We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cori Cauble . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cori below.

Cori , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

At JAi Just Add Ice Cocktails, our drinks are crafted, distributed, and stored entirely cold. This cold chain process helps retain the natural flavors and as many nutritional values as possible from our ingredients, from production to your glass. Most ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails are boiled for shelf stability and contain citric acid or preservatives, which can compromise taste and nutritional value. Our cold chain approach avoids these shortcuts, maintaining the original, fresh quality of our cocktails. This method is crucial in the alcohol industry for preserving the integrity and quality of fresh, perishable ingredients, much like it does for kombucha and craft beers.

Lindsay and I have always loved fresh juice cocktails—our “spirit of the month” with freshly squeezed juice is our jam! We started incorporating hand-pressed juices into bar programs decades ago, even when it was a rarity in fine dining. We demand this level of freshness and require it as the foundation of our values and core beliefs. Today, we bring that same level of freshness to our own brand.

Our cocktails are low in sugar, contain 10%-15% ABV, and are made from real sugar and cold-pressed juices. We use glass bottles to avoid leaching from plastic or aluminum and to showcase the natural settling of our juices—a clear sign of no preservatives, citric acid, or boiling after production.

Historically, shelf-stable products were developed to ensure a long shelf life without refrigeration, especially during the Prohibition era (1920-1933), when fresh food was scarce. By the mid-20th century (1950s), advances in refrigerated transportation revolutionized the way fresh products could be distributed nationwide, marking a significant shift in the food industry. Today, as consumers become more informed and health-conscious, they are increasingly aware of the hidden impacts of additives on their health. Despite the initial use of fresh juices, many brands rely on stabilizers, preservatives, and boiling for shelf stability, which can drastically alter the drink’s natural quality and flavor. Our approach challenges this norm, offering a cocktail experience that mirrors the freshness of squeezing fruit directly into your glass, providing a vibrant and genuine alternative in a market flooded with processed options.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello there! I’m Cori Cauble, proud co-founder and CEO of JAi Just Add Ice Cocktails. Alongside me is my incredible wife, Lindsay Talbot, our COO and expert Bar Chef, renowned for her exquisite cocktail recipes.

Our journey into the world of fresh juice cocktails is fueled by passion, dedication, and love. Lindsay and I first crossed paths 12 years ago while working at a local restaurant in Long Beach. This August, we will celebrate nine wonderful years of marriage, a union founded on deep affection, a shared passion for the hospitality industry, and a commitment to service.

JAi Cocktails was born from our vision to bring the sophisticated bar experience right into your home, with Lindsay leading the charge in offering hand-pressed cocktails as if from your favorite local spot. Our mission was always to deliver the freshest, most delicious batched juice cocktails available. When the pandemic provided the perfect opportunity, we turned this vision into reality by launching as a direct-to-consumer service under California’s COVID-19 to-go laws. This move, spearheaded by Lindsay’s extensive bar expertise, quickly proved the strong market demand for our cocktails, seamlessly bringing top-tier bar quality into the comfort of your living space without the fuss or expense of a night out.

Given the popularity, rave reviews, and loyalty of our customers, I formed a team of experts in cold-pressed juice and distilled spirits manufacturing to scale our business. Including specialists in financing, liquor law, CPG, retail, and spirits for the RTD sector, this team has fine-tuned our strategy. We developed plans to shift from DTC to national cold chain distribution and are now actively fundraising to expand our reach, aiming to make our high-quality cocktails available.

What truly sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality and offering a better, cleaner choice. Unlike many RTDs like I mentioned earlier loaded with preservatives, our cocktails are cold-made, cold-distributed, and cold-stored, utilizing a just-in-time cold chain manufacturing and distribution process. This ensures our drinks maintain their nutritional value and exceptional taste. We package our products in glass to avoid the negative impacts of plastics and aluminum, reinforcing our dedication to providing a healthier option.

Lindsay’s deep-seated passion for the craft of beverage-making, combined with her two decades of experience and an innate ability to balance flavors perfectly, allows us to offer truly unique cocktail experiences. Her background as an NCAA-ranked soccer player instilled in her a strong sense of teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking, which she brings to her role here at JAi Cocktails.

With a thirst and passion for expansion, I’ve launched and built over ten businesses, each leading to my ultimate dream: JAi Just Add Ice Cocktails. This venture embodies my vision of creating a company that delights the palate while enhancing the well-being of all those involved. Committed to continuous improvement, I strive to overcome challenges and create a positive impact. My vision extends beyond business success to uplifting others and leaving a meaningful legacy. Inspired by conscious capitalism, I aim to drive innovation while indulging my passion for exceptional food and beverages.

We are beyond grateful to have a group of extraordinary advisors who share our vision and are committed to bringing it to life. This remarkable team includes a capital advisor, a master distiller and engineer, a cold-pressed juice supplier, a cold chain expert in distribution and manufacturing, a local gold medal vodka maker, an LA-based distiller and cold chain manufacturer, an additive-free tequila company, multiple national distributor advisors, regional and national marketing companies, grocery store alcohol buyers, and CPG experts. Their unwavering support, expertise, and dedication are the pillars that strengthen our journey and propel us toward greatness.

Our proudest achievements include pivoting during challenging times, embracing risks, and securing the capital needed to grow. We have developed use cases, assembled a team of experts, and crafted a solid plan to overcome significant challenges in national cold chain manufacturing and distribution for alcohol. We have achieved milestones like being featured in the VIP Rose Garden at Coachella and participating in SF & Long Beach Pride. With the necessary funding, we can get into grocery stores and begin our regional cold chain distribution.

