Meet Kaleena Goldsworthy – Warnock: Cocktail Herbalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaleena Goldsworthy – Warnock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaleena, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I feel like the entrepreneurial spirit can exist in someone long before they realize it. I have often wondered why or how people got started with their own companies – and it didn’t really dawn on me until I started my own that there wasn’t necessarily a moment I had, or a calling to do so that changed everything. Before The Bitter Bottle, I don’t think I ever would have even considered myself an entrepreneur – but I knew I had this drive to find a calling or a purpose. I think that’s where the thought process really started for me. I found something that inspired and intrigued me. With The Bitter Bottle, this was creating flavors and understanding botanical elements and what they do to food and drink. Once I started creating bitters and tinctures as a hobby, it just seemed like the next logical step to start a business of it. I truly didn’t give it much thought – it just happened. One day, I just said “yes, this is what I’m going to do now” and it organically transformed (with a lot of hard work) into both a passion and a career. I have to believe that is that entrepreneurial spirit I had read so much about. That knee-jerk reaction to not even consider what’s next and to move it forward into fruition. To make something more of a passion. The more roadblocks I was faced with, the more exciting the journey became. It was an incredibly puzzle. I couldn’t imagine a better way to wake up and take on every day: learning and creating something you’re passionate about. I feel like that’s the dream!

What should our readers know about your business?
The Bitter Bottle is truly the result of realizing so many of the things I am passionate about – and creating something that serves them all. Nearly 8 years ago, I kind of fell into the hospitality industry as a bartender. I had no intention to continue down that road – I was an aspiring musician and thought that a quick stint in the hospitality industry was just what was needed sometimes to make some money before heading out on the next tour or adventure. What happened behind that bar truly changed my life: I fell in love with the hospitality industry. Cocktail creation was just flexing my artistic muscles in a new, exciting way – and I loved talking to and learning from other people that I worked with or who I met on the other side of the bar top. Furthermore, I loved looking after and taking care of people. Bartending can lead to such wonderful experiences when you look at it from the perspective of basic human interactions. Most people come to you already in a good mood – your job is to keep them happy or create an even better experience for them. If they are coming to you from a different place, you have the opportunity to turn their day around. This, to me, was so inspiring. On the other side of the job, I began to really love creating drinks. Understanding what flavors worked well together and why. I found myself studying flavors and spirits – and through that, enamored with historic cocktail culture and the origins of these products. I realized that so many of our treasured spirits had their roots in traditional / medicinal herbalism. From there, I became a student of herbalism and used that knowledge to drive this passion even further. Because I am the kind of person who can’t seem to sit still – I wanted a more physical, tactile education on plants, and began working and volunteering at a local urban farm. My at home experiments combined with my love of taking care of others as a bartender combined with my love of plants reached a point one day where it all came together. This is how The Bitter Bottle was created – an herbal cocktail bitters company – created with the intent to take care of those who take care of us (the hospitality industry) but paying respect to our industry’s heritage. All of our products are created using herbalist techniques but crafted for the palates of those who work in food and beverage. Once I had the idea however, this was truly just the start of a long and difficult journey. I was informed no one had ever created an alcohol based bitters company in the state of Tennessee due to it being difficult to navigate some laws and legislation. Perhaps it was my NY mentality or that drive and determination I mentioned earlier – but this just seemed like a challenge I needed to take on. I found myself in the right place at the right time surrounded by the right people – and we were able to reform a house bill in 2017 that made it easier for alcohol based bitters to enter the TN marketplace. From there, there was a lot of work and research to find how to have our products regulated on a federal level – and we still face difficulties because our product is so ‘new’ to the market and is not easily understood. It has been a constant challenge to continue to produce and push the boundaries while educating and playing by the rules – but I always felt like someone was going to do it, so why not me? I think this determination and seeing that it was possible to move forward despite the difficulties is what I am most proud of with this company. It taught me that you can make things happen if you’re tenacious – but it also taught me to take a step back and accept help. There is truly no way I could have forged ahead without the assistance of people far smarter and more skilled than me in this industry, and for them, I am forever grateful. Our story is our brand. We are authentic, we work hard to do the right thing, we don’t cut corners, and we aim to create the highest quality products because we care about others. Where we’ve come from is important, but it’s also what we do moving forward that counts.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Chattanooga has so much to offer and so much to do! As an outdoors enthusiast, I love taking people to Sunset Rock for a quick little hike to take in some of our incredible views. If we have more time, hitting the trails on Lookout or Signal Mountain is a must. I am also so proud of and excited about our greenways and river walk! Renting a bicycle and going on a long ride – stopping for snacks and coffee – is a summer staple of ours. When it comes to food, we have some of the best! For breakfast, it’s a Bluegrass Grill kind of day, EVERY day. If there was a spot in town that I feel like is my ‘Cheers,’ this place is it. It is an incredible, family owned and operated restaurant that is just… something I crave whenever I leave town. I also love to frequent my old stomping ground, Flying Squirrel. The menu (created by Chef Sanders Parker) is out of this world, and they always have a fantastic beverage program. I also love to send people to Proof Bar and Incubator, a phenomenal ‘new’ addition to our city, that focuses on allowing up and coming restaurants and start ups in the food and beverage industry to take center stage. If you want to see the up and coming chefs and businesses – as well as having some incredible cocktails or mocktails, Proof is the spot. We also have a ton of wonderful breweries that you can’t sleep on – Oddstory, Hutton and Smith, Heaven and Ale – the list goes on and on! Our downtown area has so many local options – you cannot go wrong at any of them. For a fancier night on the town, I love Easy Bistro, Main Street Meats, Alleia, or Il Primo. it depends on your mood – but there is truly something for everyone. And if you feel like you need to work out a bit more to earn your incredible dinner – head out for a quick rock climbing session, paddle board the TN river, or bike to all of the destinations! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The success and passion behind The Bitter Bottle (and the drive to keep moving forward with it!) would not have been made possible without the incredible support of my family, especially my dear husband, Les. Working is my hobby and he is incredibly understanding and supportive of that – and very kind to remind me when I need to take some time off! I also attribute a lot of my business’s character and victories to the incredible small business community and network in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This company would not have been possible without the help of our TSBDC, Co.Lab, Launch TN, and the many, MANY friendships and mentorships I have been so fortunate to find with other small businesses in our amazing city.

Website: www.thebitterbottle.com

Instagram: @thebitterbottle

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebitterbottle

Image Credits
all photos (except the last one) are by Sarah Catherine Photography The last photo (Kaleena sitting on the prep table) is by Taylor English Photography