Community Highlights: Meet Chad Roark of Tipsy Jigger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Roark.

Hi Chad, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started with an heirloom. A beautiful antique silver rollover jigger from the designer’s father-in-law, the man who taught him how to make a proper Martini, Old Fashioned, and Manhattan. This inherited jigger is cherished, but makes precise measurements difficult, is prone to tarnishing, and is fragile.

The designer, Chad Roark, decided to create a better jigger: one that would last, one that would embody the elegance of the past, that feels good in the hand, and that shines on the display shelf of a well-stocked bar. A jigger that belongs in a bustling kitchen where family and friends gather over delicious drinks, conversations and food.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
From the beginning, our goal has been to create barware that looks like an heirloom but is robust and not fragile.

While it would be easy to say that learning and becoming an expert in new software and machinery has been challenging, I find great joy in expanding my skill set and tinkering. Launching Tipsy Jigger has reignited my passion for creating and designing high-quality goods.

So, to answer your question, finding a suitable, durable, high-quality material while keeping our manufacturing costs low has been vital. Two, troubleshooting the platting process has been a hurdle for us to overcome — we want Tipsy Jigger to have a beautiful, museum-quality sheen that is long-lasting and does not lose its shine over time. We’ve found great local Colorado vendors who have aligned with our high-end mindset and helped us fine-tune and achieve the perfect finish.

And as painful as it is to admit, I am not as savvy at social media as I would like to be – spreading the word and reaching a larger audience outside my immediate network has been a challenge. I genuinely feel that Tipsy Jigger is a unique and essential tool for any well-stocked bar, and I am eager to get it in the hands of people who will appreciate it every day.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Tipsy Jigger offers handmade, heirloom-quality jiggers that celebrate elegant modern design and elevate cocktail hour. A local Denver business, our artisanal made-by-hand cocktail jiggers are an adaption of vintage roll-over and bottoms-up jiggers of the mid-20th century.

Currently there are two Tipsy Jigger designs available — the “Nick” and the “Nora” — in a nod to the cosmopolitan chemistry of William Powell and Myrna Loy from The Thin Man movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s. Our intuitive, simple to use, spill-free design, offers a full range of labeled measurement gradations that are perfect for professional mixologists and craft cocktail enthusiasts alike.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
More about the maker.

A fourth-generation Denver native, Chad is a maker at heart. Educated in Environmental Design, with an emphasis on product design and architecture, he has owned an animation and motion graphic design studio, worked for Paramount Global as a designer, and won multiple Emmys for his work. He is a self-taught machinist and maker. He dedicated countless hours to developing the perfect rollover jigger – experimenting with materials, creating design after design, and refining every last detail down to the millimeter.

For the editor:
You can access images and video at: https://www.tipsyjigger.com/media-download

Pricing:

• $85.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tipsyjigger.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipsyjigger
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tipsyjigger
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tipsy-jigger/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TipsyJigger