Cocktail Gator grew from Ken Empey’s search for an easier way to mix drinks while tailgating into a business making soft-sided portable cocktail coolers and bar accessories. Its signature Walk About Gator carries bottles, sealed ice and cups in one manageable package, with a design aimed at parties beyond the tailgate. The company is co-owned by Ken and his son Ben Empey, who handles sales and marketing.
Lindsay's SouthsideBaltimore native Lindsay Hargrave turned a quest begun in the early 1990s into Lindsay’s Southside, a maker of fresh cocktail mixers built around real lemon juice and mint. The company also produces Bloody Mary mix and ready-to-drink seltzers, extending a recipe developed through years of gatherings with friends and family. Its playful Maryland identity carries through to George, the Bernadoodle mascot, and Corky, its mobile bar for events.RIDERWOOD, MD
Picnic BrunchPicnic Brunch makes ready-to-drink canned cocktails, born from a June 2017 Battery Park picnic where founders Chris, Josh and Matt found that mixing brunch drinks outdoors was anything but easy. The company repackaged familiar brunch favorites—especially its sparkling-wine Mimosa and peach Bellini—so they can be enjoyed without the cooler, cocktail shaker and melting ice.
Barfly® Mixology GearBarfly® Mixology Gear makes professional barware tools for the precision work of cocktail-making, from preparation through the final garnish. Based in Oklahoma City, the brand is backed by Mercer Culinary, a second-generation family-owned company serving the professional foodservice market, and is known for durable designs that help bartenders work with control and consistency. In 2025, Barfly’s fine mesh strainer received the Restaurant & Bar Expo Supplier Award for Best in Equipment, as voted by industry professionals.RONKONKOMA, NY
Pope’s CocktailsCreated during Ohio’s 2020 restaurant shutdown, Pope’s Cocktails grew from small-batch work at Pope’s Kitchen into a Cleveland-based maker of ready-to-drink cocktails for takeout and home enjoyment. Its pouches bring a bar-style cocktail into a portable format, using real food ingredients without artificial colors or flavorings.