Thirsty Thursdays @3PM EST

How RTD Brands Really Scale 🍺 Data, Ops & Sales with Rob Minucci at TalkHouse Encore

Send us a textThis week 📢I talk🎙️with Rob Minucci CEO & Co-Founder at TalkHouse Encore and we discuss how he has used his experience in operations to build out a CRM and win Accounts and Distributors! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁How do RTD brands actually scale? 🍺 Rob Minucci, CEO of TalkHouse Encore, breaks down data, operations, CRM, distributors & real-world sales strategy for CPG growth. @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST  “Everything I’ve built is based around systems, processes, and procedures that are repeatable—with as little human intervention as possible.”  Rob MinucciWatch Here!  https://youtu.be/AeZl7vXfigoMost RTD brands chase hype.TalkHouse Encore built systems.In this episode, Jessie Ott sits down with Rob Minucci, CEO & Co-Founder of TalkHouse Encore, to break down how operations, data, and distributor trust drive real growth in CPG and beverage.🔥 Key Takeaways: • Why beer distributors outperform spirits distributors for RTDs • How CRM + real-time data create sales accountability • Building velocity before chasing expansion • Why on-premise still matters (40% of sales!) • How systems beat guesswork every time • Using tastings + analytics to drive reordersThis is a masterclass in execution over noise.How Rob’s Team Actually Differentiates (and Why It Works)Most RTD brands compete on flavors, packaging, or hype. Rob and the TalkHouse Encore team compete on execution.That difference shows up in a few very specific ways.They build systems before scale While many brands rush distribution, Rob’s team focused early on operational processes that remove friction. Sales, inventory, distributor activity, and account follow-ups are tracked in real time. Less guessing. More control.They designed a CRM for beverage reality Instead of forcing reps to live in bloated software, they built a CRM that works the way beverage teams actually work:Simple inputsShelf photosAccount scoringInventory flagsRoute efficiencyIt’s not “data for reporting.” It’s data that drives action in the field.They treat distributors like partners, not order takers Rob’s team doesn’t just hand off the brand and hope for the best. They create clarity for distributors by:Showing exactly where velocity is workingIdentifying underperforming accounts earlyMaking it easier for reps to winThat builds trust — and trust gets priority.They use focus as a competitive advantage Instead of chasing national presence, they went deep in hard markets. Fewer states. Better execution. Higher velocity. They win on-premise to pull through off-premise With roughly 40% of sales on-premise, TalkHouse uses bars and restaurants as marketing engines. Sampling, education, and activation create demand that shows up later in retail They remove ego from pricing and product decisions Pricing wasn’t set to “fit the shelf.” It was set to reflect quality, margin, and sustainability. The mixed vodNOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn

🚨 Hemp Ban in 2026 Jeanne Sullivan Explains 🌿

Send us a textThis week 📢I talk🎙️with Jeanne M. Sullivan and we discuss the THC/CBD potential ban in 2026! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁👀📹 Watch here: 👉👉 [https://youtu.be/1MSPWwJeCwA]🚀✨🍹What’s really going on with the hemp beverage ban? 💥 Investor Jeanne Sullivan breaks it all down—laws, money, loopholes, and the path forward. 🚫🌿  @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST  🧠 Summary and Takeaways:What started with a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill could end with a billion-dollar industry being banned in 2026. Jeanne Sullivan, veteran investor and cannabis industry expert, walks us through:🌿 The origin of legal hemp beverages🧃 The explosion of CBD/THC drinks in retail🚫 The proposed 2026 ban slipped into HR 4121💰 The economic impact on Total Wine, BevMo, and beyond🧠 Why regulators don’t understand the category📉 The alcohol industry’s evolving stance🇪🇺 Why Europe is welcoming cannabis while the U.S. restricts it💥 The consumer backlash that could turn the tide🎯 CTA: Watch, share, and speak out. Contact your representative and help save the hemp beverage category before it disappears.I downloaded H.R. 4141 and had Chat GPT summarize it and here's the output told me:  "This bill does not explicitly ban CBD or THC drinks — but it gives FDA the power to effectively eliminate hemp-derived THC beverages unless strict limits, age gates, and retail controls are adopted." Well, who's in charge of that? How do we make that happen? We need to be very vocal about this bill!!NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn

