Paradise Valley entrepreneurs Adrianna Baum and Lacey Boyett paid close attention to the spirits they poured, but they kept noticing the same problem: a thoughtfully chosen tequila or vodka deserved an equally thoughtful mixer. Most options, however, were loaded with sugar, artificial colors and unnecessary ingredients.
That gap inspired them to create Club 13, a nonalcoholic cocktail mixer for people who enjoy drinking but still care about clean ingredients, lower sugar and mindful portions.
“We felt the mixer deserved the same level of thought as the spirit,” Lacey says.
Club 13 comes in a 7.5-ounce can and is available in three flavors: Skinny Margarita, Sparkling Grapefruit and Sparkling Ginger. Enjoy it on its own or mix it with your preferred spirit and pour.
“It’s a ready-to-drink mixer that lets you decide what goes in your glass and how much,” Adrianna says.
That flexibility is why the duo developed a mixer rather than a ready-to-drink cocktail. It allows consumers to choose tequila, vodka, mezcal, bourbon or another spirit and control exactly how much is poured.
The three flavors were inspired by the cocktails the founders and their friends enjoyed most. Skinny Margarita pairs with blanco or reposado tequila and mezcal. Sparkling Grapefruit puts a fresh spin on the paloma and complements tequila or vodka, while Sparkling Ginger draws inspiration from the classic mule and pairs with vodka, tequila or bourbon.
The most significant difference, however, is found on the nutrition label.
Club 13 uses real juice for most of its sweetness, with agave added for balance. According to the company, one can of Skinny Margarita contains four grams of added sugar and no artificial coloring.
“Many traditional mixers are more water than juice and rely heavily on added sugar for sweetness and flavor. We took a different approach: the majority of the sweetness in Club 13 comes from real juice," they say.
By comparison, says Lacey and Adrianna, the same 7.5 ounces of other margarita mixers contains roughly 51 grams of added sugar.
“That is more than 12 times the added sugar before the tequila even hits the glass.”
Each can also contains four electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Its vitamin blend provides 70 percent of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin C, 100 percent of vitamin B5, approximately 75 percent of vitamin B6 and 25 percent of zinc.
The botanical blend includes 500 milligrams of artichoke leaf extract, along with dandelion root and schisandra berry. Prebiotics are included as well.
Those ingredients do not make alcohol healthy, erase its effects or guarantee that someone will feel better the next morning. Adrianna and Lacey are direct about that limitation.
“No mixer can prevent a hangover, and we would never claim that Club 13 can,” Adrianna says. “Alcohol itself is the primary driver of how you feel the next day.”
The distinction matters. Club 13 is not a remedy for drinking. It is a lower-sugar mixer with a clearly defined formula, created for consumers who want more control over everything surrounding the alcohol in their glass.
That same attention extends to the spirits the founders recommend. For tequila, they look for brands made from 100 percent agave and producers that are transparent about additives and production methods. When selecting vodka, they consider its base ingredient, where it is produced and whether it contains added flavors.
“Know what you’re pouring and choose intentionally.”
Developing the product involved far more than creating three flavors. Adrianna and Lacey had to work through ingredient sourcing, formulation, packaging, production, regulations and distribution. They also had to incorporate functional ingredients without allowing them to interfere with the taste of the cocktail.
“We wanted Club 13 to taste like a great cocktail first,” they say.
Club 13 was designed around the cocktail, not around replacing it. While the mixer itself is nonalcoholic, the founders are not positioning it primarily for the “sober curious” market. They created it for people who already enjoy cocktail culture and want a better foundation for what goes into their glass.
“Every can contains 13 functional ingredients, making the number part of the product itself. We were also drawn to 13 for its slightly rebellious reputation, reclaiming a number most brands might avoid.”
“Club” reflects the gathering and sense of belonging at the heart of cocktail culture. The founders wanted Club 13 to feel like an invitation into something, not just another product on a shelf.
This month, Adrianna and Lacey expect Club 13 to be available through sipclub13.com and a growing number of local retailers, restaurants and hospitality partners. Long-term plans include additional flavors and national distribution.
“We felt the mixer deserved the same level of thought as the spirit. Know what you’re pouring and choose intentionally.”