Inspiring Conversations with Billy Wright of Martini Mates

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Billy Wright.

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?
During my 20 years in the military, I had the opportunity to be stationed in Melbourne, Australia, for almost 4 years. As a socialite during that time, I noticed the espresso martini had a different vibe there, more than anywhere I’ve ever seen.

It was an absolute culture, almost a religion! They had espresso martini festivals and even served on tap at popular locations. The best part was how standardized the cocktail was. No matter where you were, you were served “the” OG espresso martini. When I returned to America, I noticed that by ordering an espresso martini at 10 different bars, you would receive 10 different cocktails. At that time, there were a few, if not RTD, espresso martinis on the market.

So that’s why I wanted to create an espresso martini made with the OG ingredients of espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur. I called the company Martini Mates as an ode to my realization of my love for espresso martinis discovered in Melbourne, Australia. This was during the height of the pandemic, so now we are 4 years running strong!

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My entire life I was Military working logistics and supply chain management. So, diving right into owning my own company in the alcohol industry definitely had its hiccups. First came the slew of red tape requiring months of research to understand the navigation of each state’s different requirements.

But I would say the biggest struggle was adapting to a “normal” work ethic and flow, compared to the fast-paced, take-no-prisoners military mindset in its work ethic. Like night and day…

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
MARTINI MATES is standardizing the perfect pre-made Espresso martini & Passionfruit martini. Packaged in alcoholic ready-to-drink(RTD) 200ml bottles and sold as a 4-pack to consumers. With an Australian-inspired branding, the cocktail is spirit-based and has premium vodka at 14%ABV.

This saves consumers the hassle of creating a cocktail from scratch while still getting premium mixologist quality to enjoy wherever they please. We also offer pour-shake-pour, a concept in which you pour half of the bottle into your glass, recap the bottle, and shake the remaining liquid in the bottle to get the frothy foam. Then, you pour that into your glass and watch the cocktail separate perfectly to obtain your atheistically pleasing martinis with your foam head.

We currently sell in NY/MA/NH/KS/AZ/TX.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The industry at large is only expanding. We will never stop drinking. There is a reason why liquor stores stayed open during the 2020 pandemic as an “essential industry,” ha!

I believe the ready-to-drink sector expanded drastically from the pandemic as well and has continued that upward trend as companies like Martini Mates debunk the myth that pre-made cocktails taste bad… More premium ingredients and care behind the creation of formulas are leading to ready-to-drink cocktails becoming as delicious as freshly shaken ones.

Pricing:

• $15.99 per 4-pack

Contact Info:

• Website: www.martinimates.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/martinimates
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/martinimates
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrwright1/

Image Credits
Tim Jones: @timj_photography