Episode 2 | Neal Cohen

The Atlanta Story

The Atlanta Story podcast features meaningful stories of Atlanta’s builders, creators, and entrepreneurs. In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Neal Cohen, Co-Founder of Tip Top Proper Cocktails.

Before starting a fast-growing cocktails in a can company, Neal was helping brands create unique experiences at Superfly. One particular industry he worked in was music festivals where he collaborated with his now cofounder, Yoni Reisman. In today’s episode, we talk about the early days of Tip Top and the idea behind cocktails in a can, how the drinks go to market, a touch about the recipe and craft behind the cocktail, plus much more.

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can’t wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. When did you truly come to the conclusion that the world would be open to drinking a Manhattan or Negroni out of can? (1:30)
2. It sounds like the first customer was you? (3:30)
3. Did y’all go into the idea with the belief that this was a growing market? (4:25)
4. Share the venn diagram in terms of market perspective on the Tip Top customer. (6:45)
5. What are some of your favorite time periods in American culture who have shaped who you are today? (9:55)
6. What did you learn at Superfly that you took to Tip Top? (11:45)
7. What’s your favorite venue in Atlanta? (13:15)
8. Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? (15:55)
9. What moment or characteristic of Tip Top pushed you over the edge to believe enough in the idea to start the company? (18:23)
10. Talk to us about the mechanics of getting the ingredients of a Manhattan into a can. (20:30)
11. As an entrepreneur, how do you get press? (27:21)
12. Did y’all create the logo before the drink or the drink before the logo? (33:33)
13. Have you received push back from traditional mixologists for cocktails in a can? (38:42)
14. Neal and Jon talk about the Negroni and how bitter it should or shouldn’t be. (41:50)
15. Where do you get the product and how can someone get it today? (44:45)
16. Why Atlanta and what has Atlanta done for you? (50:15)

How you can get involved:

Visit atlantaventures.com/studio if you’re interested in learning more about Atlanta Ventures and the Studio.

Where you can find us:

Website: www.atlstory.com

Twitter: @theatlantastory

Instagram: @theatlantastory

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