What happens when three friends from the hemp industry decide THC beverages should actually taste good?

On this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Jason, David, and Patrick, the founders of AMIGOS, a Miami-born THC beverage brand bringing bold flavors, serious branding, and a different approach to the rapidly growing THC drink category. This episode is Sponsored by AMIGOS.

Want to try AMIGOS? Use coupon code “Sippin10” to save 10%.

The guys share how their experience in the hemp industry led them into beverages, why they believed the market needed something beyond another flavored seltzer, and how Miami influenced everything from the AMIGOS name and packaging to flavors like Key Lime Margarita, Watermelon Mojito, Cherry Limeade, and their fruit-forward sodas.

But building a beverage brand hasn’t exactly been smooth.

The founders reveal they initially invested around $360,000 into the business—and then watched roughly 100,000 cans get destroyed or “explode” as they learned some very expensive lessons about formulation, manufacturing, shipping, inventory, and scaling a canned beverage company. They also explain how AMIGOS eventually reached monthly sales as high as $400,000–$500,000 while sometimes having to turn away additional business because they simply couldn’t produce inventory fast enough.

Joey also gets a crash course in the THC beverage world, from dosage and flavor development to retail distribution, regulations, consumer education, and what it takes to get a new brand onto shelves. AMIGOS is currently testing in 15 Total Wine locations across Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

And because this is Sippin' and Selling, they get into the stuff founders don't always talk about: money, mistakes, exploding inventory, cash flow, competition, marketing, and what it really takes to turn an idea into a beverage brand that can scale.

Plus, Joey puts the three Amigos through a rapid-fire round to find out who can handle the most THC, who would embarrass themselves for the brand, and which founder might have the shortest career in stand-up comedy.

Sponsored by AMIGOS

Save 10% with coupon code: Sippin10

AMIGOS is intended for adults 21+. Consume responsibly. Individual responses to THC may vary. Do not drive or operate machinery while impaired.

#SippinAndSelling #AMIGOS #THCDrinks #THCBeverage #CannabisBeverage #BeverageIndustry #BeverageBusiness #DrinkAmigos #BeverageEntrepreneur #MiamiBrands #JoeyChanel #CannabisIndustry

What happens when music, family, Haitian heritage, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship all come together in one bottle?

On this season-opening episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with her friend Melky Jean, founder of Saint Sauveur 1972 Haitian Heritage Rum, for a conversation that goes far beyond the spirits business.

Melky shares what it was like growing up in a Haitian-American family filled with music, faith, and culture including her journey as an artist and the younger sister of Wyclef Jean. She also shares stories from her music career, including working on Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” and projects with artists like Carlos Santana and Tom Jones.

But Melky has built a legacy of her own.

She tells the story behind Saint Sauveur 1972 Haitian Heritage Rum and how the brand connects to three generations of women in her family. Her mother still makes traditional Haitian cremas, while her grandmother was making and selling overproof rum in Haiti decades ago. For Melky, stepping into the spirits industry felt like continuing a story that had already been in her family for generations.

Melky also opens up about creating her own identity while having a globally famous brother. She and Joey talk about being women in a male-dominated industry, the importance of building something of your own, financial independence, and what it takes to create a name for yourself.

The conversation also gets personal as Melky shares the inspiration behind her Carma Foundation, her work helping disadvantaged women and children, and the moment she saw Haitian refugees arriving in South Florida that changed the direction of her life.

And, of course, there’s plenty of sipping and selling along the way. Joey and Melky talk cocktails, bottle design, breaking into the spirits industry, and Melky’s mission to show people that rum can be elevated, sophisticated, and sexy.

This episode is about more than building a rum brand. It’s about family, culture, independence, giving back, and creating a legacy of your own.

#SippinAndSelling #MelkyJean #SaintSauveur1972 #HaitianHeritageRum #HaitianHeritage #HaitianAmerican #WomenInBusiness #FemaleFounder #Rum #SpiritsIndustry #WyclefJean #JoeyChanel

What does it actually take to build the next breakout beverage brand?

On this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with beverage industry veteran Dino Sardi, co-founder of LA Libations and host of the Pour Decisions Podcast, for a deep dive into the business behind some of the biggest names in beverages.

Dino has spent more than 30 years in the beverage industry, beginning his career at Coca-Cola before eventually co-founding LA Libations. What started as two guys trying to build a business without much money or a big idea eventually became a major player in the emerging beverage space, helping brands navigate everything from retail and distribution to marketing, incubation, and growth.

Dino shares how LA Libations became an early partner to brands including ZICO, CORE Water and BODYARMOR, and why he describes the company as an “elementary school for brands” — helping emerging companies build the foundation they need before graduating to much larger systems.

Joey and Dino also get into the explosion of celebrity-backed beverages and why having a famous name attached isn't enough. Dino shares his experiences with celebrities who became genuinely involved in their businesses versus those who barely knew the products they were promoting — and why consumers can tell the difference.

Plus, Dino breaks down one of the biggest lessons he's learned after decades in the industry: don't quit. From Celsius becoming what he calls a “20-year overnight success” to the enormous amount of capital it can take to build a beverage company, Dino explains why staying power, smart spending and giving consumers enough time to discover your product can make all the difference.

