Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast

Alex Macintyre
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  • Entrepreneurship

The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast explores the real stories behind the people building some of the world’s most exciting drinks brands. Hosted by Alex Macintyre, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Fortitude Wealth Management, the podcast features conversations with founders, distillers, brewers, winemakers and leaders across the global drinks industry. Alex specialises in advising drinks entrepreneurs and senior industry professionals on building and protecting long-term wealth alongside their businesses. Each episode dives into the realities of building a drinks brand — from launching a product and gaining early traction, to scaling companies, navigating risk, raising investment and creating lasting value. Guests share honest insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, brand building and the challenges of growing a business in the competitive worlds of wine, spirits, beer and premium beverages. If you are a drinks founder, industry professional, investor or aspiring entrepreneur, this podcast gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the people shaping the future of the drinks industry — and the lessons learned along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Do Online Tastings Still Work in 2026? | Online Tasting Co

    🍷 How a Lockdown Pivot Became a Drinks Industry Innovation | Online Tasting Co Opening a new wine business just 36 days before the UK went into lockdown could have been the end. Instead, it became the beginning of something entirely unexpected. In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with Jamie Smith, co-founder of Online Tasting Co and EcoSip, to explore how a business built around in-person wine experiences reinvented itself during COVID and went on to create an innovative packaging solution that's now trusted by organisations including The Wine Society, Naked Wines and WSET. From delivering wine samples by hand during lockdown to building a specialist clean-room production facility and producing more than two million premium wine samples, Jamie shares the entrepreneurial journey behind one of the drinks industry's most innovative businesses. We discuss:🍷 Opening a wine business just weeks before lockdown 📦 Creating EcoSip's pioneering single-serve wine technology 🚀 Turning a crisis into an entirely new business model 🌍 Why alternative packaging could transform the future of wine 💡 Building trust, scaling innovation and challenging industry tradition Whether you're a drinks entrepreneur, wine lover or founder looking to innovate in a traditional industry, this episode is packed with practical lessons on resilience, creativity and spotting opportunity where others see obstacles. Out on Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and also on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Do Online Tastings Still Work in 2026? | Online Tasting Co

  2. Jul 16

    Building Commando Spirit: Creating a Challenger Brand in the Drinks Industry

    🎙️ Coming This Friday | Episode 9 What do you do after spending 37 years as a Royal Marine? For Rory Copinger-Symes, the answer wasn't consulting, retirement or the corporate world. Instead, he launched Commando Spirit. In this week's episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Rory shares the remarkable journey from military service to building an award-winning spirits brand inspired by the values, traditions and ethos of the Commandos. 🥃 How a whisky blending session in Scotland changed everything 🏄 Living in Hawaii before retirement and discovering a new purpose 🚀 Launching a spirits brand with no previous drinks industry experience ⚔️ Navigating trademark battles, business setbacks and industry challenges 🍸 Creating unique products inspired by Dartmoor and Commando training 📈 Growing a premium brand through authenticity, community and storytelling ❤️ Supporting military charities through the business One comment from Rory really stood out: "I had no business plan. I had no idea what I was doing. I just had an idea and decided to make it happen." A fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, brand building and finding a new mission after a lifetime of service. 🎧 Episode 9 launches Friday. #DrinksEntrepreneurPodcast #CommandoSpirit #Entrepreneurship #RoyalMarines #FounderStory #DrinksIndustry #Whisky #Gin #Rum #BrandBuilding #PremiumSpirits #BusinessGrowth #VeteranOwned #CraftSpirits #DrinksEntrepreneur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building Commando Spirit: Creating a Challenger Brand in the Drinks Industry

  3. Jul 2

    The Queen's Favourite Cocktail: Building G&D with Oliver Day

    This week on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, I sat down with Oliver Day, founder of G&D (Gin & Dubonnet) and creator of The Spirit of British Mischief. From his background as a dairy farmer in Somerset to launching a premium ready-to-drink version of the late Queen Elizabeth II's favourite cocktail, Oliver shares the fascinating story behind the brand and how a simple idea evolved into a growing drinks business. We discuss: 🥃 The inspiration behind G&D and its royal heritage 👑 Why Gin & Dubonnet became known as the Queen's favourite cocktail 🐄 Oliver's journey from dairy farming to drinks entrepreneur 🎠 Building the brand at events including Badminton Horse Trials and Chelsea Flower Show 📈 Growing a premium drinks business while staying true to the brand vision 💡 The realities of launching a new product and getting it into consumers' hands A brilliant conversation packed with entrepreneurial insight, determination, and a healthy dose of British mischief. 🎧 Coming soon on The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast #DrinksEntrepreneur #Podcast #GinAndDubonnet #Gin #Entrepreneurship #DrinksIndustry #FounderStory #BritishBrands #BusinessPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Queen's Favourite Cocktail: Building G&D with Oliver Day

