As more consumers become health-conscious and sober‑curious, there’s an increased market opportunity for ready-to-drink, zero‑proof cocktails. That’s exactly what Luba Libations delivered with the launch of its premium canned mocktails in May.
Husband-and-wife team Christiana and Nic Trapani also co-own Door County Candle Company in Sturgeon Bay. The new business is a shift from the warmth of their candles to the chilled deliciousness of organic‑ingredient‑based, authentic-tasting classic cocktails made without alcohol. Christiana began making mocktails at home when she was frustrated with the lack of authentic-tasting mocktails available on the market.
“When we couldn’t find what we liked, we said, ‘Let’s just make them,” Nic says.
What they didn’t foresee was a health situation for Christiana a few months ago, an event that reaffirmed the product path they were already on.
“It reinforced our desire for the product’s ingredients to read like a grocery list and bridge the gap between alcoholic drinks and some drinks out there with adaptogens in them,” Nic says.
Luba Libations debuted with four flavors in slim, 12-ounce cans: lime margarita, cranberry cosmo, grapefruit paloma and Kyiv mule. The flavors are the result of market research followed by 40 rounds of trial and error in the Trapanis’ kitchen.
“We focused on simplicity as our goal is to be authentic, simple and delicious,” Nic says.
The resulting offerings can be enjoyed as a refreshing drink on their own or with alcohol, if desired. The products are named for Christiana’s grandmother, Luba, a trendsetter who knows how to celebrate life authentically and on her own terms.
“We say Luba can be enjoyed as it’s RTD — ready to drink — or it can be ‘Luba unleashed’ and used as a great mixer with alcohol. It’s up to you,” Christiana says.
Luba Libations is initially being self-distributed in Door County and sold via its website, drinkluba.com.
“The tide is turning,” Nic says, “and people are increasingly embracing non-alcohol options.”