For those new to Just Add Ice Cocktails—our friends call us JAi—know that we are more than just a brand or you run of the mill RTD, RTS cocktail; we are a movement dedicated to creating better-for-you premium beverages. We are passionate about delivering drinks that not only taste amazing but also make you feel good. We are constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the RTD space, driven by our love for fresh ingredients and our commitment to our customers.

Lindsay and I are driven by our passion for crafting and delivering exceptional cocktails that delight and inspire you.

We are incredibly excited about the future and grateful for the opportunity to share our journey with you. Thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to health, happiness, and exceptional cocktails!

How’d you meet your business partner?

Lindsay and I first met at Christy Bono’s restaurant, Christy’s on Broadway in Long Beach CA, during a pivotal time in my life. Freshly divorced and navigating single motherhood with my 14-year-old son, I returned to the restaurant industry to support us. Though my life coaching business was fulfilling, it wasn’t enough, and I needed a stable income.

Christy, whom I had helped open another restaurant years before, welcomed me back warmly. I started as a liaison manager and, after a few months, was promoted to acting General Manager.

Lindsay recently relocated from Pittsburgh, where she had been bartending for the elite, to Long Beach to utilize her writing degree in crafting grants and marketing materials for a new transportation concept. When her contract ended, she was quickly hired to open Christy’s on Broadway, stepping into a role she knew well. From the moment she stepped behind the bar, it was clear she was a star, dazzling everyone with her talent, humor, and sass.

Our story, however, began even before we officially worked together. During the soft opening of Christy’s on Broadway, months before I joined the team, I found myself at the bar, intrigued by the confident and captivating bartender. I asked Lindsay for a perfectly balanced martini. With a playful snicker and a glint in her eye, she asked me to pick my spirit and whether I preferred it fruity, spicy or spirit-forward. Her sass and wit shone through as she expertly crafted the cocktail, delivering what turned out to be the best drink I had tasted in a long time—perfectly balanced and wonderfully crafted.

There was something mesmerizing about Lindsay’s flow and cadence behind the bar. She moved with a grace and confidence that drew everyone in, completely in her element. Despite our 11-year age difference and the fact that Lindsay was the first woman I dated, an undeniable connection blossomed between us. We fell in love behind that bar, enveloped by the lively atmosphere of Christy’s. It felt like destiny, a true kismet moment, as our community, Christy, and the entire team supported us wholeheartedly.

Our love story didn’t just involve us; it embraced those around us. My son, my father, my friends, and hers all fell in love with us together. It was a beautiful merging of lives and hearts, supported by everyone we cared about.

JAi Just Add Ice Cocktails was born out of our true partnership and our mutual love for delicious food and beverages. Our desire to co-create the menu and elevate the experience at Christy’s laid the foundation for what would become our own venture. One night, maybe a year after we met, while we were in our kitchen brainstorming a side hustle, the idea for JAi took shape. It was a magical moment of creativity and collaboration that perfectly encapsulated our relationship.

Together, we poured our passion, humor, and creativity into every detail, both in our personal lives and in our professional endeavors. Our shared dreams and mutual support blossomed into a beautiful romance and a thriving business, and we became each other’s rock and inspiration in this new journey.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

From the beginning, we understood that traditional bank loans were not part of our journey. Instead, Lindsay and I have poured every dollar we earned back into JAi, embracing a path that built not only resilience but also a profound sense of commitment to our vision. We were and are all in.

Navigating the financial landscape as female entrepreneurs has been particularly challenging, given that women-owned businesses receive less than 2% of all venture capital funding annually. This stark reality has only fueled our determination to break barriers and pave the way for more inclusive investment practices and opportunities.

When it came time to grow, we didn’t just follow conventional paths. We’ve embraced friends and family, private equity, and venture capital, diverse sources that opened new opportunities. Starting with our own credit cards for initial expenses, we quickly realized the power of community. Reaching out to friends, family, and supporters, we were overwhelmed by the encouragement and financial backing we received, fueling our passion and solidifying our resolve to succeed.

As we stabilized and our dreams started taking shape, we sought expertise beyond our own. We connected with financial experts who didn’t just guide us, they helped transform our approach and craft our vision and business plans that captured the more serious investors. Our capital advisor Andrea Moran has been instrumental in this phase, her knowledge and expertise has catapulted us into another level. She has opened doors to private equity and venture capital that previously seemed out of reach.

We are now adding crowdfunding to our funding strategy, not just to raise capital, but to invite more people to join us in a movement toward innovation and quality in the beverage industry. This is not only about expanding our business; it’s about building a community that shares our commitment to excellence. It truly takes a village.

Despite the long and challenging journey of raising the initial funds, which we’ve learned is the hardest capital to secure, we remain steadfast and optimistic. Every step has brought us closer to realizing our dream. We are fueled by the positive responses and the encouragement we continue to receive, reinforcing our belief that what we’re building is truly special. With unwavering determination and an eye for every possible opportunity, we will keep looking under every rock to bring this vision to fruition. We’re not just hopeful, we’re excited about what the future holds and deeply committed to making JAi Cocktails a success.

We are profoundly grateful for every bit of support that has brought us closer to our goals. This journey has been more than building a business, it’s about creating a legacy of quality and community. To everyone who has joined us, your belief in our vision is not just appreciated, it’s foundational to our success. Together, we are making strides towards redefining what’s possible in the Better For You RTD sector.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justaddicecocktails.com
• Instagram: @Justaddicecocktails
• Facebook: @Justaddicecocktails
• Linkedin: @Justaddicecocktails
• Twitter: @jaicocktails
• Youtube: @Justaddicecocktails

Image Credits

Grant Puckett the group and product shots. JAi Just Add Ice Cocktails™, LLC owns all rights to the copy and photos. All rights reserved.