Years in the making, generations in the glass. Every bottle has a story to tell.
Pictured here is Steve Shepard during his time managing a North Carolina winery. A chapter that lasted from 1989 to 2023, and laid the foundation for what would become F&TJ’S. With years spent working among the vines, Steve developed a deep appreciation for balance, bold flavor, and fresh organic ingredients in the process.
That same appreciation for bold flavors and great ingredients carried into his next venture of F&TJ’S Gourmet Kitchen. What began as a coastal tradition among friends, which started as shrimp cocktails & mixing up big, savory Bloody Marys, soon took on a life of its own. With a winemaker’s touch and a love for Southern ingredients, Steve & friends created a homemade mix that felt just as intentional as any bottle of wine, but for mornings, tailgates, and backyard cocktail hours alike.
What began as a winemaker’s coastal tradition quickly turned into a small-batch recipe shared far and wide — the same bold mix you’ll find in bottles today.
Steve and his close-knit crew didn’t set out to start a brand — they just loved good food, bold drinks, and time well spent. Their shared passion for flavor turned a homemade mix into a Carolina staple that’s now poured with pride across the Southeast.
In 1988, Steve and his wife Barb crafted their first batch of cocktail sauce on their kitchen counter using ingredients from their backyard, including their own horseradish. It quickly became a family & friend favorite, especially at seafood boils and oyster roasts. Over the years, they refined the blend into a savory, Southern-style Bloody Mary mix, loved by all who tried it.
During the 1990s, Steve was busy transforming the fields of North Carolina’s Piedmont into something few believed possible—he became one of the first to successfully grow the same grape varietals typically found in California. At a time when many doubted those vines could thrive in the South, Steve proved them wrong.
That kind of tenacity, paired with years of hands-in-the-dirt experience, defined his approach to everything he touched, including the bold, handcrafted Bloody Mary mix that was slowly taking shape behind the scenes. F&TJ’S would carry the same spirit: rooted in hard work, made with care, and always just a little ahead of its time.
After more than a decade of making the mix for gatherings, one backyard get-together changed everything. In 2000, with encouragement from friends and family and a few Bloody Marys in hand, four friends looked at each other and said, “This mix is to good not to share, let’s take it public.”
But it wasn’t just about the drink, it was about the crew. Frank, Tom, John, and Steve had been friends for years, each bringing their own ideas to the mix over time. When it came time to name the bottle, they kept it simple: F for Frank, T for Tom, J for John, and the S for Steve. A nod to the friends who helped bring the mix to life.
F, T, J, and S. The initials became the foundation for a brand & a story.
By 2001, F&TJ’S was officially incorporated, and the first production run was bottled in ½-gallon jugs. A few names were tossed around – “Morning Mary Mix” and “Shipwreck Mary” among them, but the original flavor held strong, and so did the name.
To bring the mix to more tables, the team searched for a commercial kitchen near the coast. They wanted their mix to carry the salt air and laid-back feel of the Carolina shoreline. They sourced fresh ingredients from the mountains to the sea, ensuring each bottle carried a distinctly Southern, sustainable character.
What started as a shared tradition among four friends has grown into a Southern staple, sold with pride across the Carolina’s and Eastern Seaboard. Every bottle of F&TJ’S carries their initials & their spirit. Bold, balanced, and made for good times.
Decades later, Steve’s experience in the vineyards, combined with the family’s dedication to quality, has earned F&TJ’S recognition across North Carolina and beyond. In 2023, Steve was honored by the NC Wine & Grape Growers Council for his contributions to the region’s flavor culture.
Today, F&TJ’S distributes to retailers, local markets, and restaurants throughout the South. It’s a mix that still tastes like it was made on the kitchen counter—with bold flavor, the perfect amount of spice, and the kind of quality that only comes from a recipe steeped in tradition.
Steve and his close-knit crew didn’t set out to start a brand — they just loved good food, bold drinks, and time well spent. Their shared passion for flavor turned a homemade mix into a Carolina staple that’s now poured with pride across the U.S.
Frank, Tom, John, along with Steve hope you enjoy F&TJ’S as much as they do. Here’s to cocktail hours well spent!
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Three different packs of our Southern Bloody Mary mix. Pick the size that fits your bar, your brunch, or your next big party.
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Three 1‑Liter Bottles
Just enough to share, gift, or keep a backup on the bar.
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Six 1‑Liter Bottles
The customer favorite for brunch hosts and weekend regulars.
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Twelve 1‑Liter Bottles
Stock up for parties, oyster roasts, and big tailgate weekends.
Shop the 12-PackWhether you’re looking for a standout Bloody Mary mix for brunch, a bold base for your kitchen, or a product with local roots and real flavor — F&TJ’S delivers.
