How Double Dutch built a global mixers brand with serious spirit

Words: Gentleman's Journal

In association with:

Mixers have long played second fiddle to the spirits they’re paired with – a glaring oversight, if you ask Raissa and Joyce De Haas. The Netherlands-born twins are the joint founders of Double Dutch, the aptly named premium mixers brand that puts tonics and sodas in the spotlight, bringing much-needed flavour – and fun – to what is a typically neglected sector.

Growing up with parents who regularly held gin tasting evenings for their friends, Raissa and Joyce became attuned to the different flavour profiles of high quality spirits. At university, they struggled to find mixers to match the vibrancy of the spirits they loved, so they took matters into their own hands and concocted uniquely flavoured sodas, like Cucumber & Watermelon and Pomegranate & Basil (both now signature flavours), to bring to parties.

A casual hobby led to a joint Entrepreneurship Masters dissertation at University College London, which turned into a business plan. The De Haas twins quickly became passionate flavour experts and worked closely with bartenders, hospitality workers and amateur mixologists to learn what they wanted from their mixers. And so, in 2015, Double Dutch was officially launched.

10 years later, the company is thriving, with over two million bottles sold every month to 45 countries across the world. The appeal of the drinks lie in their elevated flavour profiles: these aren’t your typical tonics. Each mixer in the 12-strong range has been specially developed using the science of molecular gastronomy, which dictates that ingredients with shared flavour aromas make for happy pairing. Think a Ginger Ale that’s spiced with cardamom, Indian Tonic with hints of grapefruit and juniper berry, and a punchier take on lemonade – Double Lemon – which blends lemon, lime and quassia.

But there’s more to the brand than exciting flavours. The drinks industry is rapidly evolving and Double Dutch is helping to forge a new path forward. As an accredited B Corporation, the 100% carbon neutral company is committed to thinking beyond what’s inside the bottle, taking into account its social and environmental impact and making decisions that matter in the long-term. Furthermore, a Female Bartender Scholarship Programme underscores Double Dutch’s commitment to supporting and celebrating women in the drinks industry, where there remains a noticeable lack of female representation.

From its elevated flavours to its efforts beyond the bottle, Double Dutch is making a stir. And a decade in, it's just getting started. Watch this space.

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