What happens when a cocktail educator, brand strategist, and former Bacardi ambassador decides to launch her own product line—in the middle of a global crisis? You get Cheeky Cocktails…and one seriously inspiring journey.
April Wachtel didn’t just stumble into entrepreneurship. She tested, pivoted, and reimagined her way into it—learning from failure, navigating trolls, and bottling mixers by hand to meet demand. In this candid conversation, April gets real about what it takes to build a brand from scratch, and why separating your ego from your business is one of the most liberating things you can do.
In this episode, April shares:
- Why her first business wasn’t “it”—and how she knew when to walk away
- How launching during COVID actually worked in her favor
- What it really looks like to bootstrap and scale (she’s still her only full-time employee!)
- The mindset shift that changed everything: market feedback > perfection
- How one 30-second lime-cutting video exploded to 150K views—and why she’s doubling down on digital
Whether you’re pivoting, planning, or just craving a better way to build, this convo will light a fire under you (and maybe your next happy hour).
Key Topics:
- Entrepreneurship during a pandemic
- Pivots, product testing, and growth mindset
- Overcoming imposter syndrome and perfectionism
- Visibility fears, trolls, and social media strategy
- Building brand credibility with limited resources
For 15% off your order from Cheeky Cocktails, use this link: cheekycocktails.co/PENNY15
The discount will apply and show in your cart. Cheers!
When’s the last time you did something just for YOU? 🍷✨
Wine Camp 2026 is your chance to escape, sip fabulous local Rieslings, cruise at sunset, laugh around the fire pit, and soak up the magic of New York’s Finger Lakes.
📍 Dates: July 31–August 2, 2026
🏡 Spots are limited, so grab yours now: https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp
Wine Camp 2026 is calling. Are you in?
Join my Insiders crew for weekly updates, tips, inspiration, and fun: https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/insider
Wanna sip with us? Join my Sipper Club here: https://pennyforyourshots.com/sip
Learn More, get on the list, or Register for Wine Camp 2026:
https://www.pennyforyourshots.com/winecamp
To connect with Penny, get notified, or learn more, check out www.pennyforyourshots.com
- Follow Penny on Instagram: @penny4yourshots
- Or Facebook: Penny (Kuhlers) Fitzgerald
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.