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Hella Cocktail Co, which creates botanically inspired mixers and beverages for cocktails, has secured $5 million from American whiskey brand Uncle Nearest's venture arm, Uncle Nearest Ventures. Founded in 2012, Hella Cocktail is a BIPOC-founded brand, with products currently sold in over 20,000 stores, bars, hotels and restaurants in the US. The brand's products include bitters & soda, premium mixers and crafted bitters. The investment is part of Uncle Nearest's commitment to supporting minority-owned spirit companies. The funding will help Hella Cocktail enter its next phase of growth, as well as expand its team and increase warehouse stock to meet the outpacing demand.

“We don’t see this as just an investment in Hella, but rather an investment in bringing all voices to the table and celebrating different experiences,” said Hella Cocktail CEO Jomaree Pinkard. “This partnership not only enables us to bring our message to more audiences but aligns us with a fellow minority-owned and led company that understands how integral culture is when creating a successful business.”