March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th marks International Women’s Day. As a woman-owned brand, this time of year feels especially meaningful and invites reflection. Running a small business comes with its own set of challenges, and being a woman-owned small business adds another layer to what those challenges can look like. It takes resilience, creativity, and a lot of belief in what you're building.

So, we'd love to acknowledge that and celebrate it! We also want to highlight the women building thoughtful brands, creating meaningful products, and shaping this space in inspiring ways. It feels really special to be building something alongside them.

As you read the spotlights below, you may notice a common thread. Many of these founders are creating inclusive options that help people feel seen, no matter where they are or what is in their glass. What stood out most as we got to know and collaborate with them is that each of these teams built something they were personally craving. They trusted that if they were looking for something different, others probably were too.

We invite you to get to know them beyond this blog post. Visit their websites, follow them on social media, and try their products. You may even discover a new go-to zero-proof mix along the way.

Let’s meet them! 

Pauline Idogho, Mocktail Club

Pauline Idogho founded Mocktail Club while searching for better-for-you alternatives that still felt exciting and elevated. Inspired by her global travels, she created sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks with vibrant flavors and real complexity, designed to be enjoyed straight from the can on your own terms.

Tawny Lara, (parentheses)

Tawny Lara is a writer, speaker, and educator whose impact on the sobriety and zero-proof community goes far beyond the glass. She founded Parentheses, a line of non-alcoholic spirits, aperitifs, and shrubs full of depth and complexity.

Tawny is also the author of Dry Humping, creator of The Sobriety Deck, and host of the podcast Recovery Rocks. Her work highlights what is possible in this space while building a more connected and supportive community.

Jen Batchelor, Kin Euphorics

Jen Batchelor helped shape the modern non-alcoholic beverage movement through Kin Euphorics. With a background in hospitality and wellness, she recognized early on that drinks can foster connection while also supporting how we feel.

Kin blends functional ingredients with intentional rituals to create a new kind of drinking experience that supports both social connection and how we feel. 

Vanessa Royle and Mariah Wood, Tilden

Vanessa Royle and Mariah Wood created Tilden from their love of rituals and gathering. Their sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks focus on mindful ingredients and contain no added sugar.

Tilden offers an elevated alternative that can be poured straight from the bottle and enjoyed as is. Or you can channel your inner at-home mixologist and use it as a base for easy, beautiful cocktails that leave you feeling great the next day.

Leah Pekrul, Sweet Haven Tonics

Leah Pekrul is a mixologist and founder focused on creating welcoming spaces for all drinkers. She launched Sweet Haven Tonics to offer high-quality shrub mixers that make distinctive drinks simple and accessible. Leah also owns an inclusive cocktail lounge in Minnesota that celebrates alcohol-free options, community gathering, and making sure everyone feels they belong.

Lauren Chitwood, Abbey Ferguson, and Lexie Larsen, Spiritless

Based in Louisville, Spiritless was founded by Lauren Chitwood, Abbey Ferguson, and Lexie Larsen. After years working with some of the world’s largest spirits brands, they kept hearing the same request: more non-alcoholic options beyond soda and lime.

As busy, working moms, they completely understood and craved that as well. That realization led them to create Spiritless, a line of non-alcoholic spirits that never compromise on taste or experience. Their products look refined, taste sophisticated, and pour beautifully into the glass.

And the list truly goes on.

If there is a women-led brand you would love to see featured in a future box, we would love to hear from you. Email us at info@weareraisingthebar.com.

Here’s to women building incredible things, challenging what is possible, redefining what a more inclusive celebration can look like, and creating space for others along the way.