Anyone who’s perused the high-end options at a liquor store knows that it’s easy to be dazzled and intrigued by the array of not only sipping options but also the beautiful, artistic labels and bottles that hold them.
But one local premium vodka company is taking the aesthetic a step further with a design that is sleek and elegant while bringing a truly personal touch that provides a boost in addition to a buzz.
With a label that can be customized on the fly with a Sharpie, Gratefulist Vodka is distinguishing itself from a sea of spirits by engaging buyers and enabling them to spread good vibes with a bottle tailor-made for gifting and sharing.
The label features the words, “I’m Grateful For:” with three empty lines beneath, ready for the gifter to provide a written response, usually the name of the recipient, “friends” or “family.” However, any heartfelt message works well, too.
“The brand is not about being an everyday sipping vodka. It’s a vodka you should be pouring with friends and feeling grateful for those relationships,” says Gratefulist Vodka President Christy Bower. “The label is beautiful but also significant in the name of the brand.”
Available in bars and restaurants throughout the Valley, Gratefulist Vodka has also been successful at being a conversation starter among strangers.
When sharing what they are grateful for, some bars have written “regulars” or “great guests.” One bar did a promotion featuring the vodka in a happy hour martini. As part of it, bartenders asked customers what they were grateful for that day. In return, bartenders shared what they were grateful for.
“It brought positivity, which is so good for mental health and socialization,” Bower says. “It’s been really meaningful to be able to bring that into the world.”
But the feel-good aura doesn’t end there—it extends into the product itself.
Made from 100 percent U.S.-grown corn with zero fillers or additives, the final product is the result of 19 trial formulas and is blended with a secret ingredient for an extra-smooth mouthfeel with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
Non-GMO, kosher, and naturally gluten-free, it’s also six-times distilled at Tempe-based Outlaw Distillery, which sells Gratefulist Vodka at its retail shop and tasting room.
“It was important to have a high-quality product,” Bower says. “We didn’t want to compete with the lower-end products. We are premium and we are elevated.”
The company is woman-run and founded with a large woman audience attracted to the smooth spirit with a conscience.
Gratefulist was launched by Dani Engelking during the pandemic in 2020. Her mission was to create a spirit with the objective of uplifting others during a time of uncertainty and doubt.
“Although the sky is falling and although there’s so much we don’t know, there’s something we can be grateful for every day and she wanted to create a brand that exudes that,” Bower says. “She created something so positive in the spirits industry.”
In addition to an upscale vodka that is perfect in a creative cocktail or simply united with club soda or tonic, Engelking has founded a Gratefulist following that is committed to spreading positivity and lifting up others regardless of their differences, dedicated to making regular acts of kindness, helping when or where they can, and sharing these experiences to generate more “Gratefulists” who look at life as not a glass full but as a glass overflowing.
It’s an obvious ideal gift for those on your holiday lists, celebrating a birthday, or hosting you for dinner. But it also serves as a unique memento that will inevitably bring smiles and heartwarming feelings.
“You’re not going to remember who got you that bottle of wine you’ve got in your fridge. But when you have a bottle on your bar at home that has a really tailored, personalized message, you’re going to remember that person and the emotions associated with them,” Bower says. “And that is exactly what we want to do with his brand, make positive memories, relationships and interactions.”
The Gratefulist Blood Moon
Ingredients
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2 oz Gratefulist Vodka
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1.5 oz fresh blood orange juice (about half a blood orange)
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0.5 oz fresh lime juice
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0.5 oz simple syrup (or agave for a softer sweetness)
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1-2 dashes orange bitters (optional but elevates complexity)
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Splash of club soda or prosecco (optional, for lift)
Garnish
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Blood orange wheel or twist
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Fresh rosemary sprig (optional, adds a beautiful aromatic contrast)
Method
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Fill a shaker with ice.
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Add Gratefulist Vodka, blood orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters.
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Shake hard until well chilled.
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Strain into a coupe or rocks glass over fresh ice.
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Top with a splash of club soda (refreshing) or prosecco (festive).
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Garnish with a blood orange wheel and rosemary sprig.
“The brand is not about being an everyday sipping vodka. It’s a vodka you should be pouring with friends and feeling grateful for those relationships."—Christy Bower