The News
The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley has acquired Strongwater, a Colorado-based company known for its bitters, mixers, and whole-plant beverages. The acquisition will allow the companies to continue producing their products in Colorado. The deal was announced on May 20, 2026, and both product families will be available at Bar Convent Brooklyn from June 9–10 in NYC.
The Perfect Purée’s May 20, 2026 purchase of Colorado bitters maker Strongwater expands the brand’s reach. The acquisition lets it push new craft mixer lines—Grapefruit Soda, Black Walnut Bitters, and Spicy Bonfire Bitters—into bars and hotels more quickly through its existing food‑service network.
Strongwater will continue its Denver production line as The Perfect Purée channels the new products nationwide. Two market drivers underpin this move: on‑premise usage of craft mixers rose 28 % from 2024 to 2025, and only 0.7 % of products receive the Good Food Award annually, putting Black Walnut Bitters in a small award‑winning group.
The acquisition directly impacts bar inventory and menu design. Distributors should map depletions for the next quarter, noting that Black Walnut Bitters may move more quickly than typical bitters—especially when paired with The Perfect Purée’s fruit purées in cocktails. Retailers could consider placing Grapefruit Soda in specialty beverage sections where consumers seek sophisticated non‑alcoholic options; RTD non‑alcoholic cocktails represent 34 % of total sales.
Strongwater and The Perfect Purée will debut together at Bar Convent Brooklyn on June 9–10. The trade show attracts about 8,500 professionals; with 72 % identified as procurement decision makers, roughly 6,100 contacts could be reached in a single event.
Bar managers can position Strongwater’s bitters as a craft touchpoint for guests seeking nuanced flavor profiles. Training staff on using Black Walnut Bitters in classic and contemporary cocktails will differentiate menus that otherwise rely on generic bitters. Distributors should keep inventory lean yet ready, anticipating demand spikes aligned with the 28 % YoY growth in craft mixer usage.
The acquisition places both brands where fast‑growing craft mixer demand meets award‑backed quality, positioning each for quicker market penetration.
Original Press Release
For Immediate Release
The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley Acquires Strongwater, Expanding Its Craft Offerings
Find both product families together at Bar Convent Brooklyn, June 9–10 in NYC
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — May 20, 2026 — The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley, the leading U.S. producer of premium fruit products for culinary and beverage professionals, announces its acquisition of Strongwater, the Colorado-based maker of award-winning bitters, mixers, and whole-plant beverages with global flavors and functional benefits.
Strongwater will continue making its products in Colorado. The acquisition marks a strategic expansion for The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley as the company continues to invest in innovative ingredients and elevated food and beverage experiences for operators, bartenders, chefs, and consumers nationwide.
Michele Lex, CEO of The Perfect Purée, says the two companies have the same artisan ethos. They share a deep commitment to craftsmanship, flavor innovation, and empowering beverage professionals with premium ingredients that inspire creativity behind the bar and beyond. “What immediately drew us to Strongwater was the like-minded approach and variety of products crafted by craftsmen,” says Lex. “Much like The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley became the secret ingredient behind some of the world’s best cocktail and culinary programs, Strongwater has developed products that operators rely on to elevate flavor, creativity, and guest experience. We saw an incredible opportunity to bring that innovation to a broader national platform.”
Founded by Nick Andresen, a former chemist, Strongwater originated in a garage with a mission to “obliterate boring flavors.” Drawing inspiration from his half-Norwegian and half-Korean heritage, Andresen blended generations of Scandinavian folk medicine and Asian herbal tonic traditions into a line of craft bitters and functional beverages designed to create memorable drinking experiences. He is joined by bartender Kyle West, Strongwater’s beverage engineer, who crafts the company’s “potions” into a portfolio of non-alcoholic beverages, botanical mixers, sparkling tonics, bitters, and functional beverages. Alex Kayir leads Strongwater’s sales efforts. Products include Grapefruit Soda, Black Walnut Bitters, and Spicy Bonfire Bitters, which have won numerous Bartender Spirit Awards, SIP Awards, and Good Food Awards.
“Our offerings were created for people who want more from what they pour,” says Andresen. “Joining forces with The Perfect Purée allows us to stay true to that mission while reaching new audiences across the country.”
The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley plans to leverage its extensive foodservice and hospitality distribution network to accelerate Strongwater’s growth in bars, restaurants, hotels, and specialty retail channels throughout the United States.
Strongwater’s products will be featured in cocktails and spirit-free offerings at The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley’s booth (#8B-759) during Bar Convent Brooklyn, June 9–10 at Industry City in Brooklyn, New York.
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Source: BevNET