Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Abrams-Petersman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I cut alcohol out of my life a little over 2 years ago. When I did, I found myself craving something in my hand, something still delicious but without the alcohol (and not just sugar REPLACING the alcohol). After researching… I found all these amazing brands out there making beverages without the alcohol… there’s a whole world of them! But they were tough to get locally, very few bars knew about them, etc. So, I began looking for a way to connect all these brands with the people (like me!) looking for them…people who had stopped drinking or were “sober curious” or just wanted a night off. Enter THE NIXER. Now, that’s what we do around Phoenix. We pop up at markets, festivals, concerts. We also do private and corporate events, and now we are putting some of our non-alcoholic cocktails in Phoenix bars and restaurants!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think owning a small business is ever a smooth road. But it sure is a road filled with passion, ups and downs, sweat, tears, questions, trying things, and pivoting! Lots of pivoting.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Nixer?
The Nixer is a non-alcoholic pop-up bar (Phoenix’s first). I (Kristine) own it with my husband, Roger.
The mission: education about, exposure to, and the connecting of…non-alcoholic beverages with the increasing amount of consumers looking for these options
The non-alcoholic (NA)/sober/“sober curious” movement is both growing rapidly and trending. It’s gaining popularity across many demographics. The explosion of the NA movement is undeniable – you have those in recovery, those questioning their relationship with alcohol, the popularity of Dry January/Sober October, those cutting alcohol during the week, and many in Gen Z just not interested in starting a relationship with alcohol. So. Options. There are plenty! And having these options makes a person who isn’t drinking alcohol still feel a part of things, social, not like an afterthought, etc.
Plus. The BENEFITS (mind, body, soul) of what’s out there in this space. The Nixer use a variety of spirits, elixirs, ready-to-drinks…that have adaptogens, botanicals, mushroom strains, CBD, etc. These work on your cortisol levels, your body, and brain, your joints, etc. (So, you are replacing alcohol AND gaining these benefits.)
The Nixer is thrilled to be a part of this movement as it comes to Phoenix – and proud to connect brands and craft cocktails with people in Phoenix who choose to abstain from alcohol, whether that choice is for a moment, 30 days, or a lifetime. Owner Kristine recently hit 2 years living AF (alcohol-free).
Working with NA distilled spirits, elixirs, botanically infused beverages, adaptogens, CBD, mushroom strains, and more to create hand-crafted non-alcoholic cocktails, The Nixer pops up at events, markets, and dry “happy hours” across Phoenix. The Nixer is also available for hire – private events, corporate outings, wellness center gatherings – catering to the host’s specific needs, flavor preferences, and intended vibe of their event. The Nixer’s bartenders (nixologists) can be on-site providing the craft of (and education behind) the cocktails, or we can deliver ready-to-drink beverages to set out at your event and make sure everyone feels included. Due to requests coming in from establishments, The Nixer also just started helping bars, restaurants, and resorts with their non-alcoholic menus. Sometimes, that means answering questions and helping with menu curating/wording/pricing, and sometimes that means putting a “Nixer cocktail” right on their menu. These services help establishments become more inclusive and gain customer loyalty (and also acquire the proven lost revenue that otherwise they would experience). The Nixer also offers retail sales of non-alcoholic “ready to drink” beverages in the form of Nixer “NA variety packs,” which allow people to taste a few options AND have access to our experts for serving suggestions, tasting notes, brand information, and sometimes simply support.
The Nixer had its official ribbon cutting in August and is now experiencing a busy Fall/Winter 2023 season. The best way to follow along with The Nixer is Instagram: @thenixer
OH! And what sets us apart? We’re doing all of this with mindfulness at the forefront.
What’s next?
Oooooh lots of plans and ideas in my head. This is just such an emerging industry/market. And I have so much passion for it. Trying to figure out which plans and ideas will be executed (and when) is the issue. There are so many directions this can go… so we’re trying to practice what we preach and take it all in while thinking about our next steps and how we can ((mindfully)) move our business forward and move the NA space forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thenixer.com
- Instagram: @thenixer
- Facebook: @thenixerphx
- Email: info@everythingna.com