The conversation also goes behind the scenes of the Beverage Forum, how Dino and his team transformed the event, why networking matters more than sitting on your phone, and how they're working to expand the Beverage Forum internationally.

And when Joey gives Dino $1 million to invest in the next big beverage category, he reveals two areas he's watching closely: protein sodas and energy drinks — and why he believes there's still plenty of room for disruption.

Whether you're a beverage founder, entrepreneur, investor, salesperson, or just curious about how the drinks on store shelves actually get there, this episode is packed with decades of experience from someone who has lived the beverage business from the inside.

Subscribe to Sippin' and Selling for more conversations with the founders, executives, entrepreneurs and personalities shaping the beverage industry.

Season 3 of Sippin' and Selling kicks off with an inspiring conversation between Joey Chanel and Holly Thaggard, founder of Supergoop! and co-founder of her newest venture, Water Ouai.

After spending more than two decades disrupting the sunscreen industry, Holly is stepping into an entirely new category—this time alongside her son, Will. Together, they’re building Water Ouai with a mission to rethink the way we drink water on the go and bring greater awareness to plastic water bottles and microplastics.

Holly shares how the idea began years ago when a guest speaker at Will’s school sparked a family decision to eliminate plastic water bottles. As Will got older, that lesson stuck with him. After seeing firsthand how much plastic waste surrounded sporting events, schools, hotels, and everyday life, he approached his parents with an ambitious idea: what if they could do for water what Supergoop! did for sunscreen?

That idea became Water Ouai.

Joey and Holly dive into the development of Water Ouai’s innovative “Super Can,” the challenges of entering the beverage industry, and why the company is taking a different approach to distribution. Instead of immediately chasing grocery store shelves, Holly and Will are focused on education and strategic partnerships with schools, hotels, hospitality groups, aviation partners, sporting events, and other places where plastic water bottles are commonly used.

Holly also takes us back to the beginning of Supergoop!, sharing how her experience as a teacher and a close friend’s skin cancer diagnosis inspired her to challenge an industry that had seen little innovation. She discusses changing consumer behavior, building a brand around prevention and education, overcoming setbacks, and ultimately turning Supergoop! into a category-changing company.

Throughout the conversation, Holly shares the entrepreneurial lessons she’s now passing down to her son—from staying obsessed with the problem you’re solving to understanding that some of the biggest obstacles in business can eventually become opportunities.

From SPF to H2O, this episode is about much more than sunscreen and water. It’s about entrepreneurship, family, innovation, persistence, purpose, and what happens when the next generation takes everything they’ve learned and decides to build something of their own.

Subscribe to Sippin' and Selling with Joey Chanel for more conversations with the founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators building the brands of tomorrow.

Joey Chanel and Ben hit South Beach Food & Wine Festival for a day of tasting, interviewing, exploring, and seeing who they can find along the way.

From whiskey and cocktails to founders, chefs, creators, and celebrity brands, this one turns into a full-on South Beach adventure.

The day starts with Ja Rule, who breaks down the story behind Amber & Opal, how an investment in a warehouse full of whiskey eventually turned into a spirits brand, and the advice that has helped him stay relevant through decades in entertainment and business: Stay true to yourself.

From there, Joey and Ben head to the Loews Miami to hunt down more interesting people, brands, chefs, founders, and of course more things to sip.

Along the way, they try everything from whiskey cocktails and espresso martinis to teas, lemonades, non-alcoholic spritzes.

The crew also catches up with personalities throughout the festival to talk about favorite drinks, go-to cocktails, whiskey, martinis, and the best things they’ve tasted all day.

And then there’s the mission everyone seems to be waiting for...Sofia Vergara and Dios Mio Coffee.

From Ja Rule to celebrity coffee, South Beach cocktails, unexpected drink discoveries, and plenty of chaos in between, this is what happens when Sippin and Selling takes on South Beach Food & Wine Festival.

Subscribe for more food, beverage, founder, and behind-the-scenes experiences with Joey Chanel

What happens when decades of hard work are threatened by one piece of legislation?In this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Neil Mennella, owner of Superstar Beverage and Director of the New York State Association of Beverage Centers, alongside Mario Benciivenni of Frank's Beverage, to discuss the growing challenges facing independent beverage retailers across New York.They break down:New York's proposed licensing changesThe fight against big-box retailersThe Bottle Bill and redemption systemReady-to-drink (RTD) beveragesCraft beer trendsTHC and hemp beveragesCustomer service and building a business that lastsWhy relationships—not just products—create loyal customersWhether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, retailer, or simply interested in how legislation impacts local businesses, this conversation offers an inside look at one of the biggest issues affecting the beverage industry today.Guests:Neil Mennella – Superstar BeverageMario Bencivenni – Frank's BeverageSubscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, retail, beverage trends, and the stories behind successful businesses.

