As Chief Marketing Officer of Wild Folk, Kelly McLarty is helping reshape how Calgarians—and Canadians—think about drinking. Wild Folk creates premium non-alcoholic cocktails crafted with real herbs, botanicals, and citrus rinds, offering complex, satisfying flavours without the alcohol. For McLarty, the mission is personal. After developing an alcohol intolerance due to autoimmune issues, she found community and connection again through Wild Folk’s inclusive approach.
What is your business called and what does it do?
We’re Wild Folk, and we make premium non-alcoholic cocktails that actually taste incredible. Made with a blend of all-natural herbs, botanicals and citrus rinds, we create complex, sophisticated flavours that make you feel like you’re not missing out on anything.
What made you want to do this work?
After a long journey navigating autoimmune issues, I discovered that I’d developed an alcohol intolerance. Drinking had been such a core part of my social life and how I connected with others, so discovering Wild Folk was a huge game-changer for me. The opportunity to work for a product I genuinely believe in, and to build community around something that includes rather than excludes people… it felt kinda perfect. It’s a job where my personal experience actually makes me better at what I do.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
The non-alcoholic drink world has been pretty disappointing for a while. You were either stuck with overly sweet mocktails or bland alternatives that made you feel like you were missing out. From the taste to ingredients, our founder, Dalia Kohen, has found a way to create a drink that makes people excited to choose the non-alcoholic option.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Really, it’s anyone who wants a sophisticated drinking experience without the alcohol. Wild Folk is for people who refuse to settle for “good enough.” Health-conscious people, pregnant folks who miss complex flavours, designated drivers who deserve something special, people in recovery. I think our cocktails really resonate with people who are living intentionally and want to get the most out of life.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We sell a range of non-alcoholic cocktail flavours (our current lineup includes the Bee’s Knees, Mezcal Margarita, Apero Spritz & Vermouth Spritz) through retailers, bars, breweries and restaurants. Each flavour is carefully crafted with real, quality ingredients. We don’t cut corners just because there’s no alcohol involved.
Where in Calgary can we find Wild Folk?
You can find Wild Folk at a lot of grocery stores, specialty wine/liquor stores and on the menus at restaurants, bars and breweries. Our cocktails are also available through our website, which includes a list of retailers so you can pick up Wild Folk at the closest location
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
“What ingredients are you actually using?”
A lot of brands rely on artificial flavouring or shortcuts to mimic the taste of a cocktail, but the result still makes you feel like there’s something missing. We use a unique blend of real herbs, real botanicals and real citrus rinds to achieve a complex, satisfying flavour that genuinely rivals the original cocktail. I think that when someone asks about ingredients, they understand that really exceptional drinks come from exceptional components. Quality matters, whether there’s alcohol or not.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is hearing from customers who finally found something that makes them feel included rather than left out. The “I can’t believe this actually exists” messages and the conversations about how it’s changed people’s ability to show up socially will never get old.
The worst part? The initial skepticism. “Non-alcoholic cocktail” still sounds contradictory to many people. But if I’m being honest, converting the skeptics or seeing the look on their reaction when they actually try Wild Folk is pretty rewarding too.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
When people ask if the non-alcoholic beverage industry is really blowing up the way they’ve heard, I like to say, “I don’t know, there’s zero proof”
Where can we follow you?
Website and @drinkwildfolk on social media for new product launches, community events, behind-the-scenes and recipes.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Jarman Shop for sure. They create absolutely stunning floral arrangements that transform any space with total artistry. Their team has an eye for combining unexpected elements (kind of like we do for flavours, but with flowers). They’re the kind of business that makes you believe in doing one thing really exceptionally well.
