What if non-alcoholic drinks were just as complex, cultural, and satisfying as craft cocktails?On this episode of The Perfect Bite podcast, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Benno Nelson, co-founder of Five Corners Beverage Company, a Chicago-based brand crafting deeply flavored, globally inspired non-alcoholic canned drinks for adults.Benno shares how his journey into sobriety — paired with a lifelong love of food, beverage, and global storytelling — sparked the idea for Five Corners. Rather than creating sugary substitutes or imitation cocktails, Five Corners honors traditional non-alcoholic drinks from around the world, focusing on the five foundational tastes: salty, sour, bitter, savory, and sweet.This episode explores the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, why Chicago is the perfect testing ground for innovative drinks, and how intentional flavor design can create true alternatives—not compromises.In this episode, we discuss:Why non-alcoholic drinks deserve depth, culture, and storyBenno’s sobriety journey and how it shaped Five CornersThe inspiration behind flavors like Salted Lemonade and SangritaHow global beverage traditions influenced Five Corners’ recipesBuilding a beverage startup intentionally and locally in ChicagoWhy non-alcoholic menus are additive — not cannibalistic — for restaurantsLessons in entrepreneurship, patience, and community-driven growthTo learn more about Five Corners or order your own packs around the country, head to www.fivecornersbev.com. Get 10% off your online order with code ‘BITE’!You can purchase and experience Five Corners Beverage at retailers, restaurants and venues throughout the Chicago area. You can follow Five Corners on Instagram @fivecornersbev.Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!

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