Drink Company

Drink Company is a boutique hospitality consulting and events firm founded by industry veterans Derek Brown and Maria Bastasch. Specializing in beverage program development, the company partners with venues, brands, and cultural institutions to create compelling beverage experiences that span concept development, operational design, and full-scale event execution. The firm has a proven track record of managing some of the most acclaimed beverage programs in the United States, including Columbia Room — named 'Best American Cocktail Bar' at the 2017 Spirited Awards — and Michelin-starred Maydan in Washington, D.C.

The company's service offering is structured across three core pillars: beverage-focused hospitality consulting, education and thought leadership, and experiential events. On the consulting side, Drink Company delivers concept development, positioning, narrative design, guest journey mapping, operational design, staff training, outlet management, and menu architecture with a particular focus on no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) innovation. Clients have included major hospitality brands such as Hilton, as well as prestige dining destinations like Dogon by Chef Kwame Onwuachi, whose non-alcoholic cocktail program was recognized by VinePair as one of the best in the country in 2025.

Drink Company has carved out a distinctive niche at the intersection of traditional mixology and the rapidly growing mindful drinking movement. Co-founder Derek Brown is widely recognized as a leading authority in the NoLo and functional beverage space. A former award-winning bartender named 'Bartender of the Year' by Imbibe in 2015, Brown has become one of the most cited voices in beverage culture, authoring two books — Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters (2019) and Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- And Low-Alcohol Cocktails (2022) — and developing the Mindful Drinking course for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He has been inducted into the Sans Bar Non-Alcoholic Hall of Fame and received the Industry Impact Award at the 2024 Bar and Restaurant Expo.

The education and thought leadership arm of Drink Company encompasses consumer classes, professional seminars, and speaking engagements at global conferences and industry panels. The events practice covers end-to-end event management including staffing, vendor coordination, aesthetic and logistical design, and event marketing. The company also produces the Mindful Drinking Fest, a gathering that brings together consumers and industry professionals around the evolving culture of intentional drinking.

Drink Company serves hospitality operators, CPG beverage brands, hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions seeking to elevate their beverage programming, expand NoLo offerings, or engage consumers through curated beverage experiences. With deep roots in the Washington, D.C. hospitality scene and a growing national footprint, the firm bridges strategy, design, and storytelling to deliver beverage programming at the highest level.