3. Marketplace Sales: Products available through Amazon marketplace alongside direct website sales
4. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available in $25, $50 and $100 denominations. Never expire and valid for all products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cocktail & Sons produces and sells all-natural, handcrafted cocktail syrups, fresh juice mixers, bitters, and a non-alcoholic aperitivo for home cocktail preparation and commercial beverage programs. Its range also includes sample packs, spirit-specific collections, a recipe guide, and gift cards, with small-batch production using Louisiana-sourced ingredients and organic botanicals.

Product overview

Cocktail & Sons is a craft beverage company producing all-natural cocktail syrups, mixers, and bitters for home bartenders. The core product line consists of individually sold syrups (8oz bottles including Spiced Demerara, Oleo Saccharum, Mint & Lemon Verbena, Ginger Honey, Honeysuckle & Peppercorns, Fassionola, Berry Grenadine, Tonic #15, and seasonal varieties like Holiday Grenadine and King Cake), bitter concentrates (MAX BITTER Aromatic, Citrus, and Crescent City in 4oz), non-alcoholic aperitivos (ZeroNero [red]), and premium mixers (Margarita and Mojito in 16oz). Products are sold both individually and through curated gift pack bundles (5-Syrup Sample Pack, 3-Pack Mix & Match, Spirit-specific collections for Whiskey/Rum/Agave/Gin & Vodka), the annual 12 Days of Cocktails Advent Calendar, and recipe guide books. The company emphasizes small-batch production using Louisiana-sourced ingredients and organic botanicals, with products designed for classic and modern cocktail preparation without fancy equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAX BITTER: A line of alcohol-based cocktail bitters including Aromatic, Citrus, and Crescent City varieties, presented in 4oz bottles with dropper caps.
• ZeroNero [red]