  4. Jun 18

    Flavoured Rum & Brand Building: The Story Behind Island Slice

    In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Sylvester Herman, founder of Island Slice Rum. From creating a Caribbean-inspired rum brand in Scotland to navigating the challenges of launching in a crowded drinks market, Sylvester shares the story behind Island Slice and the lessons he's learned along the way. We discuss: 🍍 The rise of flavoured rum 🥃 Building the Island Slice brand 🌴 Bringing Caribbean heritage to the UK market 📈 Growing a drinks business from scratch ⚖️ Balancing quality, authenticity, and accessibility A fascinating conversation with a founder whose journey is as unique as the brand he's building. 🎧 Available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Flavoured Rum & Brand Building: The Story Behind Island Slice

  5. Jun 4

    Building a Craft Gin Brand: The Story Behind Warwickshire Gin Company

    Is there still room to stand out in the crowded gin market? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with the founder of Warwickshire Gin Company, Dave Blick, to explore how they’re building a distinctive craft spirits brand rooted in quality, provenance, and local identity. From starting small to scaling a premium gin business, this conversation dives into the realities of building in one of the UK’s most competitive categories. They cover: The origin story of Warwickshire Gin CompanyStanding out in an oversaturated gin marketThe role and importance of local identity and craft in brand buildingScaling from start-up to established brandLessons learned along the journey Whether you're a drinks founder, brand builder, or gin enthusiast, this episode offers a grounded look at what it really takes to succeed in craft spirits today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building a Craft Gin Brand: The Story Behind Warwickshire Gin Company

  6. May 21

    Building a Premium Rum Brand: Inside House of Rum and the Rise of Modern Spirits

    What does it take to build a premium rum brand in a category still fighting outdated perceptions? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with the Dave Howarth, the founder behind House of Rum to explore how they’re reshaping the way consumers think about rum and building a brand to match. Dave also has a very interesting backstory before he entered the world of rum as well! From positioning and storytelling to the realities of launching in a competitive spirits market, this is a deep dive into what it really takes to create a modern premium drinks brand. They cover: The story behind House of RumWhy rum is misunderstood and how that’s changingBuilding a premium brand in a crowded spirits categoryThe importance of education and storytellingLessons from launching and growing a drinks businessAnd, a first for the podcast, tasting 3 fantastic rums, live on the recording Whether you're a founder, brand builder, or spirits enthusiast, this episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the most exciting categories in drinks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building a Premium Rum Brand: Inside House of Rum and the Rise of Modern Spirits

  7. May 7

    Building a Modern Non-Alcoholic Cider Brand: John Logue on Disrupting the Category with Chance Clean Cider

    What does it take to reinvent one of the UK’s oldest drinks categories? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex sits down with John Logue, founder of Chance Clean Cider, to unpack how he’s building a modern cider brand designed for today’s consumer. From early-stage challenges to standing out in a crowded market, John shares the realities of launching and scaling a drinks business—and why “clean” is more than just a buzzword. They cover: The origin story behind Chance Clean CiderWhat “clean” means in today’s drinks landscapeBreaking into the cider category as a challenger brandThe role of weather, seasonality, and consumer trendsLessons learned from building a drinks startupWhether you're a founder, operator, or just curious about the future of cider, this is a candid look at what it really takes to build a brand in today’s drinks industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building a Modern Non-Alcoholic Cider Brand: John Logue on Disrupting the Category with Chance Clean Cider

