Unlocking the Core of Us: How Dakota Ross Helped Bring CORUS Sparkling Rum Punch to Life

When you are entrusted to help create something from scratch - to name it, shape it, define what makes it unique, and watch it come to life - it’s a profound honour.

That’s exactly the journey we’ve been on at Dakota Ross with CORUS Effervescent Cocktails and their first RTD - CORUS Sparkling Rum Punch. An idea that had no brand name, no liquid, no packaging, no identity. From a spark of an idea to a fully launched brand and experience, it’s been over two years of collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to unlocking not just a product, but a personality - a living, breathing brand, rooted in a deeper purpose: to elevate your vibe, connect, and belong.

Sparkling Rum Punch in its natural habitat

At Dakota Ross, we believe in unlocking the brilliance and potential of the people involved.

From the start, we focused on the people, not just the product. Our job was to uncover the personality already inside founders Sam and Isaac - and every team member who joined along the way - and bring that to life in the brand.

From day one, Sam and Isaac’s vision was bigger than “just a drink.” They wanted connection, authenticity, and a taste of home. Rum punch - and more importantly, the spirit of Caribbean hosting - was the answer. Not just as a flavour, but as a symbol of generosity, community, and celebration.

We listened closely - not just to ideas, but to stories, values, and the moments that mattered most. CORUS became about bottling the feeling of liming with friends, sharing something special, and making people feel at home anywhere in the world.

The Effervescent Spirit at the heart of CORUS comes from its founders - natural hosts and cultural connectors. Together, we believe we found the perfect name, the perfect liquid, and a look that reflected its roots. The can design captures a classic Barbadian moment: the beach lime at Paradise Beach.

Our Can Design

I (Alex Weetch), was at Paradise Beach, with my feet in the water where the sand met a rock pool filled with clear blue water. I was looking at the shades of colour that went from the golden sand to the horizon. The sand and shallow waters with their amber hues looked like aged rum or champagne, then the colours turned to turquoise blue and deeper blues as I looked to the horizon. I took a pic and shared it with our creative agency. They actually took samples of the colours at Paradise Beach to create the can we love so much. To me, when I look at the can, it creates a feeling of wading into the Caribbean Sea with a cold CORUS in hand.

Building A "Round Table" Culture

We worked as a team at a round table, in every sense. Sam’s precise, engineering mindset shaped production. Isaac’s drive and energy kept things moving. Our role was to help them express what mattered most in every part of the brand - strategy, product, storytelling, and community.

The result is a brand that invites you into a moment. CORUS speaks through the language of hospitality, joy, and cultural pride. From beach limes in Barbados to gatherings around the world, it’s a chorus everyone can join.

Setting CORUS Sparkling Rum Punch Up for the Journey Ahead

Through the Dakota Ross approach, we supported the team to build a brand, a liquid, and a network of experts that bring the team’s DNA to life and help it connect far beyond Barbados.

We helped in raising the investment to launch at home, brought new talent into the family, and set the brand up for long-term success. We believe in CORUS so deeply that we’re vested partners, committed for the long run as it grows into the USA, the Caribbean, and beyond.

The hosting culture, the power of rum punch, and the joy of sharing who you are - that’s the essence of CORUS. And together, we’ve built something ready to carry that spirit wherever it goes.

We hope you, like so many have done, will try it for yourself and, as we say, come Join the CORUS.