Member Spotlight: Straightaway Cocktails
There’s nothing that makes a drink taste better than when it’s shared with friends and family. Founders Cy Cain and Casey Richwine perfected this idea with an innate love for entertaining guests with extravagant cocktails rather than having a night stuck behind a bar. Built on a hobby for drink making and care for their local community, it's no surprise that they have crafted award-winning batched cocktails in Portland, Oregon while also holding themselves accountable to standards of environmental and social impact.
The Spark
The origin of Straightaway started with a little book called “The Gentleman's Companion” where they discovered the Lintik cocktail. Starting off as a batch drink made for friends and family with informal “bootlegging”, it slowly evolved into groundwork for a fully functional business. Early production was done in a tiny back room where they described the process as, “drums of ingredients becoming makeshift desks”. Going through over 50 different recipes before hitting the market, the duo would spend countless hours juicing lemons on the corner of 9th and Hawthorne to perfect their craft.
Cy and Casey always have had a special connection with their community, but also a commitment to high quality craft. Nearly everything is created in-house except for whiskey, tequila, and mezcal which are sourced at the highest quality available. Cocktails for them started as a passion but also a desire to create and build something bigger than themselves. This is what ultimately led them to crystalize this philosophy by officially becoming a B-corp in April of 2024 where they became one of only 43 distilleries that are certified with a B-Score of 86.2.
Brewing as a B-Corp
Since becoming a B-corp, Cy and Casey have taken steps to ensure their commitment isn’t just for show.. In recent years they hired Hannah Caldwell to be the dedicated “B Keeper” to guide them through the next round of certification which led to production optimization through intensified carbon footprint tracking and downstream shipping. Furthermore, they have joined cohorts such as B local PDX and Oregon Business for Climate while also attending and sponsoring the B corp BLD Pacific Northwest Conference.
Production with Purpose
Straightaway Cocktails have always found meaning in the little steps of the craft and value in the little details. From recycling boxes internally, switching to printed aluminum cans for recyclability, and donating metal drums to beekeepers to be reused as hives are just a few examples of the ways they take care into every material in the entirety of the production process.
Giving Back
Straighaway’s commitment to the community has always run through 2 main pledges: 1% for the Planet and 1% for Human Rights. In 2025 they donated $180,000 to local non-profit organizations, which was split evenly between organizations focused on the environment and local community. They also have hosted a food drive in the past alongside a fundraiser which was sent to Oregon Food Bank for its pantries and hot meals program.
To support the staff, the company has also added a series of extra employee benefits. This includes paid holidays and extended incentives for team members on top of the existing benefits like health, vision, and dental insurance. All employees also receive 2 paid volunteer days to support any nonprofit they choose as well as 2 mental health days, showing their dedication and appreciation for the staff.
These efforts all reflect Straightaways commitment to the belief that a cocktail company can create something delicious and supportive of the community. As they head towards their first B Corp recertification, Straightaway continues to show their commitment to giving back.