Rocks Premium Mixers: A Leap of Faith from Sand to Shelves

An idea born on the sandy beaches of Tahiti has made its way into stores statewide and soon, nationwide. Lake Travis residents and business owners, Steve and Dawn Langerock, founders of Rocks Premium Mixers have an interesting story to share. A story that is most often told over a refreshing Mai Tai.

The software CEO and business consultant turned mixologists were enjoying a relaxing Tahitian vacation about 12 years ago, when they discovered their new favorite drink, a perfect blend of tropical fruit juices and dark rum. When they returned home, they searched everywhere for it — they even tried to locate the beachcomber in Tahiti — but no luck.

So what do two resourceful professionals think? Let’s make it ourselves!

And that’s exactly what they did.

Looking back at their journey starting Rocks Premium Brands, Steve laughs and admits he really wasn’t sure what they were doing. The two spent a year trying to recreate their idea of paradise in a glass and when they finally landed on that special recipe, their now famous Mai Tai, they shared it with all of their friends at every gathering they hosted or attended. Everyone loved it. “But that was our friends!” exclaimed Steve. “What would other people think?”

Over the years, the praise continued and one common remark ignited action. “You have to sell this!?!”

Steve vividly remembers their first foray into the business world with their Mai Tai mixer. The Langerocks decided they would “go big, or go home” with this new endeavor, so they invested in an initial run of 800 bottles. Steve recalls mixing drinks for customers the very first time, “People tried them and were like, ‘Wow! This is amazing! I’ll take a bottle!'” From that point on, the Langerocks knew they had something special and the company grew from there.

Today Rocks Premium Mixers has a variety of premium products including their signature Mai Tai mix, Ultimate Mixer,  Classic Margarita and Jalapeno Lime, which is a new release and “wildly popular” right now, according to Steve.

All of these mixers are made with natural fruit juices and pure cane sugar. They contain no artificial sweeteners or flavors, which is why it is a premium brand. The beauty of Rocks Premium Mixers is not just found in the flavor and the quality, but they are extremely versatile, especially the Ultimate Mixer (hence its name!)

Fans of Ultimate Mixer, which took the couple about six months to create, email the Langerocks with new and unusual cocktails they’ve created with a variety of spirits and wine. Customers mix it with rum, tequila, vodka (and flavored vodkas), Irish whiskey, gin, bourbon, hard apple cider, champagne, red & white wine, beer, cinnamon schnapps and Amaretto. This is music to Steve’s ears, because that was his plan.

“We wanted people to be able to enjoy an incredible cocktail without going through a painstaking process to make it. We made it as easy as possible to do that.” Thanks to Rocks Premium Mixers, anyone can be a stellar mixologist.

The Langerocks are now about 25,000 bottles into the business and they’re still enjoying it. Plus, the popularity of their products has attracted big retailers like Twin Liquors, Spec’s and Total Wine.

But even in the midst of growing a young company, the Langerocks find time to give back to the Austin and Lake Travis communities in many meaningful ways. They support Wonders & Worries, Seton Medical Center, American Heart Association and just started a relationship with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Langerocks are members of the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce and Dawn is on the Board of Directors. This is Steve’s third year as Treasurer for the Lakeway Police Foundation.

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