Special Edition Round Table Discussion 2025 Review and 2026 Outlook

Send us a textThis week 📢I talk🎙️with Kate Jerkens at Uncle Nearest and Caitlyn LuBell at BoozeBiz and we discuss the beverage industry in 2025 and 2026. 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁👀📹 Watch here: 👉👉 [PASTE HERE]🚀✨🍹2025 was a reset year for beverage 🍷🍺🍹 RTDs surged, NA grew, costs spiked & hiring shifted. We break down data, trends, distributor chaos & what’s coming in 2026. 👀  👉 @ThirstyThursdaysat3PMEST2025 shook the beverage industry to its core 🍸📉. From RTD dominance and NA growth, to California distributor chaos, premium pricing pressure, and talent market stress, this episode breaks it all down—no fluff, just real talk.Key Takeaways 🔑📉 Growth slowed—but didn’t stop🍹 RTDs are winning on convenience & price🚫 NA still struggles with sugar + shelf life🏬 Distribution strategy > national expansion🧠 Storytelling + velocity matter more than ever💼 Hiring is tighter, salaries pressured🔄 2025 = reset | 2026 = change + growth🎯 Why this matters: If you’re building, selling, hiring, or distributing in beverage—this episode helps you see the chessboard, not just the pieces.Describe 2025 and 2026 in One WordJessie Ott2025:“My word was to level up on the "experience” of enjoying a cocktail.2026:"My word is "hopeful". I’m hoping that this is the new foundation of what’s to come.”Caitlyn LuBell2025:“My word for 2025 was "evolution.”2026:“My word for 2026 is "growth"… we can only go up from here.”Kate Jerkens2025:“I think "reset" was a great word. I still think reset is applicable.”2026:“Mine is "change"… something’s got to change and I believe it will.”⏱️ Chapter Descriptions0:00 Welcome + Why 2025 Was a Reset1:02 Meet the Guests (BoozeBiz & Uncle Nearest)2:30 Who Really Holds the Money? Generational Wealth5:22 Economic Signals: Growth, Inflation & LEIs7:18 Premiumization & Consumer Behavior9:40 Inventory Digestion & Distributor Reality11:30 California Distribution Chaos Explained15:42 Smaller Distributors vs Big Houses18:00 Pricing Wars & National Market Impact21:44 Military, Multi-Outlet & Channel Performance22:26 RTDs, NA Mixers & Brand Winners25:30 The Real Cost of $30 Cocktails29:00 Why RTDs Win on Convenience & Cost33:55 Hiring Challenges & Salary Compression41:10 Tastings, Education & Velocity45:15 Why 2025 Was a Reset Year50:07 Unemployment & Workforce Mismatch56:NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn

Dry January Reimagined 🍾 w NA Wine Founder Lawrence Bremer

Send us a textThis week 📢I talk🎙️with Lawrence Bremer Founder of  St. Buena Vida Non-Alc Wine! Happy Dry January! 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁What if Dry January actually felt like a celebration? 🍾In this episode, Lawrence Bremer, founder of St. Buena Vida, shares how tech, taste, and logistics come together in one of the most innovative NA wines on the market.🔥 Top Takeaways:• 🤰 The origin story: a pregnancy, a bottle, and a surprise sip• 🔬 Aroma capture tech that makes NA wine taste real• 🚛 Global supply chain: Spain ➝ Germany ➝ U.S.• 🥂 Crisp, clean bubbles with finish & balance• 📈 Real sales data — not hype• 🧠 Analytics mindset meets wine innovation• 🧘 30 calories per glass = wellness crowd win🎯 Whether you’re skipping booze or sipping smarter, this is a must-watch.👇 Tap play and learn how NA wine is finally worth the pour.NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn

🔥 7 Cocktails That Rule the World 🍸 w/ Dr. Cush

Send us a textWhat are the 7 cocktails every drink is based on? 🍹 Dive into tiki, bitters, fire tricks & cocktail history w/ bartender legend Dr. Cush! 🎙️@ThirstyThursdaysat3PMESTWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/azJZrXe5R2Q💡 What happens when a comedian turns into LA’s best bartender? You get Dr. Cush’s Exotic Drinks — a one-man show mixing cocktail science, bar wisdom & some hilarious fire tricks 🔥🍊✨ Highlights from the episode:🍹 The 7 cocktails that rule all other cocktails🔥 His signature drink: Dr. Cush’s Exotic Old Fashioned📚 Why bartending is more books than booze🍍 How pineapples became the symbol of hospitality🧊 The lost art of ice (yes, really!)🎭 From improv heel to hospitality hero💻 Building an online bar community during COVID💥 Flaming citrus, tiki wars, and cold pizza cocktails🎯 CTA: Subscribe for weekly food & bev innovation talks 🎙️ — and try making the Hemingway Daiquiri or your own signature drink!0:00 Intro to Dr. Cush 🍸  1:00 From comedy to cocktails  5:00 The 7 cocktails theory explained  12:00 Punch vs daiquiri: tiki breakdown  17:00 Cocktail vs experience: why it matters  25:00 Building an online bar community  31:00 Hemingway Daiquiri tutorial 🍹  41:00 The Dr. Cush Exotic Old Fashioned (🔥)  50:00 Shelf-stable lime juice recipe  1:03:00 State of the booze industry  1:10:00 Signature drink + fire tricks  1:20:00 Cocktail nerd history tour  1:30:00 Outro & cocktail class inviteMentors in Drinks and Tiki Steve the BartenderCreated Drinks Website: Kindred Cocktails    Discovered: Pseudo Juice CalculatorDave Arnold - Technique Liquid IntelligenceJeffrey Beachbum Berry Owns Latitude 29 in New Orleans Martin & Rebecca Cate own Smuggler's Cove in San FranciscoWrote James Beard Award-winning “Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of TikiDavid Wondrich Drinks Historian and author, Link to his Books and awardsSammy Ross Best Bar Dudes of All Time NOW ON YOUTUBE!!! Thank you for Listening! Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Host Jessie Ott's Profile on LinkedIn