Since 2015, star bartenders Dave Simpson and Gerry Jobe have quietly been building a growing line of syrups, Caesar mixes, kegged cocktails and other bar supplies from their home base in Kelowna. Now Simps Modern Beverage is getting national—even international—attention for their products.

Gordon Food Services, North America’s largest family-owned food-service supplies distributor, has picked up their coffee and cocktail syrups, making them available to bars, restaurants and event centres across Canada and into the United States. Among those restaurants is the growing JOEY chain, which is using Simps’ fresh mint syrup in its ultra-popular summer cocktail, The Watermelon Drink (see photo). Big news for a small company.