Merchant Spotlight: Cocktail Connoisseurs

At needi, we love shining a light on the brilliant founders who put real care into what they make. And when it comes to cocktails, Cocktail Connoisseurs are doing something very special.

We caught up with the founder to hear how the brand came to life and how they’re making bar-quality cocktails genuinely easy to enjoy at home. No guesswork. No wasted ingredients. Just beautifully balanced drinks, ready to pour and enjoy.

What started with a vintage candy cart built alongside Grandpa has grown into a fresh take on at-home mixology, powered by curiosity, a few brave pivots, and a serious love of a good Espresso Martini.

This is a story about passion, creativity, and proving that great cocktails don’t need to be complicated.

Business: Cocktail Connoisseurs
Founder: Harry Daymond

Location: UK

1. What inspired you to start your business?

The inspiration behind Cocktail Connoisseurs came from my own mixology journey and the realisation of how inaccessible it was for everyday consumers to recreate cocktails at home.

My entrepreneurial journey actually began much earlier, when I built a vintage candy cart with my Grandpa at 15 and hired it out for weddings and events. A few years later, I discovered my passion for cocktail mixology while working in a bar and went on to launch a mobile cocktail bar service.

It was then that I noticed how difficult it was for people at home to create their own cocktails - full-size bottles were expensive, specialist liqueurs weren't easily available, ingredients often went to waste, recipes were confusing, and the tools too complex.

When lockdown hit in 2020 and my events business came to a halt, I decided to pivot. With bars closed and people stuck at home, it was the perfect time to launch my at-home cocktail concept: an all-in-one solution that equips consumers with everything they need to create their favourite cocktails at home with ease.

Not long after, The Cocktail Connoisseurs was born - starting with four MVP kits delivered by myself within a 20-mile radius, and now, five years on, disrupting the at-home cocktail space entirely.

2. What's the biggest lesson you've learnt so far on your journey?

Two key lessons stand out:

• Always maintain a growth mindset. Challenges - from scalability to fundraising - are inevitable, but approaching them as opportunities to learn and find solutions has been vital.

• Look after yourself as the driving force behind the business. If you're not mentally and physically healthy, the business can't thrive either.

3. What makes your business special?

We don't just put a few ingredients in a box - we make mixology accessible. Our kits bridge the gap between bar-quality cocktails and the home experience. Every set includes high-quality ingredients in exact quantities, step-by-step recipe cards, tutorial videos, and optional bar equipment, all designed with the consumer in mind.

From using familiar UK measurements (25ml, 50ml) instead of confusing ounces, to easy-pour markers on bottles, everything is trialled and tested by experienced mixologists to ensure it's simple, fun, and immersive.

Our mission is to give anyone the confidence to create a truly bar-quality serve at home.

4. What's your favourite product and why?

The Espresso Martini Kit with beginner bar equipment. It's one of the most popular cocktails right now but notoriously tricky to recreate at home. Our kit makes it smooth, rich, and easy - with the right coffee and premium ingredients.

To me, it perfectly represents what our brand is about: accessibility, quality, and delivering a bar-worthy experience at home.

5. What's the top piece of advice you would give to fellow small business owners?

Build strong foundations. Know your market, know your product, and know your industry inside out. It's tempting to chase growth quickly, but it's the groundwork that allows you to scale sustainably.

6. What's the most memorable gift you've ever received?

A group of friends once came together to surprise me with a ticket to a wakeboarding festival in Cologne. It wasn't just the generosity, but the thoughtfulness and experience behind it that made it unforgettable. It reminded me that the best gifts are those that create lasting memories.

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