Introducing TrailProof

Because Adventure Deserves a Good Cocktail

TrailProof is a line of lightweight, single-serving liquid craft cocktail mixers designed for outdoor adventures. Created for backpackers, campers, skiers, boaters, and anyone who appreciates a good cocktail, TrailProof eliminates the need for bulky mixers, bar tools, and additional water. Simply tear open the pouch, add your favorite spirit, and enjoy. No shaker, no glass, no fuss. Just a great cocktail, wherever adventure takes you.

How a love for the outdoors, a good cocktail, and a willingness to learn something completely new turned into my latest adventure.

I've spent a pretty significant portion of my adult life outside. Skiing, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, sailing, and generally finding new ways to get myself into places that require a little extra effort to reach.

And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that just because you're roughing it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice all the little luxuries that make life enjoyable.

I'm a big believer that some of life's best moments happen after the adventure. Taking your ski boots off after a long day in the backcountry. Watching the sun disappear behind the mountains from your campsite. Sitting on a boat in a quiet anchorage after a day on the water.

And you know what makes those moments even better?

A really good cocktail or mocktail.

Which brings me to TrailProof.

What Is TrailProof?

TrailProof is a line of lightweight, single-serving craft cocktail mixers designed for people who love adventure but aren't particularly interested in drinking mediocre cocktails along the way.

Think backpacking, camping, boating, air travel, après-ski, or anywhere else you might want a proper cocktail without packing your entire bar cart.

Each pouch contains a pre-measured liquid cocktail mixer. Just tear it open, add your favorite spirit directly to the pouch, and enjoy.

No shaker. No cocktail glass. No complicated ingredients. No powder packets. And, perhaps most importantly, no unnecessary weight.

Our tagline pretty much sums it up:

Cut Weight, Not Joy.

Because adventure should be about getting out there and enjoying yourself, not choosing between the things you love.

TrailProof single-serving liquid craft cocktail mixer pouch for outdoor adventures.

Why Did I Create TrailProof?

The idea came from a pretty simple problem I kept running into during my own adventures.

I love a good cocktail. Not necessarily a fancy cocktail, but one made with quality ingredients that actually tastes like what it's supposed to taste like.

Unfortunately, good cocktails and remote places don't always go hand in hand.

If you've ever packed for a backpacking trip, you know that every ounce counts. Bringing bottles of mixers, citrus, bitters, and everything else required to make a proper drink isn't exactly practical.

Sure, there are powdered cocktail mixes and other shortcuts, but I wanted something different.

Something that tasted like a cocktail I'd actually order at a bar. Something that didn't require carrying additional equipment or even a cup. Something I could throw into my backpack, dry bag, or ski pack without giving it a second thought.

I wanted the convenience of a lightweight, portable mixer without sacrificing the experience of a really good drink.

And eventually, I started wondering: Why doesn't this already exist in the way I want it to?

So I decided to try making it myself.

Made for People Who Take Their Adventures Seriously (But Not Themselves)

TrailProof isn't about making the outdoors fancy. It's about making the outdoors yours.

It's for the backpacker who counts every ounce but still appreciates a good Old Fashioned.

The skier who believes après is an essential part of the experience.

The sailor who wants to celebrate dropping anchor without digging through the galley for a cocktail shaker.

The camper who knows that watching the sunset with a margarita in hand is a perfectly acceptable way to end a day.

And it's also for people who aren't necessarily climbing mountains or spending nights in the wilderness. Maybe you're heading to a concert, hosting a picnic, or spending an afternoon at the beach.

You don't have to be an extreme adventurer to appreciate something convenient and delicious.

TrailProof is for anyone who believes that a little extra joy is always worth bringing along.

From Outdoor Adventurer to Cocktail Mixer Entrepreneur

Here's the thing about starting a business in an industry you know absolutely nothing about: You quickly discover just how much you don't know.

I've spent years working in business operations, building creative projects, and working with brands. I'm comfortable figuring things out, managing moving pieces, and taking on new challenges.

