How We Drank an Unreasonable
Amount of Soda

When people walk up to Tabletop Elixirs, they usually notice two things
right away:

1. The drinks look different.

2. The names of drinks are different and say meeple?
   

Meeples are euro game board game pieces, and if you already know that
word, congratulations — you’re one of us.

If you don’t know what a meeple is, even better. That just means we get the
chance to introduce you to the wonderful world of Euro board games —
which we absolutely love doing. Half the fun of running Tabletop Elixirs is
talking games, sharing recommendations, and making new friends along the
way.

But getting to this point? That was a journey.

A very caffeinated journey.

The Aesthetic: Somewhere Between Board Game Night and Drink Wizardry

From day one, we knew we didn’t want a typical concessions setup. We wanted something that felt like pulling up a chair at game night — welcoming, a little quirky, and designed with intention.

Euro board games became our inspiration because they’re beautifully crafted experiences. Clean designs. Thoughtful mechanics. Every piece has a purpose.

So naturally we asked ourselves:

“What if a drink stand felt like a board game table?”

That led to:

• Meeples representing players joining the experience

• Silver, gold, and black for a polished tabletop feel

• Drink names inspired by gaming moments and mechanics

• A vibe that says “fun,” not “chaos”

We weren’t trying to make a theme. We were trying to make a feeling.

The Drink Testing Phase (Also Known as Sugar Madness)

Then came the drinks.

We started simple. A few lemonades. A few dirty sodas.

That lasted about five minutes.

Because once you start experimenting with flavors, something dangerous happens: everything tastes like potential.

“What if we add vanilla?”
“Okay but try coconut.”
“Wait… lime might actually fix this.”
“Hold on, this one is incredible — write that down!”

Before long, our kitchen looked less like a prep space and more like a soda laboratory run by enthusiastic scientists with questionable restraint.

We discovered so many combinations we loved that we accidentally created a menu that was… let’s just say ambitious.

At one point, we realized we had well over 100 possible drinks.

Which sounds amazing — until you imagine someone standing at the window trying to read a novel-length menu while a line forms behind them. Even to this day, Trish thinks we need to trim the menu further. I am holding on to the current menu for dear life. I love it!

The Hard Lesson: You Can’t Put Everything on the Menu

Here’s the truth: cutting drinks was painful.

Not because they were bad. Honestly, many of them were fantastic. Some were personal favorites that we still talk about like lost legends.

But a great experience isn’t about endless choices. It’s about confident choices.

We asked ourselves:

• Is it memorable?

• Is it fast to serve during busy events?

• Does it fit our identity?

• Will someone walk away saying, “I need that again”?
  

If the answer wasn’t a strong yes, it went into the “maybe someday” vault.

That’s how our current lineup was born — a curated party instead of an overwhelming catalog.

Meeples, Conversations, and Community

One of our favorite moments happens almost every event.

Someone points at the meeples and asks:

“…what are those little guys?”

And suddenly we’re talking about board games.

We get to explain what Euro games are, recommend favorites, hear what people already play, and sometimes watch someone discover an entirely new hobby right there while holding a lemonade.

Tabletop Elixirs was never just about drinks. It’s about connection and community. Games bring people together, and surprisingly, so do creative drinks.

Turns out flavored soda is a fantastic conversation starter.

Still Rolling the Dice

Even now, we’re still experimenting. New combinations appear. Some become specials (and soon to be secret options to those in the Elixir Club!). Others stay secret recipes waiting for the right moment (*hint hint*) — like expansions waiting to be released.

Because just like a great board game, Tabletop Elixirs is always ready to evole to the next level.

And yes… we still occasionally recreate one of the drinks we cut and say:

“Okay, this one definitely should have made the menu.”

(But please don’t encourage us. We’re trying very hard not to end up back at 100+ drinks again.)

Two meeples. One vision.
Built together. Poured together.