WRITTEN BY JORDAN KOSSUTH
You don’t have to leave your house to have a great cocktail, and when bars and restaurants were closed in Michigan during the global Covid-19 pandemic, Eric MacAulay & Taylor Ballek took action to really drive this notion, well, home! They utilized their time in quarantine to perfect four cocktail mixes that are versatile enough to mix with any spirits – from top shelf liquor, to sparkling water, to that “emergency” handle of cheap vodka in the back of your liquor cabinet. These fresh and fun mixes were handcrafted for cocktail enthusiasts looking to bring the mixology experience into the comfort of their own kitchen, patio or backyard.
Let’s Stay Home Cocktail Kits are curated using all-natural ingredients, to bring you the freshest flavor possible. Without the use of any unnatural preservatives, each kit has a shelf life of up to a year if unopened. Opened bottles can be stored in your fridge and used for several months – making about 10 drinks per bottle whenever the mood for a cocktail strikes!
SPREADING CHEER(S) IN QUARANTINE
Originally from the metro Detroit area, Eric MacAulay is a seasoned bartender with a degree in Psychology from the Michigan State University. He knew he did not want to work in the service industry forever, with its inherent lack of stability – a point driven home in the spring of 2020 when he was laid off due to the global pandemic. Taylor Ballek is a Central Michigan University graduate and photojournalist from the west suburbs of Chicago, who has seen her fair share of Covid-19 units over the last year working as a Communications Specialist for Spectrum Health.
During their time at home, Eric began concocting syrups for them to use while making fancier cocktails at home using fresh fruit he had picked up at their local store, Bridge Street Market. Knowing that there would be a market for these, especially in a time when bars were temporarily closed and dining in restaurants was on an indefinite pause, Taylor encouraged Eric to produce Cocktail Kits on a larger scale.
In the matter of a day, they had sample products and a name – Let’s Stay Home Cocktail Kits. While they outsourced some of their research & taste-testing trials to industry friends, a lot of the development process consisted of the pair testing different ratios, balancing out syrups and citrus juices – sacrificing some rough mornings to bring us the perfected mixes sold today. Their friend and local artist, Josh Sheller, created their logo, which resembles the home Eric & Taylor have made in Grand Rapids.
A GOOD OLD FASHIONED “MEET CUTE”
In early 2019, Taylor left a show at the Pyramid Scheme to grab some food across the street at Stella’s Lounge. While sitting at the bar, she inquired about the Impossible Burger and chatted with her bartender, eventually leaving her phone number with his coworker. Eric, who had been covering a shift for a coworker that evening, was quick to call – and just nine months later in October 2019, they were eloping in New Orleans surrounded by family.
The pair had been planning a formal ceremony in 2020 to celebrate their union with their friends and extended family. While the pandemic put a pause on these plans, Let’s Stay Home officially launched on October 30, 2020 – the date Taylor & Eric had planned to host their formal wedding ceremony, making the date memorable nonetheless!
THE CORE FOUR
All fruits & herbs used in their mixes are sourced through local distribution companies that carry Michigan products. Some fruits – like strawberries and blueberries – are available year-round, playing an integral role in the creation process for their “core four” kits.
🫐 Blueberry Lavender – Tangy blueberries and dried lavender – pairs best with vodka, tequila or tonic.
🌱 Ginger Basil – A zesty, bright mix recommended with a whiskey or clear rum.
🍓 Strawberry Mint – Sweet and minty, this mix works best with gin, tequila, or mezcal.
🍑 Peach Rosemary – Recommended with gin or whiskey (I can personally attest – this one is great with gin!)
While they have listed some recommended pairings on the bottles, these kits can be mixed with any spirit, as well as sparkling water or tonic if creating a mocktail! Eric has worked at several bars in the area, all with cocktails created for one specific spirit and oftentimes one specific brand – a polarizing experience they sought to avoid. “If we can make a mix that does as much work as possible, so all you have to do is add the spirit, there’s value in that – beyond it just being delicious,” says Eric. And to have a mix that Eric, a gin drinker, and Taylor, who prefers whiskey/bourbon, can both utilize when making cocktails – that’s a game changer.
In addition to these four, Eric plans to continue with seasonal mixes. Some of their seasonal offerings will have more specific spirit pairing suggestions, but he has been careful to curate flavor profiles that will work with at least two spirits. One such kit is an upcoming collaboration with Roots Coffee Company on a Coffee Chocolate Habanero Cocktail Kit – best with vodka, tequila or whiskey. These small batch mixes will be produced in a limited capacity available directly through their online store.
GETTING STARTED & GIVING BACK IN GRAND RAPIDS
Taylor continues to dream big when it comes to their business, with aspirations to open their own retail space and tasting bar, where customers can fill growlers to go, or customize their own drinks on-site with their choice of spirits, mixes, and a garnish bar.
To business owners looking to get their foot in the door in Grand Rapids, they encourage reaching out to other local small businesses. “There’s no way we would be where we are without programs like the Downtown Market’s Incubator Kitchen, or guidance from other businesses making the introduction.” Eric mentions reaching out to the owner of local modern Tex-Mex business Basalt GR, who pointed them in this direction when they were getting started. “There is always a door open somewhere, as long as you ask.” A lot of small business owners are active on their social media accounts, and happy to answer any questions you have.
Eric & Taylor look forward to collaborating and further nourishing their relationships with other small businesses in the area. In December 2020, Let’s Stay Home worked with several other local small businesses – The Urban Pickle, Chartreuse Sisters, Donut Garden, and Brewts Bloody Mary – to donate a portion of their sales to benefit the Grand Rapids Pride Center & AYA Youth Collective. The group was able to donate $2500 to these organizations that help our unhoused LGBTQ+ youth and provide safe shelter in times of crisis. Eric & Taylor look forward to repeating this success, with talks to create a special Cocktail Kit for Grand Rapids Pride Month with proceeds to benefit Grand Rapids Pride Center.
Let’s Stay Home Cocktail Kits are available at the Bridge Street Market in the Grand Rapids to Go cooler section, as well as through their online store. With local pick up, as well as direct shipping available for anyone looking to buy outside the Grand Rapids area, they love seeing their customer base grow. And we love keeping an eye out on their Instagram page for more exciting things to come as they continue to supply us with fresh new ways to use their mixes and elevate our homemade cocktails!