About us

Our Story

With the world shutting down in 2020, bars and restaurant’s took a major hit. These places provided a drinking and dining experience that is hard to replicate. We believe being at your favorite bar is more than just the food and drinks alone. You also have the sights, sounds, and the smells (..yea even the dive bar smells). Pair that with tasty drinks and good conversation and you have what we call the “bar experience”.

But it can be difficult to make your favorite drinks at home. Even for experienced bartenders! The popular cocktails call for many ingredients and difficult measurements. Sometimes we settle for those neon colored sugar mixes that sit on store shelves for months. The market for “ready to drink” cocktails is the one of the fastest growing in the industry. As good as some of these drinks can be, they still don’t duplicate that bar experience. At Brown Box Cocktails, we try and change that..

..How?

Our kits come with everything you need!

Some of the best cocktails require multiple syrups, juices, fruits and other mixers. On top of garnishes and tools for common bar measurements like 0.5oz and .75oz that are not typically found in your kitchen. Shaking a drink is necessary in many cocktails but is often skipped at home because of the lack of a shaker.

We provide all the ingredients*, garnishes, tools, glassware (for 2), and the instructions you’ll need. See the drinks being made, smell the fresh ingredients, hear the sounds of each step, talk about it with a friend! This is how we re-create the “bar experience”.

*We do not provide the liquor or ice.

We focus on quality ingredients..

The best cocktails are made when fresh and natural ingredients are used. Artificial citrus juices are way too bitter and store bought mixers and syrups usually have a long list of preservatives, flavorings, and colorings. The mixers in our kits have natural ingredients and mostly come from small companies who specialize in their craft.

Kits make 16 cocktails

16 cocktails! That pairs perfectly with the standard 750ml bottle. Honestly… when are we ever only having ONE cocktail? Easy to follow step-by-step instructions allow anyone to be the mixologist. Artist designed boxes make the kits perfect gifts for any occasion. Have a bottle you don’t know what to do with? Let us help..

 Who Are We?

Brown Box Cocktails is based out of Vallejo, CA and was started by founder Kris Lauer (me). I have 10+ years of experience bartending and managing different styles of restaurants and bars. Everything from dive and tequila bars to fine dining and italian restaurants. In 2017 I started to work for the industries largest wine & spirits distributor in the nation. I use that experience to achieve high-level wine & spirits certification’s as well as learn directly from the suppliers of the worlds major brands. Throughout the years, I have had the pleasure to work with and learn from the area’s best chef’s and bartenders. I now use these connections to provide tailored services for whatever the event requires. Specifically chef Samuel Pantoja (catering) known for his work in high end restaurants throughout Napa and Green Valley. Together along with chef/bartender help we make up Brown Box Cocktails. Our background comes from the service industry and we thrive to serve our area. Contact us if there is anything we can do to make your experiences with us as best as can be!

I am open to criticism, take special requests, cater to your needs! If there are any issues feel free to contact me directly!

Kris Lauer

kris.lauer@brownboxcocktails.com