Philadelphia-based canned craft cocktail maker Top Dog Cocktails is investing $1.3 million in a strategic joint venture with St. Croix-based Flamboyant Water to develop and commercialize a portfolio of Caribbean-inspired ready-to-drink beverages. The partnership pairs Top Dog's product development and commercialization expertise with Flamboyant Water's Caribbean distribution network. The companies plan to expand across the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Anguilla, St. Barths, St. Kitts & Nevis, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Cabo Verde, and other Caribbean markets.
Product Lineup and Launch Timeline Flamboyant Water will develop the Flamboyant Reserve line of premium rum-based RTD beverages under the partnership. The initial lineup will feature four flavors: Hummingbird, Island Garden, Island Spice, and Island Citrus. Each 4.5% ABV beverage will contain fewer than 90 calories per can. Production will take place in Pennsylvania, with commercial rollout in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Caribbean markets expected in fall 2026. This marks Flamboyant Water's expansion beyond its flagship hibiscus sparkling water product.
Strategic Rationale The Caribbean attracts more than 30 million visitors annually, providing a tourism-driven customer acquisition channel. Michael Pemberton, founder of Flamboyant Water and managing partner of parent company Modern Caribbean LLC, said: "Most brands spend millions trying to create authentic consumer discovery. The Caribbean already attracts millions of visitors every year. Our strategy is simple: allow millions of travelers to discover Caribbean-inspired products at their point of experience and continue seeking out those products after they return home." Pemberton added that Flamboyant Water is evaluating manufacturing opportunities in the Caribbean to support long-term regional production and export growth, with discussions ongoing with the Government of Dominica, Invest Dominica Authority, and the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company.
Top Dog's Growth Strategy Top Dog Cocktails, launched in summer 2022, sells canned cocktails at 12.5% ABV and has distributed over 1 million cans in its first three years across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. Ken Smukler, founder of Top Dog Cocktails, said: "Flamboyant represents something much larger than a beverage company. Top Dog Cocktails is excited to partner with Michael and the MOCA team to help achieve his vision for Flamboyant; to build a globally scalable consumer platform rooted in Caribbean culture while leveraging one of the most powerful tourism markets in the world." Smukler noted that the joint venture was accelerated by Top Dog's recent entry into the Florida market, which has produced positive early sales results. "The largely untapped Caribbean RTD market is a natural outgrowth of our Southern expansion, creating a footprint for Top Dog Cocktails 12.5% ABV and Flamboyant's 4.5% ABV from Destin, Florida, to Dominica." This $1.3 million investment represents Flamboyant Water's first external capital infusion since its formation by Modern Caribbean LLC in 2024.
Why It Matters
The RTD cocktail segment continues to expand in the U.S., and the Caribbean—with its established tourism infrastructure and growing hospitality sector—represents a logical geographic and demographic extension for operators already established in coastal U.S. markets. The partnership model also signals how smaller, independent brands are accessing capital and distribution leverage through strategic joint ventures rather than full acquisitions.
For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.
Written by FBM Publications Editors
