Golden Rule Wins BevNET’s Cocktail Showdown 2

“Destination Cocktail” brand Golden Rule found that when you “do unto others” you will be rewarded as the San Francisco-based company emerged victorious in BevNET’s Cocktail Showdown 2 this weekend.

Co-founded in 2018 by Hunter Sprole and James Mauk, Golden Rule produces ready-to-drink classic cocktails packaged in 100 mL cans. The company’s lineup includes Margarita Original, which is based on the recipe used at a bar owned by Mauk’s family and contains blue weber agave tequila, triple sec and natural lime juice with 27% ABV. Its second variety is an Old Fashioned, made with whiskey, bitters, sugar and orange with 39.5% ABV. The drinks retail for $19.99 per 4-pack.

The brand’s squat can packaging was designed to be easily portable with its squat can, while the nostalgic label imagery was modeled after the artwork on old matchbooks, which used to be given out for free at bars prior to widespread indoor smoking bans.

“As we were developing this whole idea of Golden Rule and sharing thing we thought ‘Oh these matchbooks, they were so iconic of these bars and restaurants’ — They were always a thing, maybe we can capture that,” Mauk said.

As Golden Rule continues to expand its position in the market, the founders also said they intend to expand the line in the coming months with two new SKUs: Espresso Martini and Tequila Paloma.

Judges for the competition included CJ Fowler, Managing Partner of Goat Rodeo Capital; Sebastian Dreher, Venture Manager North America for DöhlerGroup; Saeed “Hawk” House, a mixologist and founder of Cocktails by Hawk; and Tiffany Vandom, VP of Sales for Q Mixers.

The judges noted that Golden Rule won out amongst tight competition amidst a diverse field of competitors that reflect a variety of formats and beverages, from hard lemonade to botanical-infused spirits and bourbon colas. According to the judges, Golden Rule stood out by having one of the best tasting drinks and most focused business strategy.

“This was a big variety of companies, a big variety of products — everything from 4% ABV up to 40%, there was a different reason to like any concept,” Dreher said. “But we’re also facing a lot of competition right now in the RTD market … so there needs to be some level of differentiation and consumers need something easy to understand and very good to relate to.”

Other competitors included Black Yeti Beverage, Liquid Fables, Social Hour Cocktails, Island District, Picnic Brunch, Plant Botanical LLC, Red Saint, Troop Beverage Co. and Mad Lemon.

“This competition is about ready-to-drink, and what I saw in this winner was that it was ready-to-drink and it made me want to go back to drink more of it,” House said. “The juice in this can was amazing.”

Golden Rule will receive an engraved trophy and an industry advertising package valued at $10,000, as well as one of the most coveted prizes of all: bragging rights.