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WELLNESSWEEK
The Mission: Create a Shot People Actually Want to Drink
When we set out to make a flavored shot that tasted incredible—and didn’t burn like jet fuel—we made one promise to ourselves: we would not stop until it was perfect. No shortcuts on ingredients. No cutting corners on taste. No compromising the character of the brand. If it wasn’t something we’d be proud to drink ourselves, it wasn’t good enough.
That mindset became the foundation of Soda Jerk Shot: fun, approachable, and rooted in quality.
The Name, the History, and the Attitude
People often ask, “What exactly is a soda jerk?”
Back in the old soda shops, the “soda jerk” was the person who added flavored syrup to a glass and then jerked the lever for carbonated water to mix the drink. That simple motion is where the name came from.
We loved the nostalgia behind it—but we also wanted a modern edge.
So we created Jay, our version of the soda jerk. He’s tattooed, fit, a little scruffy, and very real. He works hard, plays hard, and still gets up every morning to handle his responsibilities. That’s the exact lifestyle lived by the founders—and the personality we wanted to infuse into Soda Jerk Shot.
The Flavor Development Journey: Harder Than We Expected
Our search for the perfect Orange Creamsicle flavor took us across the country. We worked with four different flavor companies, all of them responsible for big-name formulas. Each attempted their version of our vision.
But sample after sample came back disappointing:
- The color was off
- The smell wasn’t right
- The taste didn’t resemble an orange creamsicle at all
What we wanted seemed simple. What we received felt nowhere close. After months of trial and error, the frustration was real.
That’s when a seasoned pro in the flavor world gave us game-changing advice:
“Go outside the alcohol industry. Find someone who flavors candy and food. Someone who truly understands taste from the sensory level.”
Enter the Master Flavorist
We followed that advice and connected with a master flavorist who had experience across every corner of food flavoring. He didn’t talk about limitations—he asked questions.
He wanted detail. Specifics. The full picture.
We told him exactly what we envisioned:
- A strong, unmistakable orange aroma
- A clean citrus flavor upfront
- A smooth vanilla finish, like a classic 50/50 ice cream bar
- No thickness
- No dairy, to avoid allergies and ensure shelf stability
He nodded, confident.
“I know what you’re looking for. Give me a couple of months.”
The Moment Perfection Arrived
When we met again and tasted his formula, everything changed.
The color was spot on.
The aroma was pure orange.
The flavor was balanced, clean, and nostalgic.
The finish was smooth without being heavy.
It was everything we had described—and more.
And the best part? It turned out to be Gluten-Free, Vegan, and completely free of dairy products.
This wasn’t just a flavored shot. It was a shot people would genuinely enjoy drinking.
Building the Lineup & Earning Industry Respect
With the Orange Cream Shot perfected, Root Beer followed naturally. We believed in both flavors, but belief wasn’t enough—we wanted industry validation.
So we entered the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The results spoke for themselves:
- Soda Jerk Root Beer — Multiple Gold Medals
- Soda Jerk Orange Cream — Silver Medals
For a young brand built from scratch, those medals confirmed that our obsession with flavor wasn’t just worth it—it was award-worthy.
The Reaction That Makes It All Worthwhile
One of our favorite moments today is watching people try Soda Jerk Shot for the first time. The immediate smile. The surprise. The disbelief. Almost every time, the same phrase comes out:
“That is scary good!”
It’s the perfect reaction to exactly what we set out to create:
A shot that tastes so good, it's almost unbelievable.
Everything—the frustration, the time, the late nights, the endless samples—led to this moment. And we wouldn’t change a thing.
