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Kamal Mukherjee, founder of DrinkUpNY.com, has successfully combined his passion for technology and beverages into a business that's experienced more than 500% growth since 2006.

He attributes this remarkable success to excellent customer service, ethical business practice and innovative ideas.

“I've been a computer geek for most of my adult life,” Mukherjee says. I moved here from Calcutta, India, 10 years ago for a job in IT, pretty much right before the meltdown in 2000.”

At a time when everyone around him were facing layoffs, Kamal scraped together $1,000 and started a software consulting practice from the kitchen table of his modest apartment in New Jersey. In his free time, he would hang out with friends at a local store.

“One day the light just kind of came on,” he says. “The idea of owning a store and filling up the shelves with world-class wine and spirits seemed more than appealing, so I bought a store in Brooklyn. Six years later, we launched DrinkUpNY.com."

The international online retailer carries a well-rounded portfolio of spirits and wines, including more than 1,000 different items, at every price point and of the rarest varieties.

It also carries nine varieties of the recently legalised beverage, absinthe. In fact, DrinkUpNY was one of the first retailers in the US to carry this particular beverage last year. Today, the online vendor leads the revival with one of the largest retail selections of absinthe.

What's been your greatest challenge since you opened the liquor store(s), Kamal?

“As with most start-ups, keeping funds flowing is sometimes a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to get creative. The regulations of the alcohol industry create an added layer here. We keep our attorney on speed dial to ask him what we can and cannot do.”

What vision do you see for DrinkUpNY?

"We want DrinkUpNY.com to be the 'go-to place' for beverage lovers and connoisseurs. It's our goal to be the number one destination for hard-to-find products at reasonable prices."

Have you had any moments when you wanted to turn back or throw in the towel?

“Surprisingly, I’ve yet to experience that moment. I think it goes back to doing what inspires you.”

Were there any moments that you knew you were going to succeed? What inspired this thinking?

“The innate feeling that we were going to succeed happened right off the bat and has been fairly constant since. Our business model pushed the store to instant success. We feel very lucky.”

As a small business owner in an alcohol-based industry, who do you call your best friend?

“My staff. They make it happen. Second best friend? My attorney. Who else would take my calls at 3am?”

What piece of advice would you offer to anyone thinking of starting a business, either brick and mortar or online?

“Always do something you enjoy. Go after an idea that truly inspires you, but do the planning and homework before you start.”