Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Let’s see, I was brought up overseas, lived in 8 countries before I went to Hamilton College. 2 weeks after graduation I moved to Santiago Chile and Founded Viña Cono Sur in 1993, now the 2nd largest winery in Chile and then in 1995 Founded Viña Trivento in Argentina, which is now the 2nd largest winery in Argentina.
I’ve been in the Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry for 30 years and have built distribution from scratch for numerous companies in over 100 countries.
I decided 7 years ago to get into the Cannabis Industry as I was in search of providing a healthier and more sustainable way of giving consumers the buzz that they seek without the negative health reprecussions.
Cycling Frog drinks taste great. How have you approached the creation of your seltzers?
We have one of the most amazing R&D teams and I have been around a ton of R&D. Our team took a year and a half to perfect the taste of our first beverages. Since we are fortunate enough to have our own 400+ acre hemp farm outside of Bend, Oregon, we do all of our nano emulsification and formulations. This gives us a distinct advantage to keep quality at the highest standards.
I have witnessed our formulations team working through iteration after iteration until perfection–it’s what any major CPG company developing a new product should be doing.
You just won a huge legal battle in NY. Congrats! Can you share more with our readers?
Yes, we were thrilled to win the law suit against the egregious Emergency Rules the OCM put in place. The judge ruled that there was no emergency and that the OCM was creating irreparable harm to the petitioners (the entire hemp industry). We supported an entire industry by filing the injunction and this win has helped illuminate a path forward for the industry. The most interesting insight from this experience was to see that in our petition, which you can continue to sign up for, 95% of the comments are focused on how Hemp products are positively impacting the lives of the consumers. It’s quite emotional to read.
(Sign up: Change.org: Stop the New York ban on hemp products)
Cycling Frog has been distributed incredibly well by Gasko & Meyer who have built our business into 500+ retailers and on premise locations throughout New York. Buffalo may actually be the city where we sell the most products in North America!
We look forward to being part of the decision making process of the OCM as we truly believe our industry should be regulated federally in order to protect consumers. We are ready to have this discussion.
How does this change things going forward for hemp d9 drinks?
For now we are working under the same rules that were in place prior to July 17, 2023. The ruling also sets a precedent to take to other states considering enacting egregious rules against this much healthier alternative to other intoxicating drinks and ingestibles.
What are you most excited about for Cycling Frog?
The fact that we are in so many on premise accounts throughout the USA and in so many liquor and beer stores, shows that our vision, of offering a healthier buzz, is becoming a reality. Once our new category, which now has over 120 brands, can control some shelf space, we can prove to the traditional retail world that we are a fast paced, very popular item that only provides benefits and another revenue stream for the entire ecosystem.
For those curious about trying thc drinks, what would you tell them?
Go low and start slow. It’s like trying alcohol for the first time. You are not being hit with 5mg’s of THC immediately as you would by smoking. And, you are not feeling all 5 mg’s 45 minutes to 1 hour later as you would after taking a gummy. Instead, you are sipping very low dosages of THC and you can start and stop when you start feeling something.
Expect some relaxation, some giggles, some munchies and a great sleep, waking up feeling refreshed and ready to go the next day!
Where can you buy Cycling Frog?
Online at cyclingfrog.com and here is a link to our store finder.
We are currently being sold or about to be sold in 20 States through beer, wine and spirits distributors who have been regulated for 90 years, have all the licenses to sell hemp products, sell to 21+ consumers and must adhere to the rules and regulations they live under.
This is the most exciting beverage space I have ever been involved in. We are creating a category as a community, we believe in professionalism, transparency and fantastic quality products that, as I have witnessed first hand, are positively affecting the lives of millions of consumers.
Published: November 2023
