🎙️ 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

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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

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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.