We Ask Jillian Vose about Launching a Premium Mixer

Jillian Vose, a celebrated bartender, judge, and author, has recently added the titles of brand ambassador and partner to her résumé by teaming up with and launching Badger Bevs, a premium mixer brand.

With over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Jillian Vose has worked at some of the most prestigious bars in the world, including Clover Club, Maison Premiere, Death & Co., and the renowned Dead Rabbit, where she spent seven years as Beverage Director and managing partner. Her extensive global bartending experience has given her a deep knowledge of drinks and what it takes to make a great cocktail, including the perfect mixer. This expertise made her partnership with Badger Bevs a no-brainer.

One lesser-known fact about Jillian’s career is that on her first bar shift, she had no prior cocktail-making experience and no training.

“I got thrown in on a Friday night. It was terrifying; I remember it like yesterday. I remember shaking and barely being able to pour a beer.”

Her new premium mixer brand, Badger Bevs, was created by founder David Vogel. During Jillian’s career that has spanned over two decades, she has always struggled to find soda mixers with satisfactory bubble longevity. She was also never a fan of tonic until she tried Badger Bevs, which exceeded her expectations.

“I’ve never been a massive lover of tonic, and it’s pained me (and was a bit embarrassing) never to have really enjoyed a gin & tonic. When I tasted Badger for the first time, I was so pleased to find a tonic that I actually loved! I’ve done a lot of side-by-side comparisons to our competitors regarding the types of bubbles and how long the bubbles last in the drink once the bottle has been opened. Our brand exceeds the others; just try it for yourself.”

The goal of creating fizzier drinks has been achieved with their initial offerings of Club Soda, Tonic, and Ginger Beer, along with newly launched Ginger Ale and Grapefruit.

With Badger Bevs, Jillian enjoys making classic cocktails like the Moscow Mule, Dark & Stormy, Paloma, Gin & Tonic, and Spritz, which showcase the quality of their mixers. She also enjoys creating new seasonal beverages, such as a spring drink with snap pea-infused tequila, green apple, and tonic. One of her favorite non-alcoholic concoctions is the Ginger Rose, featuring hibiscus tea, lime leaf, lime, and ginger beer over cracked ice.

Badger Bevs recently launched a Blood Orange expression this spring and plans to develop more flavors. With rapid expansion through Chef’s Warehouse distribution, Jillian is excited for the brand to enter new markets and looks forward to its availability in additional cities.