You've probably noticed that alcoholic drinks have been getting "juiced" up. Spiked seltzer is everywhere—I know you've seen those White Claw memes. But I'm here to let you in on a little secret: There's a new boozy beverage, and its founders believe they've hit the sweet spot—literally.
Let me introduce you to boozy kombucha. Yes, you read that right—kombucha that also happens to get you drunk is a real thing.
JuneShine Kombucha was started in 2018 in San Diego. The company told me that, "JuneShine manufactures and sells organic hard (6.0% ABV) kombucha. While a variety of flavors on draft in its tasting rooms, the company currently distributes five flavors in both cans and draft (Blood Orange Mint, Honey Ginger Lemon, Midnight Painkiller, Acai Berry and its latest addition, Rosé). JuneShine is currently available in California, Oregon, Seattle, Austin, NYC and soon to be Hawaii, Chicago, Boston, Phoenix and Las Vegas."
So we wanted to get ahead of the inevitable craze and spoke with JuneShine's CCO Forrest Dein. Dein and CEO, Greg Serrao are former college roommates, and surfer buddies. After dabbling in San Diego’s world-class craft beer scene, coupled with their increasing interest in living healthy lifestyles, Greg and Forrest began to question why there was a sustainable, transparent option in nearly every consumer grocery category, except for alcohol. They asked, “Why is it that we know so much about the food we eat, but so little about the alcohol we drink?” Frustrated by the lack of honest transparent alcohol brands that could cater to their healthy, active lifestyles, Greg and Forrest decided to make their own that they could feel good about drinking. Being kombucha fans, they set out to make the healthiest and highest quality alcoholic jun kombucha they possibly could. The result? JuneShine.