I recently learned about a pretty interesting Buffalo startup called Franks & Dranks. Like the name suggests, the outfit – founded by Andrew Tisser, Ryan Lazarus, and Shane Hunt – pairs together gourmet hot dogs and craft cocktail ingredients. The idea for these custom food and drink kits started off as a joke, Tisser told me. But the joke went over so well that it became the foundation for the Franks & Dranks business concept.
“Think of wine and cheese pairings,” explained Tisser, who is a physician by trade. “Well, most people like hot dogs, so we decided to pair together gourmet hot dogs and craft cocktails. We started with a group of friends who loved it so much that it began to catch on. We figured that people could have their own hot dog tasting events, along with ingredients to make amazing cocktails, without the liquor of course. It’s the perfect recipe for hosts to ‘wow’ their guests.”
Franks & Dranks is a lot more than simply dressing up the traditional hot dog. The boxes are fairly elaborate in their offerings. For example, the Founders Box (pre-order only) includes 12 gourmet hot dogs, 12 cocktail pairings, premium condiments, garnishes, and mixers. The hot dogs are Smith’s out of Erie, PA. and the condiments are from Terrapin Ridge Farms. Tisser told me that between these two companies, they were able to source everything that they needed to put together an ongoing rotation of mix and match boxes.
In order to achieve a proof of concept, the Founders Box is the initial product to be launched. 150 boxes have been assembled and are ready to ship anywhere across the nation. Once the initial run is sold out, another assemblage will be concocted. The boxes are delivered cold to customers’ doors (alcohol not included) with fully branded inserts, instructions, and storytelling. Plus, each of the gourmet dogs has been expertly paired with the ingredients to make an on-the-spot craft cocktail (or mocktail).
^ Box examples: Boski (Smith’s) jalapeno cheddar dog with Terrapin Ridge Farms Roasted garlic aioli, Terrapin Ridge Farms Thai guava jam, and Cheddar Parm crisps paired with 1.25 oz tequila, 0.75 oz bourbon, 1 heaping barspoon (1 tbsp) Terrapin Ridge Farms Thai Guava Jam, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz Iconic Cocktail Co. Spiced Honey, 2 oz chilled soda water | Smith’s Natural Casing Dog with TRF Blueberry Bourbon Pecan Jam ,TRF Champagne Garlic Honey Mustard, Crushed pretzels, and a cocktail build of 2 oz Tequila Blanco 0.75 oz Sunshine Sour (Iconic Cocktail Co.), 0.5 oz Lemon Juice, 1 tsp TRF Blueberry Bourbon Pecan Jam, and 2 oz Soda Water (Top) 3%.
An example of a future box might be a gourmet dog topped with kraut mustard, balsamic onion jam, and crispy onions. The paired cocktail build could be bourbon, Cascara Vanilla, and balsamic onion jam. The ideas for the pairings are virtually limitless, which means that Franks & Dranks will be able to roll out more and more boxes as the concept catches on…