What happens when a longtime hospitality entrepreneur decides to create a better-for-you cocktail brand with sake as the base?

In this episode of Sippin and Selling, Joey Chanel sits down with Buzzy Sklar, founder of Oishii Sake Spritz, to talk about his journey from owning iconic South Beach bars and restaurants to building one of the most exciting new RTD brands in the market.

Buzzy shares how his background in hospitality, distribution, and spirits led him to discover sake as a clean, all-natural alcohol base — and how that insight turned into Oishii Sake Spritz, a low-ABV, gluten-free, non-GMO, no-added-sugar canned cocktail with standout flavor and premium positioning.

In this episode, they discuss:
• How Buzzy got his start in the liquor business
• The transition from bar owner to beverage founder
• Sake 101: what it is, how it’s made, and why it’s different
• Why Oishii is positioned as a better-for-you RTD
• The importance of packaging, flavor innovation, and pricing
• Getting into major retailers like Whole Foods
• Why hustle and relationships still matter most in beverage sales
• Building a premium brand in a crowded RTD market
• Buzzy’s personal health scare and how it shaped the brand’s mission

This conversation is packed with founder insight, beverage strategy, RTD category knowledge, and a real look at what it takes to build a standout alcohol brand in today’s market.

If you’re into food and beverage entrepreneurship, spirits, RTDs, hospitality, and brand-building, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

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