Exploring Life & Business with Kevin John of IslandJon Vodka

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin John. They and their team shared their story with us below:

The IslandJon story and journey starts with my dad, Levi John. A world traveler and entertainer. Through various relationships in Europe and throughout the Caribbean, an idea to craft a vodka for the Caribbean to call its own was born. To this day, our name suggest that the spirit of choice would be a rum, but we took a hard left and went for crafting an impeccably smooth, character-driven vodka which earned some highly coveted awards. We’re five years in, and I find myself in awe that we’re still around and thriving in a very competitive space. When my dad brought this opportunity to me, I was in 13-year career selling into large-format telephony telematics applications. I saw this as a chance to partner with my dad, create a family business, and, hopefully, a family legacy. For 2.5 years, I crashed course one of the oldest industries in the world. If I could have done it in shorter time, I would have, but in retrospect, the industry demands that level of respect. Perfecting a craft understanding a massive knowledge base in every direction of the business is huge to one’s (professional) growth. The Bev alc business has a way of humbling your eagerness to the realization that it’s a journey, not a sprint. However, sprint because the TTB isn’t slowing down approving new brands. We found that doing the little things really well over time, consistently, keeps you in the game. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The only things we manage to keep smooth is our vodka, and that was a challenge at times. Our batches were not yielding the same results consistently. A lot of on-the-job training and figuring stuff out. We didn’t realize how cash-intensive this business is, and the less you know, the more you pay for knowledge and expertise. Outside of the cash flow issues, enduring COVID was our initial challenge. We were essential but not essential for many customers. Still, very early in the market and through the initial months of shutdown, depletions slowed dramatically, meaning we weren’t moving many cases out of our distributor’s warehouse. Once city officials and local governments decided to open the markets April 29th, it was shear determination that we, our fledgling family business, wouldn’t become a casualty due to the pandemic. With focus and determination, I was in 3-4 package stores every weekend 10-12 hours hand selling IslandJon Vodka. It was enough to get us over the hump and get sales moving in the right direction. The ensuing supply chain issues high-inflationary periods crushed margins. Luckily, I was able to establish a solid team that held us down through some pretty tough times. Shoutout to them! 

Through all the heartaches and stress, having unadulterated passion to overcome to become better and wiser has to be center to getting through the rough patches. 

As you know, we’re big fans of IslandJon Vodka. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
In a sun-drenched suburb or New Port Richey, Florida, there’s a small-batch distillery making award-winning craft vodkas. Founded by a father-son team, IslandJon Vodka, and their spirits celebrates legacy, heritage, and the soothing warm sun and lush landscapes of the Caribbean. 

IslandJon Vodka was founded by Levi and Kevin John. Hailing from the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, Levi has spent his life on stage and traveling the world as a musician. In his decades of island living and world travel, Levi learned that there is nothing more important than embracing unforgettable moments. It’s this attitude that IslandJon Vodka is distilling their award-winning craft vodkas. 

Product Attributes: 

Mash: 

A mix of the finest American-made yellow and white sweet corn. 

The Process: 

6X Distilled, 8X Charcoal and Micro-Coconut Husk filtration. Rested up to 30 days for perfection. 

Aroma: 

Very clean floral, soft medium palate, balanced, melon salad with a hint of sweetness. 

Palate: 

Vanilla undertones creamy sweet corn, hints of white peppercorn, velvety rich finish, elegant on the rocks. 

I’m proud of our resilience and perseverance in a crowded and highly competitive beverage space. 

What sets us apart from other vodka brands is our innovative approach to bring new, exciting flavor profiles to the marketplace. Educating our customers on various tropical fruits but also sharing why these expressions are near and dear to our family and culture. Outside of crafting an award-winning and respected vodka, we also lure customers with our flavor expressions – Apple Gwayav (guava-infused vodka), Mango Peach, and soon-to-release Coconut Vanilla. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the process of becoming a brand. A brand people recognize and will one day be recognized as one of the best because you have people on the team that exude your truth, tenacity, and desire to show up as their best self. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.islandjon.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandjonvodka
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandjonvodka
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinljohn
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/islandjonvodka
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@islandjonvodka

Image Credits
Alfred Dixon