STX Flamboyant Beverage Raises $1.3M to Expand

Axel Dash

St. Croix - Flamboyant Water, a St. Croix based beverage company has recently raised $1.3 million through a joint venture with U.S. ready-to-drink cocktail producer Top Dog Cocktails. This marks the company’s first external funding since its 2024 founding by Modern Caribbean LLC.

Modern Caribbean was founded by UVI graduate Michael Pemberton and investment banker Les Hollis. Caribbean-born Chelsea Williams is co-founder and director of Flamboyant Water.

The investment will support expansion across the Caribbean, targeting markets including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, and other destinations. Building on the success of its flagship Flamboyant Hibiscus Sparkling Water, the company will launch Flamboyant Reserve, a premium line of rum-based ready to drink beverages with four Caribbean-inspired flavors, in fall 2026 across select Caribbean markets, Florida and Pennsylvania. The drinks will contain fewer than 90 calories per can with 4.5% alcohol by volume. 

The funding will help accelerate the company’s vision of building a globally recognized beverage brand inspired by the flavors, culture, and lifestyle of the Caribbean.

“Flamboyant represents an exciting opportunity to help build a globally scalable consumer brand,” said Ken Smukler, founder of Top Dog Cocktails. “We believe the Caribbean’s tourism economy and growing consumer market create tremendous long-term potential across multiple beverage categories.”

The company is also exploring manufacturing opportunities in the Caribbean and is in discussions with Dominica’s government regarding a potential beverage manufacturing and export facility to support regional production.