  8. Apr 23

    Wine Without the Next-Day Regret - 6Percent Wine

    What if wine could still feel like wine — just without the full-strength consequences? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Russ Lamb, co-founder of 6Percent Wine: a brand built around a simple but powerful idea: creating genuinely good-tasting, mid-strength wine for people who still want the wine experience, but not the next-day fog. Russ shares how he and his wife, Gabi, went from loving wine and running wine tastings to spotting a clear gap in the market after becoming parents. Frustrated by the lack of quality lower-alcohol options, they decided to create their own, and ended up building an entirely new proposition in the process. From searching the world for the right partners, to spending two years developing the liquid in Bordeaux, to helping define the emerging mid-strength drinks category, this is a brilliant conversation about spotting an opportunity, backing your instincts, and building a challenger brand in a traditional industry. In this episode we discuss: • The story behind launching 6Percent Wine • Why parenthood changed Russ and Gabi’s relationship with wine • The gap between full-strength and alcohol-free drinks • How they developed a genuinely good-tasting 6% wine in Bordeaux • Why 6% became the sweet spot for flavour, balance and occasion • The creation of the Mid-Strength Collective • Building a new category in drinks rather than just a new product • Retail growth, subscriptions, supermarkets, and the next phase of expansion This episode is perfect for: • Drinks founders and entrepreneurs • Anyone building a challenger brand • People interested in the future of alcohol consumption • Wine lovers looking for smarter ways to enjoy it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wine Without the Next-Day Regret - 6Percent Wine

  9. Apr 9

    They Couldn’t Find a Drink They Liked......So They Built One - Eufloria Drinks

    What do you do when you can’t find a drink you actually want to drink? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Kerry and Amy, co-founders of Eufloria — a Norfolk-based functional drinks brand created to offer a genuinely enjoyable alternative to traditional soft drinks and alcohol. Frustrated by the lack of sophisticated, low-sugar, alcohol-free options, they decided to build their own. What followed was a journey of kitchen experiments, herbalists, production setbacks, crowdfunding, and a steep learning curve in an industry they had never worked in before. The result is Eufloria — a premium range of botanical drinks designed to give people more choice, without compromising on taste or experience. This is an honest and refreshing conversation about starting from scratch, figuring things out as you go, and building something meaningful in the drinks industry. In this episode we discuss: • The moment they decided to create their own drink • Building a drinks brand with no industry experience • Developing functional botanical flavours from scratch • Early production challenges, setbacks, and lessons learned • Funding the business through Kickstarter • Finding customers and getting onto retail shelves • Their plans for growth, including cans, new flavours, and expansion If you’re interested in drinks startups, alcohol-free innovation, or the reality of building a brand from nothing, this is a brilliant episode. Follow Euphoria on social media to keep up with their journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    They Couldn’t Find a Drink They Liked......So They Built One - Eufloria Drinks

  10. Mar 27

    Building a Democratic Wine Company – Not Yet Named Wine Co

    What if wine lovers could help decide how a wine is made? In this episode of The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast, Alex Macintyre speaks with Alex Brogan, founder of Not Yet Named Wine Co. — a unique wine company where members vote on the key decisions that shape each vintage. From choosing the vineyard and harvest date to fermentation methods and label design, Alex has built a community-driven wine business that puts drinkers at the heart of the winemaking process. Alex shares the fascinating story behind the idea, how he moved from management consulting at PwC into winemaking, and how the concept has evolved into a global project producing wines across Portugal, Chile, California, South Africa, Slovenia, Australia, Italy and now Argentina. The conversation explores the challenges of building a drinks brand, the realities of winemaking across different regions, and how community can become a powerful driver of loyalty in the wine world. In this episode we discuss: • Alex’s journey from Majestic Wine to PwC and eventually into winemaking • The story behind Not Yet Named Wine Co. and its democratic winemaking model • How members vote on key decisions that shape each vintage • Producing wines across multiple countries and regions • Building a subscription wine business and loyal community • Expanding into premium wines and trade distribution • The unexpected realities of harvest — including wild boar eating an entire vineyard If you’re interested in the drinks industry, wine entrepreneurship, or the stories behind how great drinks brands are built, this is a fascinating look inside a truly unique wine business. To learn more about Alex Brogan and Not Yet Named Wine Co., visit: notyetnamedwineco.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Building a Democratic Wine Company – Not Yet Named Wine Co
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast The Drinks Entrepreneur Podcast explores the real stories behind the people building some of the world’s most exciting drinks brands. Hosted by Alex Macintyre, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Fortitude Wealth Management, the podcast features conversations with founders, distillers, brewers, winemakers and leaders across the global drinks industry. Alex specialises in advising drinks entrepreneurs and senior industry professionals on building and protecting long-term wealth alongside their businesses. Each episode dives into the realities of building a drinks brand — from launching a product and gaining early traction, to scaling companies, navigating risk, raising investment and creating lasting value. Guests share honest insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, brand building and the challenges of growing a business in the competitive worlds of wine, spirits, beer and premium beverages. If you are a drinks founder, industry professional, investor or aspiring entrepreneur, this podcast gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the people shaping the future of the drinks industry — and the lessons learned along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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