Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to TJ & Tony Kittles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

TJ & Tony , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The Clinkitt story starts with TJ, feeling constrained and bored with her drink choices and always shying away from wine. Not only was it unfamiliar, it was intimidating! Aisles of wine bottles with labels in foreign languages, pages of wine selections requiring an interpreter. She felt out of place. Ordering a Jack & ginger or a margarita was so much easier.

Determined to overcome her fear, TJ enrolled in a course to learn about wine. She soon realized that she actually joined an accelerated program to become a certified specialist of wine! Tirelessly studying; tasting and learning about different varietals, regions, and winemaking techniques, she was all in.

Tony saw how passionate TJ was and wanted to support her in any way he could. Her wine studies became his wine studies; without  the coursework but with all of the drinking perks.

Tony, a whiskey lover himself, liked the idea of being a professional drinker and decided to become educated on the processes as well. Through his studies, he obtained the designation of a Certified Bourbon Professional through the Council of Whiskey Masters.

Together, TJ & Tony studied and tasted their way through the world of wine and whiskey, earning various certifications in the field and getting married along the way.

With growing knowledge and an unwavering passion, they decided to start a wine and whiskey tasting business with an emphasis on education and personalized attention. Offering a safe space for people to learn and imbibe in an entertaining format was the key. “We make wine and whiskey approachable as well as fun. Without the limitations that come with being a brand ambassador, we can design our programs for each client.”

“The sound of clinking glasses evokes the feeling of celebration. We celebrate people, accomplishments, new beginnings and triumph over adversity.” This sound became the inspiration for the name of their company, Clinkitt, a combination of “Clink” and their married name, “Kittles”.

“Clinkitt has garnered success with an array of clients as people love the personalized attention, our expert knowledge, the carefully curated selection of wines and whiskies, and of course our unwavering enthusiasm. We feel fulfilled knowing that what we provide is an unforgettable experience for our guests.”

TJ & Tony , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Cheers!

I am TJ, a Certified Wine Specialist and I am Tony, a Certified Bourbon Professional; and together we are Clinkitt!

Clinkitt, offers professionally curated Wine and Spirits tasting experiences. Our private wine and whiskey tastings aim to inform and cultivate an appreciation for various flavor profiles while promoting responsible drinking practices.

Our goal is to provide clients with the confidence and knowledge to expand their palates and make informed choices in their selections. We are committed to educating and equipping our clients with the necessary tools to make their own “pour” decisions, while also impressing their friends!

As responsible hosts, we prioritize safe and responsible drinking practices while providing an immersive, engaging and complete social and sensory drinking experience. We bring the tasting room to you, ensuring that you will enjoy an entertaining, personalized and exclusive event.

How’d you meet your business partner?

It was Karma. Well, that was the name of the lounge where our separate paths would join.

Tony’s version of events:
It was a Friday night, and I was feeling great and ready for a good time. I heard about a popular lounge called Karma, and decided to check it out. When I arrived, the music was loud, the lights were flashing, and the dance floor was packed. I made my way to the bar and ordered a Jack and Ginger.
I noticed a group of friends laughing and having a great time. One of them caught my attention, a beautiful woman, in a green blouse with a warm smile and a sparkling personality. I decided to walk over to their table.

I struck up a conversation with TJ and learned that they were there to celebrate a birthday, and offered to buy them all drinks. They gratefully accepted, however, TJ insisted on accompanying me to the bar because, “she didn’t know me.”

As the night went on, the two of us danced, laughed, and talked until closing. We exchanged numbers and made tentative plans to speak with each other again. From that night on, we were inseparable. The connection we felt in Karma was real, and it was the start of a beautiful relationship.

TJ’s version of events:
A friend invited me to her birthday celebration at a place called Karma. We were having a great time when I was approached by a guy who introduced himself and offered to buy me a drink. I told him he’d have to buy drinks for all of us and he did not flinch (Check Plus). Yes, I went with him to get the drinks. I did not know him.

We danced, laughed and talked as best we could. At the end of the night, I asked him for his number. That was a first for me. I would never have imagined that night that we’d be married. Now we are partners in life and in business, sharing a love for learning and drinking professionally.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We soft launched the first Clinkitt experience at the conclusion of 2019; a private sparkling wine tasting, curated for a group of ladies. Through this event, we acquired valuable insights in effective time management, efficiency and reading the room. Based on these findings, we were able to modify our approach to strike the right balance of educational material (without overly nerding-out) and engaging entertainment (while maintaining our allotted timeline) in all of our programs.

You ask any business owner, new or established, and the term “pivot” is synonymous with “pandemic”. Clinkitt was in its infancy when we went into lock down. Alcohol sales increased as people stayed home. Supply chain issues and fuzzy shipping regulations posed challenges to our business model. We used the year to invest in our professional education and to learn from the growing community of small businesses. This was essential to navigating the challenges.

We understood that as long as we remained passionate about Clinkitt, we could continue creating personalized tasting experiences. Especially at a time when people craved connection and celebration. By offering virtual programs, we expanded our reach to a broader audience, which ultimately strengthened and sharpened Clinkitt’s focus.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Clinkitt.com
• Instagram: @Clink.itt
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Ronald Gray – headshot and professional pictures
Tony Adeeso – vendor event photo
Trene Forbes Photography – wedding photo