Stephanie Cooney and Brenda Magnusson created North America's first hemp-infused vodka called Stoked Vodka after experimenting with hemp in liquid form. They sold 1,500 cases in their first year, quadrupling their sales expectations. While they faced regulatory hurdles regarding the hemp label, Stoked Vodka has expanded across Western Canada and the founders aim to enter the US market as well.

1. Getting stoked
New Age vodka bounding over
sales forecasts
S
tephanie Cooney and Brenda Magnusson became
friends after working together at an engineering firm.
They had at least one thing in common: neither wanted
to continue to work for someone else. The pair talked
for months about creating a product or invention that could
give them the financial independence they craved. A series
of ideas – “self-help books, gadgets and dumb ideas” – were
brought forward, considered and discarded.
Then one night over drinks at Brenda’s house, they had an
idea. A crazy, wonderful idea! Brenda had liquid hemp in the
fridge and the two former mixologists thought hemp could be
a starting point for a totally hip, unique product.
They approached a private label distillery – Highwood in High
River, Alberta – and started experimenting with hemp in
liquid, seed and powder. They finally found the mix they were
looking for.
North America’s first hemp-infused vodka was rolled out Stephanie Cooney and Brenda Magnusson
in July 2010 and the two women have never looked back.
Now known as the Liquid Chicks, the two are effervescent, next day so we know we have high-grade product.”
intelligent and unfailingly ambitious. “We sold 1,500 cases
in the first year, which quadrupled sales expectations,” says Certainly, Liquid Chicks had hurdles to overcome.
Brenda.
Stoked Vodka
The hemp leaf label proved difficult to get approved. Each
Did it exceed their expectations? Replies Stephanie, “No. province has different regulations: BC. legislators didn’t like
the play on words on the back of the label. Adjustments were
“We’ve got some pretty big expectations.” made.
Spreading like a weed “We had to get around misconceptions about hemp,” said
Brenda. From the same Cannabis family of plants as its more
Liquid Chicks had their work cut out for them in more ways infamous cousin, hemp lacks any traceable amounts of the
than one. Citrus and candy-flavoured segments of the market psychoactive agent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in
were already overcrowded, notes Brenda. marijuana.
“We saw Stoked being able to offer a unique piece of the “Hemp is an organic product with numerous health benefits,”
herbal/grass flavoured segment,” points out Brenda.
explains Stephanie.
Hemp seed is a health product that contains essential amino
The quadruple-distilled ultra- and fatty acids and is said to improve circulation and blood
smooth vodka with a slight hint of pressure and nourish hair and nails.
hemp’s nutty flavour tastes just like
regular vodka, with a little bit of an Eventually, Stoked
extra kick to it, says Stephanie. Vodka passed
muster with the
“It goes well with anything,” adds Canadian Food
Brenda. “We’ve also been told that Inspection Agency
no one gets a hangover from it the regulations.
continued...

2. You can honestly say you didn’t inhale
... but you did swallow
Achievements so far
Stoked for sale in Alberta July 2010
Manitoba December 2010
... continued British Columbia January 2011
Quadrupled sales expectations in its first year
Originally targeted to 18-to 25-year-olds, Stephanie now believes its appeal
will be even broader because hemp is known for being environmentally
cultivated. Stoked Vodka has appeared in newspapers
across Canada and the U.S., radio
Stoked Vodka is warehoused in St. Albert and then delivered to restaurants, appearances, Alberta Primetime, Global,
bars and more than 200 liquor stores across Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. NTV, Travel Alberta as well as at the
Playboy Mansion, Showtime TV’s Weeds,
The two have set their sites on gaining entry into the U.S. market. the Stony Awards, 420 magazine
“We see ourselves all over the U.S. and Canada,” says Brenda.
The Liquid Chicks have sponsored many
It’s hard not to be stoked events and causes such as
the Rainbow Society,
about Stoked various minor hockey functions,
The Cancer Society, Grande Prairie
Community Futures Grande Prairie and Region (CFGP) got on board with Regional College Welcome Back
us and really catapulted us to the next level, says Stephanie. “We were able Students’ party, Demonika festival
to secure a business coach that helped us develop a business plan, provided in Calgary and Edmonton, and the
us with general business knowledge and just as importantly network in the Taste of Calgary.
field.”
Thanks to CFGP resources, Stoked Vodka secured seed money to use for
marketing, label development and packaging for a more effective market
positioning.
“Community Futures put some fantastic tools into our hands,” said Brenda.
For more information on Stoked Vodka or the Liquid Chicks, please visit
www.liquidchicks.com or Liquid Chicks on Facebook.
Stoked Vodka
Brenda Magnusson and Stephanie Cooney
Liquid Chicks Inc.
Grande Prairie, AB
liquidchicks.com
liquidchicks@hotmail.com