Products and services

• Spiced Demerara Syrup (8oz) A cocktail syrup blending raw sugar, baking spices, citrus, and botanicals, including Sichuan and white peppercorns, allspice, coriander, cassia bark, wild cherry bark, and orange peel; it is designed for whiskey, bourbon, rye, rum, and aged tequila cocktails.
• Mint & Lemon Verbena Syrup (8oz) A botanical syrup made with two organic mint varieties, wild lemon verbena, and wormwood; it is designed for cocktails including Mojitos, Mint Juleps, Southsides, and Smashes.
• Oleo Saccharum Syrup (8oz) A syrup combining fresh lemon and orange oils with aromatic lemongrass, toasted cardamom, and ginger to add texture, depth, and citrus brightness to cocktails.
• Ginger Honey Syrup (8oz) A syrup combining ginger and galangal with floral Louisiana honey and fresh lemon peels; it is intended for Mules, Bee's Knees, Hot Toddies, and culinary applications.
• Honeysuckle & Peppercorns Syrup (8oz) A savory-sweet syrup balancing Japanese honeysuckle with toasted smoked black and green peppercorns, sage, and lemon peel; it is designed for Margaritas, Palomas, Whiskey Sours, and Gin Sours.
• Fassionola Syrup (8oz) An award-winning blend of Louisiana strawberries, hibiscus, lime, pineapple, mango, and passion fruit, intended for tropical cocktails such as Hurricanes and Tiki drinks.
• Berry Grenadine Syrup (8oz) A fruit-forward syrup made with Louisiana strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, infused with citrus zest and hibiscus and finished with pomegranate molasses and cranberries.
• Tonic #15 Syrup (8oz) A high-impact syrup made with savory herbs, aromatic spices, and citrus, named for the fifteenth iteration of the recipe and intended for Gin and Tonics, Tequila Highballs, Mexican 75s, and Rum Sours.
• Holiday Grenadine Syrup (8oz) A 2025 limited-release syrup blending cranberry, pomegranate, orange flower water, juniper berries, rose water, and cardamom with Louisiana raw sugar and Colorado granulated sugar.
• King Cake Syrup (8oz) A seasonal syrup capturing King Cake flavors with toasted cassia bark, Louisiana pecan extract, and lemon peel; it is available January 6 through Mardi Gras.
• MAX BITTER - Aromatic Bitters (4oz) An aromatic bitter concentrate combining coffee and cacao nibs with baking spices, dried herbs, citrus, and toasted peppercorns; it is intended for Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs, and Manhattans.
• MAX BITTER - Citrus Bitters (4oz) A high-impact bitter blend using aromatic Indian spices, East Asian herbs, vibrant citrus peels, bitter roots, and barks; it is designed for stirred classics, martinis, and aperitivo-style drinks.
• MAX BITTER - Crescent City Bitters (4oz) A Creole-style bitter blend combining warm baking spices, tart hibiscus and cranberry, Asian botanicals, bitter roots, and barks; it is intended for Sazeracs, Vieux Carré, and La Louisiane cocktails.
• ZeroNero [red] - N/A Aperitivo (750ml) A non-alcoholic aperitivo combining baking spices, elderberries, rose, peppercorns, agave nectar, hibiscus, mint, orange, and bitter roots and herbs to capture the profile of a classic Italian aperitivo.
• Margarita Mixer (16oz) A 16oz botanical mixer combining toasted coriander, sage, black peppercorn, clarified fresh lime juice, orange peel, and pure agave; the bottle yields 16 professional-quality cocktails.
• Mojito Mixer (16oz) A 16oz premium mixer with fresh, clarified juice, designed to complement Mojitos and other cocktails.
• C&S 5-Syrup Pack: The Essential Home Bar Startup Kit A sample pack of five core handcrafted syrups in 4oz bottles: Spiced Demerara, Oleo Saccharum, Honeysuckle & Peppercorns, Mint & Lemon Verbena, and Ginger Honey; it yields 45-60 cocktails.
• Craft Cocktail Syrup 3-Pack A mix-and-match pack of three 8oz syrups, priced at $48, and including a cocktail guide.
• Deep, Spiced, & Refreshing: The Whiskey Trio A curated trio of Spiced Demerara, Ginger Honey, and Mint & Lemon Verbena syrups in 8oz bottles, designed for whiskey cocktails and including a 75-piece recipe book.
• The Pro-Grade Rum Cocktail Kit A curated trio of Oleo Saccharum, Mint & Lemon Verbena, and Berry Grenadine syrups in 8oz bottles for rum cocktails, including a 75-piece recipe book.
• The Agave Lover's Essential Syrup Collection A curated trio of Oleo Saccharum, Ginger Honey, and Honeysuckle & Peppercorns syrups in 8oz bottles for tequila and mezcal cocktails, including a 75-piece recipe book.
• The Gin & Vodka Cocktail Studio A curated trio of Oleo Saccharum, Ginger Honey, and Tonic #15 syrups in 8oz bottles for gin and vodka cocktails, including a recipe guide.
• 12 Days of Cocktails: 2025 Cocktail Syrup Advent Calendar An advent calendar containing 12 unique limited-edition 2oz syrups, including Filipino dessert-inspired and holiday-themed flavors, with a 36-piece cocktail book; the listing states that it ships immediately.
• Cocktail & Sons Volume 4 - Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails A 75+ recipe guide covering stirred classics, sours, Collins, Flips, Fizzes, Tiki, punches, mixers, original cocktails, and zero-proof drinks; it includes a bar-tool glossary and preparation techniques, and is currently sold out.
• Gift Card Digital gift cards available in $25, $50, and $100 denominations; they never expire and can be used for Cocktail & Sons products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sample Pack yields 45-60 cocktails per purchase
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tait Farm Foods: Producer of small-batch fruit syrups, shrubs, and cocktail mixers from a working farm. Comparable in craft ingredient sourcing, small-batch production, cocktail mixers, and gift-oriented merchandising.
• Small Hand Foods: Craft cocktail syrups (including their acclaimed orgeat and grenadine) sold to home bartenders and the on-premise trade. Comparable in product mix, premium positioning, and bar/restaurant wholesale emphasis.
• Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Craft cocktail mixers and tonics with a strong storytelling/DTC brand and retail presence. Similar product categories (tonics, mixers, syrups), premium pricing, and gift-pack-led merchandising.
• Morris Kitchen: Small-batch craft cocktail mixers and syrups (e.g., ginger, blood orange, falernum) sold DTC and through select retail. Highly comparable in scale, craft positioning, and gift-pack orientation.
• Stirrings: Craft cocktail mixers (margarita, mojito, bloody mary, etc.) sold at retail and food service. Direct competitor in the bottled mixer category at overlapping price points with the Margarita and Mojito mixers.
• Liber & Co. Craft cocktail syrups and mixers sold direct-to-consumer and through wholesale channels. Closest direct competitor in the premium craft syrup/mixer category with a similar DTC-led, recipe-driven GTM.
• Bittermens: Craft bitters brand with a curated, bartender-friendly portfolio. Direct comparability to MAX BITTER on product category, target customer (mixologists and home cocktail enthusiasts), and pricing/scale.

Broad incumbents

• Fever-Tree: Global premium mixer brand (tonics, gingers, soda waters). Provides the upper bound on category scale and the competitive 'premium incumbent' that defines the bar C&S must clear on retail and on-premise.
• Q Mixers: Premium craft mixer brand (tonics, ginger beer, soda waters) with national retail and strong DTC. Acts as a broader incumbent reference point for premium cocktail mixers and a benchmark for what scaled craft mixer brands look like.

Emerging players

• Ritual Zero Proof: Non-alcoholic spirit alternative. Comparable via the ZeroNero [red] N/A aperitivo line in the broader zero-proof category, with similar premium positioning and DTC + retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cocktailandsons
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMR-PBwRM51SDV6LdiA0u1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/cocktailandsons
• Instagraminstagram.com/cocktailandsons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Cocktail & Sons