We recently connected with Theresa Robbins and have shared our conversation below.
Theresa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The story of Robin Road Cocktails is a tale born from the unexpected twists and turns of the COVID-19 pandemic. My partner Max and I found ourselves in the bustling heart of New York City, part of the management team at a promising new restaurant. Our careers were flourishing, and we were deeply entrenched in the hospitality industry. However, when the pandemic swept through, it abruptly closed the doors of every restaurant in the city, including ours.
The sudden loss of our jobs, while disheartening, granted us a unique opportunity. It was a moment for introspection, a chance to reassess our lives, ambitions, and dreams. We believed that amidst the uncertainty, we could forge a new path for ourselves. With our extensive backgrounds and unwavering passion for everything beverage-related, we embarked on a journey to create something truly exceptional.
During those early days of the pandemic, a longing for the conviviality of bars and meticulously crafted cocktails. We found solace in exploring the world of canned cocktails and seltzers that were readily available. However, each sip left us underwhelmed, yearning for more. Most notably, we couldn’t find a single option that met our criteria for being organic.
It was in that moment that we envisioned Robin Road Cocktails. We recognized an unmet need in the market for high-quality, organic canned cocktails. Armed with our backgrounds in fine dining, we knew we had the recipe for success – quite literally. Drawing from our experience in upscale restaurants, where taking the familiar and elevating it to new heights was a daily practice, we set out to create a line of bartender-quality, organic canned cocktails.
Our first creations, inspired by beloved classic cocktails, marked the beginning of our journey. We knew we were offering something unique, something that combined our expertise, a passion for excellence, and a commitment to providing consumers with a beverage experience like no other. The logic behind our endeavor was simple: we believed that by crafting cocktails with the same dedication we had shown in the fine dining world and by infusing them with organic ingredients, we could fill a void in the market and bring joy to people’s lives.
In essence, Robin Road Cocktails is not just about beverages; it’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and the pursuit of a dream sparked during a global crisis. It’s about crafting moments of joy and connection through the art of mixology, all packaged conveniently in a can. This journey has been driven by our unwavering commitment to quality, a passion for innovation, and a deep-rooted belief that we can offer something truly extraordinary to cocktail enthusiasts everywhere.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Theresa Robbins, co-founder of Robin Road Cocktails, and my journey into the world of beverages is a story of passion, reinvention, and an unrelenting commitment to quality. With my partner Max by my side, we embarked on this exciting venture that has since become our life’s work.
Before Robin Road Cocktails, our careers were firmly rooted in the hospitality industry. We had the privilege of working in renowned fine dining restaurants, including those with Michelin-star acclaim, where we honed our craft and developed an unwavering dedication to the never ending pursuit of perfection.
Our transition into the world of canned cocktails was born out of opportunity and a deep yearning for connection during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic. When our restaurant closed its doors, we realized that our expertise in creating exquisite dining experiences could be channeled into crafting exceptional cocktails that could be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.
Robin Road Cocktails is the embodiment of our shared passion for mixology, quality ingredients, and sustainability. We’re not just offering canned cocktails; we’re creating an experience. Our commitment to using 100% certified organic spirits, combined with handpicked, organic and all-natural ingredients, ensures that every sip is a journey of flavor and craftsmanship.
Our product lineup features a diverse range of cocktails, blending the timeless appeal of classic favorites with our unique twist. Each cocktail is carefully crafted to capture the essence of its traditional counterpart while offering an exciting and innovative twist. We firmly believe that everyone should have access to a premium cocktail experience without the complexity of mixing or the necessity of a skilled bartender. This is why we take great pride in delivering bartender-quality cocktails directly to our customers’ fingertips.
What sets Robin Road Cocktails apart is our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. We’re proud to be pioneers in the canned cocktail industry, offering a product that’s not only convenient but also environmentally conscious. Our dedication to using organic ingredients not only ensures a better-tasting cocktail but also supports sustainable agriculture practices.
We’re most proud of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the beverage industry. Our awards, including silver medals from the SF World Spirits Competition and the Bartenders Spirit Awards, underscore our dedication to excellence.
For potential clients and followers, we want them to know that Robin Road Cocktails isn’t just a brand; it’s a passion project born from a love of great cocktails and a desire to share that experience with the world. We’re committed to providing a convenient yet premium option for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Whether it’s the commitment to organic ingredients, the focus on craftsmanship, or our dedication to sustainability, we want our audience to see us as innovators and creators of memorable moments.
Our journey is just beginning, and we invite everyone to join us in raising a toast to the future of cocktails—one can at a time
How’d you meet your business partner?
Max and I crossed paths back in 2009 during our time at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. We found ourselves in the same classes, sharing common interests and a circle of friends. As fate would have it, our journey took an unexpected turn when we returned for our second year. That’s when we discovered a deeper connection and, over time, our friendship blossomed into a profound love. Since then, we’ve been embarking on a grand adventure together, journeying down the path that would eventually become Robin Road Cocktails
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
Our cocktails are proudly brought to life in collaboration with a trusted co-packer. When we embarked on the journey of creating Robin Road Cocktails, we initially had a vision of establishing our own distillery and crafting our drinks right on our Ohio farm. It was a dream filled with the rustic charm of our farmstead and the allure of producing our beverages from scratch.
However, the realities of starting a distillery from the ground up presented us with significant financial commitments and logistical challenges. In light of this, we decided to take a pragmatic approach to ensure the success of our venture. We opted to work with a co-packer to bring our cocktail creations to fruition, allowing us to test our products in the market without the immediate financial burden of building a distillery.
Our search for the right co-packer led us to a remarkable discovery—a local Ohio brewery with a strong track record of assisting new beverage brands like ours in their journey from concept to the shelves of stores. This partnership not only provided us with the manufacturing expertise we needed but also allowed us to tap into the brewery’s experience and resources.
As for the lessons we’ve learned along the way, the most significant one is that patience is key. In the world of beverage manufacturing, every step, from recipe formulation to production and distribution, takes considerably more time than one might initially expect. This journey has taught us the value of meticulous planning, unwavering commitment, and the importance of finding the right partners who share our vision. While the path to realizing our dream may have been longer than anticipated, it has been filled with invaluable experiences and growth, ultimately bringing us closer to our goal of sharing Robin Road Cocktails with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: robinroadcocktails.com
- Instagram: @robinroadcocktails
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinroadcocktails/