In a Principality where luxury is the norm, a Monaco-based startup is redefining the cocktail experience. Mixt., the brainchild of entrepreneurs Darius Golestaneh and Chloe Riley who spotted a gap in the European market, has arrived with a proposition both elegant and practical—bar-quality cocktails delivered directly to your door.
“When I first moved here in 2010, it was almost impossible to even get a cocktail unless you were in a really fancy bar,” Chloe Riley explained to Monaco Life. “In our normal bar, you couldn’t find anything beyond those synthetic bright blue concoctions that nobody actually wants to drink.”
This observation sparked what would become an 18-month journey to launch. Establishing the company in Monaco’s complex regulatory environment took eight months alone—just the first hurdle in a process that included recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and building a supply chain robust enough to maintain exceptional quality from production to delivery.
“It’s taken about a year and a half to get to this point,” they explain, detailing how they’ve personally handled everything from logistics to graphic design. “We officially launched at the beginning of this year, but it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had to figure out all the rules and regulations, which have been quite complicated because we follow French regulations, EU regulations, and then Monaco has its own rules on top—for extra variety and fun.”
The premium proposition
What distinguishes mixt. in a market often dominated by synthetic-tasting is an uncompromising commitment to authenticity. Their current lineup—Hugo Spritz, Espresso Martini, and Orange Gin Fizz—features actual cocktail-strength drinks made with carefully selected ingredients.
“We spent a lot of time sourcing ingredients and making sure everything actually tastes good and is of high quality,” Golestaneh states. “The cocktails taste like real cocktails because they are real cocktails.”
This isn’t mere marketing talk. The company has invested in laboratory testing in both Poland and France to ensure stability and quality, resulting in products with an 18-month shelf life without requiring artificial preservatives or added sugars. The alcohol comes primarily from a French distillery, while other components, such as the sweet orange juice used in their Orange Gin Fizz, are sourced from Spain after extensive research.
Their Espresso Martini deserves particular mention—infused with nitrogen to create the rich froth expected of a well-made version. “Be sure to chill them all beforehand,” advises Riley. “The nitrogen creates a natural froth, but we’ve found that if you give it a quick shake in a cocktail shaker before serving, it turns incredibly smooth with a perfect foam on top.”
A changing market
Mixt.’s creation coincides with evolving drinking habits across France and Monaco. “The younger generation are changing their drinking habits,” notes Riley. “They’re moving away from just drinking wine. Initially people moved towards beer, and now they’re looking at alternatives like cocktails and even non-alcoholic options.”
This observation has informed their expansion plans, with a non-alcoholic cocktail among three new drinks set for release later this year. “It’s good to have an option for people who don’t want to drink,” explains Golestaneh.
Currently focused on France and Monaco, they’re eyeing Switzerland and Italy for future expansion while simultaneously working to secure placements in supermarkets and venues, one of them already being the Open Air Cinema.
The vision
When asked about their ambitions, the founders are clear: “In an ideal world, we’d like to see our drinks on supermarket shelves across France within a couple of years. Without sounding overly optimistic, our goal is for people to think of our brand first when they think of ready-to-drink cocktails.”
It’s a bold vision, but one backed by meticulous planning and a genuine passion for quality. In a market where luxury and excellence continue to drive consumer choices, mixt. appears perfectly positioned and ready to satisfy changing tastes and lifestyle demands.
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Main photo: Darius Golestaneh and Chloe Riley, credit: Kyriaki Topalidou
