Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Gonzales.
Hi Dominique, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story really starts behind the bar. I’ve spent over 15 years in hospitality, bartending everywhere from Sacramento to Chico, San Francisco, and eventually back home to San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast. Working in restaurants and bars taught me so much about flavor, service, and the little details that make a drink feel special.
When I moved back to my hometown of SLO, I saw an opportunity to bring that craft cocktail experience into real life in a more approachable way. Not everyone wants to buy five ingredients, juice citrus, make syrups, and figure out a balanced recipe just to have a good drink at home. That’s where Root Elixirs came from.
Root Elixirs is a line of premium sparkling cocktail mixers and mocktail mixers made with real ingredients, real citrus, and flavors inspired by years of hospitality experience. I wanted to create something that felt elevated but easy — something you could pour with tequila, vodka, sparkling wine, or enjoy as a zero-proof drink and still feel like you made something special.
Today, Root Elixirs is sold locally throughout San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast, in restaurants, hotels, bottle shops, grocery stores, and online. It’s been really meaningful to build a brand rooted in my hospitality background and my hometown community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. I don’t think building a business ever is, especially when you’re trying to create something from scratch and stay true to your original vision.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to juggle everyone’s opinions while still trusting my own instincts. When you start a brand, everyone has feedback — about the packaging, the pricing, the flavors, the direction, the growth strategy. Some of it is helpful, and some of it can pull you away from what you know in your gut is right.
At the same time, I’ve been raising a baby, managing production, sales, cash flow, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes pieces that people don’t always see. There have definitely been moments where it has felt impossible, or like I was supposed to have it all figured out already.
But I’ve learned that you don’t have to have everything figured out to keep going. You just have to keep showing up, keep making decisions, and keep coming back to the reason you started. For me, that’s hospitality, creativity, and making people’s everyday moments feel a little more special
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Root Elixirs ?
Root Elixirs is a Central Coast-based craft cocktail mixer brand made for cocktails, mocktails, hosting, gifting, and easy at-home entertaining. We specialize in premium sparkling mixers made with real citrus, real ingredients, and flavor combinations inspired by the bar world.
Our current flavors include Strawberry Lavender, Pineapple Passionfruit, Grapefruit Jalapeño, Cucumber Elderflower, and Pomegranate Citrus. Each one is designed to be balanced enough for a simple two-ingredient cocktail, but layered enough to feel like something you’d order from a great bar or restaurant.
We’re known for making craft cocktails and zero-proof drinks easier without making them feel basic. You can mix Root Elixirs with tequila, vodka, gin, mezcal, sparkling wine, or drink them on their own as a non-alcoholic cocktail or elevated mocktail. They’re especially great for hosting because they take the guesswork out of making drinks for a group.
We also offer cocktail kits and mocktail kits, which are perfect for gifting, parties, girls’ nights, corporate gifts, wedding welcome bags, bachelorette weekends, and anyone who wants an easy cocktail experience at home. Our cocktail kits bring together the same idea as our mixers: great drinks without all the prep.
What sets Root Elixirs apart is that the brand was built from real hospitality experience. These aren’t just sweet mixers — they’re crafted with the balance, ease, and flavor you’d expect from someone who spent years behind the bar. I’m proud that Root Elixirs feels premium but still approachable. It’s not intimidating or overly serious. It’s made for real life — beach weekends, dinner parties, backyard hangs, hotel bars, local restaurants, and the people who want a better drink without overcomplicating it.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that I’m still able to run Root Elixirs and spend time with my family.
What makes you happy?
Creativity makes me happy in almost every form. I love art, design, food, drinks, travel, restaurants, hotels, and the feeling of discovering a place or experience that has a real point of view.
Food and beverage hospitality especially makes me happy because it brings people together. A great cocktail, a beautiful dinner, a thoughtful menu, or even just a really good drink shared with friends can turn an ordinary moment into a memory.
Travel also inspires me a lot. I love seeing how different cities, restaurants, bars, and cultures approach hospitality. It always reminds me that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated — sometimes it’s just about paying attention to details and making people feel taken care of.
That’s really what I come back to with Root Elixirs too. I’m happiest when I’m creating something that feels good, tastes good, and helps people enjoy the moment they’re in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rootelixirs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/root_elixirs/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootelixirs/
