Today we’d like to introduce you to Janell Bass.
Hi Janell, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Mike and I are longtime bartenders with over 40 years of combined experience in the beverage industry. Mike got his start in Winter Park (Orlando), where he was one of the early pioneers of the craft cocktail scene in the early 2000s. He competed in Diageo World Class, opened three successful bars, and consulted for major companies like Darden and Bloomin’ Brands.
My background started in LA, where I lived from 2011 through COVID, working in chef-driven restaurants like Spago Beverly Hills and Osteria La Buca. That’s where I dove deep into fine wine, became a certified Cicerone, and developed a passion for cocktail creation.
We actually met on Bumble during the pandemic (lol) and hit the ground running. We launched a creative beverage consultancy called Punchbowl Project, where we developed cocktails for bourbon brands all over Kentucky, everything from visitor center menus to national restaurant accounts and brand events.
Then, in September 2021, we met our now angel investor at an event. Two weeks later, we sat down for a meeting, and he basically said, “You two should stop consulting and start putting your cocktails in cans.” We said, challenge accepted.
It was a challenge. But we were determined to do it right. Mike worked closely with a food scientist, and together we handled 100 percent of the formulations ourselves over the next two years. We built the brand, the vibe, and a fun new way to drink bourbon.
We officially launched Ponyboy Slings in July 2023 in our home state of Kentucky, and after a year of proving it out, we opened our second market in Tennessee this past March.
It’s been a wild ride, but we feel like we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Hahaha, if I said yes, you’d know I wasn’t really in the industry! We always say it’s a roller coaster, and we do our best to ride that middle line.
Like most beverage brands, we’ve had our share of ups and downs with distributors, co-packers, packaging hiccups, licensing delays, you name it. These are all pretty normal struggles in this space, but strangely enough, the whole journey has felt really synchronistic. We honestly believe we’re exactly where we’re meant to be, and that deeper sense of knowing keeps us going.
That said, one struggle we do want to shout from the rooftops is the reality of pay to play. As a small, independent brand created by bartenders, not boardrooms, it’s wild how hard it is to compete. The big dogs have the budgets to buy their way into placements, while we’re out here just trying to get genuinely better drinks into the hands of people who care about what they consume.
So yeah, it’s not always smooth, but it’s always worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ponyboy Slings is a bartender-created bourbon canned cocktail with a refreshing twist. At just 7% ABV, the bourbon comes through on the back end, making it smooth, balanced, and easy to drink. It’s a true bourbon-based option in a ready-to-drink format that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
We built the brand to feel fun and nostalgic, with a strong 1970s influence that reflects a sense of openness, inclusivity, and freedom. Our goal is to bridge the gap between traditional bourbon culture and a new wave of drinkers who may be curious about bourbon but find it intimidating—or who simply want a delicious, convenient cocktail. Ponyboy is the gateway for everyone to participate in bourbon culture.
What sets us apart is that we’re independent and bartender-led. We’re not owned by a giant company, and every decision is made with quality and intention. We don’t use preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors. Everything is all-natural, and the drinks actually taste great. We take a friendly, approachable stance in the alcohol space and believe there’s room for everyone at the bar.
We’re also using bourbon, the most underutilized spirit in the RTD category, to show people that there’s more than one way to enjoy it. We’re the little dogs that made a drink for you. Every ingredient was hand-selected to create cocktails we not only wanted to drink ourselves, but would be proud to serve our friends and family.
We’re not just another trend. Ponyboy is a carefully crafted concept, and we’d love for you to give it a try.
How do you think about luck?
We don’t really believe in luck. Good or bad, we truly believe that we cultivate both our lives and this business through how we see ourselves and the choices we make to pursue what we want. Sometimes when something “bad” happens, we later realize it actually helped us grow or led us in a better direction.
We work hard to find the opportunity in every obstacle. If we didn’t, we probably would have lost our minds by now lol!! Seriously, it’s been a wild ride.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drinkponyboy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkponyboy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkponyboy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ponyboyslings/posts/?feedView=all
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drinkponyboy
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebass101/