But food and beverage manufacturing?

That was an entirely different animal.

What started as experimenting with cocktail recipes in my kitchen quickly turned into learning about food science, shelf stability, packaging materials, FDA labeling requirements, commercial manufacturing, ingredient sourcing, and about a thousand other things I'd never previously given much thought to and I will never pass through the halls of a Trader Joes the same way again.

I learned that making something taste good is one thing. Figuring out how to make it safe, consistent, shelf-stable, and commercially viable is something else entirely.

I've spent hours researching ingredients, corresponding with manufacturers, comparing packaging options, and trying to understand regulations that might as well have been written in another language.

There have been plenty of moments where I've thought, How hard could this possibly be?

Spoiler alert: Harder than I thought. Much MUCH harder.

But that's also been one of my favorite parts of the process.

Learning Something New Is Its Own Kind of Adventure

One of the things I love most about the outdoors is that there's always something new to learn.

No matter how many years you've spent skiing, there's another skill to develop. Another mountain to climb. Another experience that reminds you how much you still don't know.

Starting TrailProof has felt surprisingly similar.

I've had to get comfortable being a beginner again.

I've asked a lot of questions. Made mistakes. Changed directions 500 times. Learned things I didn't even know I needed to learn.

And somewhere along the way, I've realized that the process of building this business has become an adventure of its own.

It's easy to get comfortable doing the things we're already good at. There's something humbling, and honestly pretty exciting, about throwing yourself into something completely unfamiliar and figuring it out as you go.

I don't have every answer. I'm not pretending to be a food scientist or a beverage industry expert. I'm learning from people who know far more than I do, doing my homework, and taking it one step at a time.

And I'm genuinely enjoying it.

Well, most days.

Why Liquid Mixers Instead of Powder?

One of my priorities when developing TrailProof was creating something that felt as close to a freshly made cocktail as possible.

That meant using liquid mixers rather than relying on powdered drink mixes.

Powders certainly have their place in the outdoor industry. They're lightweight, compact, and convenient. But for TrailProof, I wanted to prioritize the flavor and experience of a craft cocktail while keeping preparation ridiculously simple.

I also wanted the mixer to contain the liquid needed for the drink, so you wouldn't have to find additional water or rely on having ice available.

Because if you're miles from the nearest trailhead, chances are you didn't bring an ice machine.

The goal was simple: Tear. Pour. Sip.

And get back to enjoying wherever you happen to be.

What's Next for TrailProof?

Right now, I'm working through the process of bringing TrailProof from an idea to an actual product.

That means refining recipes, figuring out manufacturing and packaging, and working through all the behind-the-scenes details required to launch a food and beverage brand.

The initial lineup is being developed around some of my favorite classic cocktails, including an Old Fashioned, Margarita, and Espresso Martini.

I'm not interested in reinventing cocktails. I'm interested in making good ones easier to enjoy in places where they normally wouldn't be practical.

There's still work to do before TrailProof officially launches, but I'm excited to finally share what I've been building.

And because so much of this journey has involved learning things from scratch, I plan to share more of that process here, too. The wins, the mistakes, the things I wish I'd known earlier, and everything in between.

Maybe it'll inspire someone else to finally take a chance on that idea they've been sitting on.

Or maybe you'll just end up with a really good margarita on your next camping trip.

Either way, I'd call that a win.

A Little Less Weight. A Lot More Joy.

I've always believed that the best adventures aren't necessarily the biggest or most impressive ones. They're the ones that leave you with great memories, good stories, and people you love sharing them with.

TrailProof is a small addition to those experiences.

A little celebration at the summit. A toast at camp. A well-earned drink after a long day of doing whatever it is that makes you feel alive.

Because you can take the adventure seriously without taking yourself too seriously.

Cut Weight, Not Joy.

Cheers to whatever adventure comes next.

Want to be among the first to know when TrailProof launches? Visit TrailProof and join the email list for launch updates.