CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 15, 2026) – Bittermilk Bottling Co. today announced that it’s Gingerbread Old Fashioned has been named a 2026 sofi™ Gold Award winner in the Alcoholic Beverage category by the Specialty Food Association (SFA), recognizing it as a standout within the specialty food and beverage industry this year.
The sofi Award winners were revealed live in San Diego at SFA’s Winter FancyFaire* trade show during a ceremony hosted by celebrity chef Joe Sasto. The award ceremony brought together makers, buyers, press, and industry leaders to celebrate the innovations shaping the future of specialty food.
“Winning a sofi Award is especially meaningful because it’s positive feedback coming directly from the buyers shaping what’s next in specialty food,” said Joe Raya, Co-Founder of Bittermilk Bottling Co. “This recognition for our Gingerbread Old Fashioned mixer validates the care and creativity we put into crafting bold, balanced flavors with premium ingredients, and we’re honored to be recognized among so many inspiring brands.”
The Gingerbread Old Fashioned Mixer is a limited, seasonal cocktail mixer that blends warming ginger, sorghum molasses, and aromatic winter spices with a perfectly balanced sweetness, designed to turn a classic Old Fashioned into a cozy, seasonal cocktail in seconds. This winter-forward release showcases Bittermilk’s signature approach to cocktail mixers by using natural ingredients, hand-selected spices, and no artificial flavors or preservatives, making it easy to craft bar-quality cocktails at home throughout the season.
Spanning 25 Gold Award categories and five Grand Honors distinctions, the sofi Awards recognize products that stand out for innovation, exceptional taste, and high-quality ingredients—and signal what’s next for specialty food. Chosen through blind tastings by a panel of leading retail and foodservice buyers, the 2026 sofi Award winners rose to the top from a pool of more than 1,200 entries.
The win comes as Bittermilk Bottling Co. gears up for an exciting 2026, which will see the company expand into new national retailers, introduce limited-edition seasonal mixers, and continue growing its presence in both on- and off-premise bars across the country.
For more information about Bittermilk Bottling Co. and Gingerbread Old Fashioned, visit www.bittermilk.com.
About Bittermilk Bottling Co.
Bittermilk Bottling Co. Family of Brands, includes Bittermilk and Barcoop Bevy cocktail mixers, Tipplemans cocktail syrups, and Drinkmanship ready-to-drink cocktails. Each product is hand-crafted in Charleston, SC with all-natural ingredients and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the highest quality standards. Founded by former bartenders and husband-and-wife duo, Joe and MariElena Raya met while both attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. In 2010, the Rayas opened The Gin Joint, Charleston’s first craft cocktail bar, to spread the love of pre-prohibition cocktails and fine hand-crafted spirits. After years of success at the Gin Joint, the couple put their decades of experience and knowledge into starting Bittermilk. Bittermilk Bottling Co. continues to set the standard for premium beverage experiences and has been recognized by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the 2024 sofi Awards, as well as the Good Food Awards.
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) was founded in 1952 and is the not-for-profit trade association of the $219-billion specialty food industry. Representing more than 4,400 businesses worldwide, SFA champions industry participation and success for a diverse community of makers, buyers, importers, distributors, and service providers by producing events, programs, and year-round resources and education. SFA owns and operates the Summer Fancy Food Show, Winter FancyFaire*, and the sofi™ Awards. SFA also produces the e-newsletter Specialty Food SmartBrief, and Show reports. Learn more at Specialtyfood.com and connect with SFA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.