What happens when two cousins turn their favorite boat drink into a thriving beverage company?On this episode of Sipping and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Clark Drum and Logan Roschman, the founders of Two Drums Rum Seltzer, to share the incredible story behind their South Florida beverage brand.Inspired by afternoons on a boat in the Bahamas mixing real coconut water with rum, Clark and Logan transformed a simple vacation drink into an innovative ready-to-drink cocktail now found in Total Wine, popular restaurants, resorts, and retailers across Florida.They discuss the real challenges of launching a beverage company—from developing the perfect formula and overcoming costly manufacturing mistakes to building a distribution network, growing a recognizable brand, and navigating the competitive RTD (Ready-to-Drink) market.Whether you're an entrepreneur, beverage founder, or simply love hearing startup success stories, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on branding, marketing, product development, and scaling a business.In this episode:The origin story behind Two Drums Rum SeltzerHow COVID inspired their business ideaBuilding a beverage brand from scratchLessons from expensive startup mistakesGetting Two Drums into Total WinePackaging, branding, and product developmentWhy authenticity beats influencer marketingTheir strategy for expanding throughout FloridaWhat's next for Two DrumsBe sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders in the beverage industry.#SippingAndSelling #TwoDrums #ClarkDrum #LoganRoschman #RumSeltzer #Entrepreneur #StartupStory #BeverageIndustry #BusinessPodcast #FloridaBusiness #FounderStory #RTD #ReadyToDrink #TotalWine #SmallBusiness

How is craft beer actually made? What do hops do? Why do Belgian beers taste so unique? And what really goes into building a successful brewery?In this episode of Sippin and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Kevin Abbott, co-founder of Barrel of Monks Brewery in Boca Raton, for an inside look at the fascinating world of craft beer...Kevin shares how he went from homebrewing to building one of South Florida's most respected breweries, explains the centuries-old Belgian brewing tradition, and breaks down the science behind beer in a way anyone can understand.From yeast, hops, barrels, and carbonation to food pairings, brewery operations, and getting products into major retailers like Publix, this conversation is packed with insights for beer lovers, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the craft brewing industry.In this episode:The history behind Barrel of Monks BreweryBelgian beer traditions explainedWhat hops, yeast, grains, and water actually doHow beer is brewed from start to finishWhy different beer glasses matterThe secrets behind barrel-aged beersBuilding a successful craft breweryBreaking into Publix and major retailersThe current state of the craft beer industryWhy local breweries face unique challengesBeer tasting, food pairings, and brewery eventsWhether you're a craft beer enthusiast or someone who's always wondered how your favorite beer is made, this episode offers an entertaining and educational look inside one of Florida's premier breweries.🍻 Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share for more conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and beverage innovators.Guest: Kevin AbbottCompany: Barrel of Monks Brewery📍 Boca Raton, Florida

Can beer be healthier without sacrificing great taste?

On this episode of Sippin' & Selling, Joey Chanel welcomes Samara Oster, founder of Meli Beer, alongside returning guest Mario Bencivenni of Frank's Beverage, for a fascinating conversation about disrupting one of the world's oldest industries.

Samara shares how a trip to Peru inspired the idea for America's first quinoa beer, how she teamed up with MIT food scientists to bring the product to life, and what it's really like building a beverage brand from scratch. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, beer distribution, branding, retail expansion, and the growing demand for better-for-you alcoholic beverages.

In this episode:

• The origin story behind Meli Beer
• How quinoa became the foundation for a new beer category
• Building a beverage company with MIT scientists
• What it takes to launch a beer brand
• Breaking into Whole Foods and Trader Joe's
• Beer distribution explained
• Marketing a startup beverage company
• The future of gluten-free and better-for-you beer
• Female entrepreneurship in the beverage industry
• Advice for growing a national alcohol brand

Whether you're an entrepreneur, beverage professional, beer enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of better-for-you drinks, this episode is packed with valuable business insights and industry knowledge.

Guest:
Samara Oster – Founder, Meli Beer

Special Guest:
Mario Bencivenni – Frank's Beverage

On this episode of Sippin' and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Sara Harmelin, Vice President of Portfolio Development at Allied Beverage Group and fourth-generation family owner, for an inside look at one of the nation's largest beverage distributors.

Sara shares her incredible career journey from working in Hollywood television and the fashion industry to joining her family's billion-dollar beverage business. Together, they discuss the challenges of working alongside family, the evolution of alcohol distribution, the rise of THC beverages, and what the future holds for the beverage industry.

The conversation explores:

• Building a career in a fourth-generation family business
• From Hollywood and fashion to beverage distribution
• The history of Allied Beverage Group
• How alcohol distribution really works
• The explosion of THC and hemp-derived beverages
• Why regulation matters for the industry
• Non-alcoholic trends and changing consumer habits
• The future of spirits, wine, and ready-to-drink cocktails
• Brand building and portfolio development
• Women in the beverage industry
• Favorite emerging brands and industry predictions
• Funny behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood and television

Sara also shares stories from her time working in entertainment during the early days of FX, discusses iconic brands like Juicy Couture, reflects on the changing retail landscape, and reveals why innovation is essential for staying ahead in today's beverage market.

Whether you're in the beverage industry, interested in entrepreneurship, fascinated by family businesses, or curious about where alcohol and alternative beverages are headed, this episode is packed with valuable insights, business lessons, and entertaining stories you won't want to miss.