#149 - Building a Hemp Beverage Empire Inside Alcohol: Jason Dayton of Trail Magic

What happens when a craft alcohol company accidentally builds one of the fastest-growing hemp THC beverage brands in America? As federal regulations loom and state lines shift, the traditional beverage world and hemp supply chains are colliding faster than ever. In this episode of *High Spirits*, hosts Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein sit down with **Jason Dayton, Co-Founder of Minneapolis Cider Company and Trail Magic**—Minnesota’s first hemp-derived THC beverage. Jason shares the wild 19-day sprint that launched Trail Magic, how his team acquired national hard cider brand Crispin from Molson Coors to hack three-tier distribution, and why Minnesota’s two-tier model might just be the blueprint for federal cannabis regulation. **What You’ll Learn** - **The 19-Day Launch**: How Trail Magic went from a "Vegas epiphany" to Minnesota’s first-on-shelf THC beverage. - **The Three-Tier Hack:** Why acquiring Crispin Cider from Molson Coors gave Trail Magic a national distribution footprint ahead of the competition. - **High-Dose vs. Low-Dose Realities**: What taproom and retail data actually reveal about who buys 3mg vs. 10mg+ THC drinks. - **Navigating the Federal Ban:** How brands are restructuring operations, 280E strategies, and supply chains ahead of impending federal policy shifts. **Meet the Guest** **Jason Dayton** is the Co-Founder of Minneapolis Cider Company and Trail Magic. What started as a University of Minnesota class project in 2015 has scaled into a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree and one of the nation's fastest-growing beverage companies. Under Jason’s leadership, Trail Magic won *Best Infused Ready-to-Drink Beverage* at the 2024 High Spirits Awards and expanded into over 20 states via traditional alcohol distribution networks. **Why Tune In?** Whether you're an operator navigating changing state rules, an executive weighing direct-to-consumer vs. three-tier distribution, or a founder preparing for federal uncertainty, Jason provides an unmatched, real-time masterclass on building a resilient beverage brand in today’s volatile market. Have a question for us? Send us a text. We may answer it in the next show! -- High Spirits is brought to you by Vertosa and Wolf Meyer. Your hosts are Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein. Follow **High Spirits** on LinkedIn. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website www.highspiritspod.com and listen to all of our past shows. **THANK YOU** to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations.  Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.