Here’s cool backstory of Spirited Hive brand’s arrival in SE Michigan
Spirited Hive founder Jack Espy has guided his honey-coated canned cocktail to top-selling levels.
Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit for as long as he can remember, Jack Espy has evolved from organizing lemonade stands as a kid to founding the Spirited Hive honey-infused alcoholic beverage brand that is causing people to make a bee-line, so to speak, to southeast-Michigan stores that stock his popular product.
In addition to Michigan, Spirited Hive has been distributed across the United States much to the joy of its growing base of fans.
“Whether it was putting together lemonade stands or whatever — however I could make a quick buck — I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was in elementary school,” said Espy, who has struck honey-infused gold at the youngish age of 27.
“I actually founded a clothing business — it was called the ‘Wild’ brand — my freshman year of high school because I love the creating, building and creativity that goes into building brands.”
Flavor for everyone
Spirited Hive — whose lone sweetener is honey — comes in multiple flavors and alcoholic platforms, including a ginger, lime and honey Tequila offering; a cranberry, lime and honey vodka option; a lemon, juniper and honey gin beverage; and a pineapple, lime and honey Tequila drink.
Launched in Nashville shortly after the COVID pandemic subsided, Spirited Hive has been sold throughout Michigan for the past several months.
Espy, a graduate of the University of Southern California, first had an inkling his creation was destined for greatness when he received a call from a representative of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Popular at NFL games
“The Titans guy had tried Spirited Hive and heard positive feedback from others who had tried it, so he reached out to me about a partnership between Spirited Hive and selling it at Titans game,” Espy reflected. “Our first meeting was a Zoom call and I was living in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City — and my office was my bedroom.
“When our Zoom meeting started, he was expecting me to be joined by a team of Spirited Hive employees. I told him, ‘Hey, you’re looking at the team right here. I am the team.”
Espy chuckled at the memory.
To make a long story short, Spirited Hive has been a popular go-to alcoholic drink at Titans games for the past few years.
Surreal experience
“It’s always cool to be at a Titans game and see somebody enjoying a can of Spirited Hive,” Espy said. “It’s kind of surreal, actually.
“We came up with the different alcoholic bases with the realization that everybody in their tight community of friends have different tastes. It’s fun to see buddies standing around — whether it be at a Titans game or at a party — all drinking Spirited Hive with different colored cans.”
Espy said the feedback he has heard from consumers of Spirited Hive has been buzz-worthy.
Taste of honey appealing
“People love the idea that the only sweetener is honey, so there is a healthy aspect to it,” he said.
Never one to rest on his successes, Espy is working on a non-alcoholic sister brand that will focus on hydration and exercise recovery.
“I really want to spread this honey-infused concept to as many platforms as I can because the idea has been embraced by so many people,” he said.
To learn more about Spirited Hive, visit its website by clicking here.
