About our Business

A spirited backstory.

It all began in a cocktail-making class at Civil Liberties Bar, taught by Nick Kennedy.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, a family of cocktail enthusiasts, including Mary Beth and John Williamson, were engaged in learning from the best how to make great cocktails. While the students were seemingly endlessly shaking their Ramos Gin Fizz's, Nick regaled them with cocktail fact and fiction.

And how he is inspired by the scientific and molecular components of cocktails. And his on-going quest to explore, develop and combine flavours to delight cocktail lovers. To prove his point, Nick shared his innovative distillates and some enticingly nuanced, delicious cocktails crafted with them.

Innovation served.

As lifelong business builders in the corporate and entrepreneurial world, Mary Beth and John saw the opportunity to innovate in the cocktail space. The three agreed to work to explore business opportunities. And opportunities there were.

The team recognized the immediate challenge facing the hospitality industry: cocktails have never been more popular, but they’ve also never been more inconsistent. And they knew they had the solution. The team also knew that a new generation of cocktail lovers had emerged, seeking new flavours and experiences – but who didn’t necessarily have the skills, knowledge, time, or ingredients to replicate their favourites at home. And the team knew they had the solution to that, as well.

The Civil way.

The team designed a patent-pending vacuum distillation process, enabling the production of fresh, vibrant, and flavourful distillate ingredients – the key to delicious, shelf stable cocktails. Add the magic of some of Canada's award-winning bartenders to the process and an unbeatable recipe was created.

In 2022, Civil Pours was born. A ready-to-pour, premium cocktail program that blends the highest quality, proprietary ingredients into shelf stable, top selling cocktails delivered to you in draft-ready kegs or bottles. All you do is pour, serve, and savour a seamless experience designed to captivate your customer and smooth your service.

Our Team

Behind our bar.

Nick Kennedy,
Founder

Before Nick co-founded Civil Pours, he made a name for himself in the bartending community, creating a world-renowned cocktail bar and travelling the globe to learn and share knowledge. From studying cutting-edge vacuum distillation in Copenhagen, to working with some of the best bartenders from New York to Singapore, Nick has a brain fizzing with both scientific wizardry and culinary genius. He blends innovation and taste, all while keeping his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes a customer say “oh, that’s good”.

John Williamson,
Founder

As the leader of Civil Pours' business development team, John also fearlessly navigates the choppy seas of operations, procurement, and logistics, armed with a pocketful of creativity and a boatload of resourcefulness. From negotiating deals to dodging logistical curveballs, John's the man with the plan, turning every challenge into a triumph with a wink and a smile.

Mary Beth Williamson,
Founder

Mary Beth brings business discipline to transform plans into reality and ensure the entire Civil Pours operation runs smoothly. With a resume that includes the likes of Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Jamieson Wellness, she’s able to respond to every opportunity and face any challenge. At Civil Pours, Mary Beth blends her agile professionalism with a splash of strategy, a twist of financial finesse, a dash of marketing magic, and a generous pour of human capital know-how.

Madison Homewood,
Head of Research & Development

Madi is never afraid to shake things up! With a trophy shelf groaning under the weight of her awards, she’s the architect behind our innovative distillates and cocktails, blending creativity with a whole lot of sustainability. She’s always thinking of how Civil Pours can source locally, distill sustainably, and eliminate excess waste with a commitment to the environment that’s as refreshing as her signature drinks. Oh, and she’s not just any bartender; she's cracked the coveted top 30-under-30 list!

Horácio Ribeiro,
Production Lead

Horácio has a nose for quality, meticulous attention to detail and a knack for turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary libations! With a deft hand and a dash of magic, he expertly distills all Civil Pours' unique flavours into bright, flavourful cocktails that'll make your taste buds sing. He's also a certified Beer Sommelier, ensuring every keg delivers the perfect pour, every time.

Chris Williamson,
Director of Sales & Marketing

Chris has a passion for mixology and a flair for building brands that'll make your head spin (in the best possible way, of course)! With a decade of award-winning experience under his belt, he's the brains behind the Civil Pours brand, crafting campaigns that speak directly to our thirsty consumers. Whether he's concocting clever slogans or dreaming up product launches, Chris turns every idea into liquid gold.