Going for gold: Albany native tries to crack the cocktail market

Happy Thursday (night), Capital District! It’s a special evening edition of The 518. Why? Because we got caught in the craziness of holiday travel. It’s been a “Trains, Planes & Automobiles” kind of day 😩 

Correction: Due to an editing error on Tuesday, we accidentally listed City Beer Hall as being in Troy. Oops! It’s in Albany, of course. Speaking of, do yourself a favor and try the Blu Pizza pop-up at CBH 🍕 It’s sooo good!

We also forgot this event in our New Year’s Eve roundup: Monster Prom NYE Party at Bard & Bakers in Troy (board games for NYE? yes please). See our full roundup: Where to Party Like It’s 2025.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Going for gold: Albany native tries to crack the cocktail market

Here at The 518, we love a good entrepreneurial story—doubly so when it involves a homegrown venture.

Justin Feinman’s story is equal parts ambition and bravado, with a healthy dash of crazy. Despite having zero experience in the beverage industry, the Albany native is attempting to break into the fiercely competitive market for ready-to-drink cocktails with his own brand called Gold N Go.

The 27-year-old left New York City and a stable career in finance to move back to Albany, where he’s bootstrapping the business entirely with his own savings.

What makes Justin think he’ll succeed? An obsession with quality and attention to detail. He wants to create the gold standard for RTD cocktails, which he says is dominated by low-ABV, artificially flavored canned products.

Pick up a bottle of Gold N Go, and you can tell the difference right away: These are full-strength, carefully crafted cocktails packaged in heavy glass flasks that look more like a sophisticated accessory than a throwaway drink. At 20% ABV, each bottle packs a serious punch with premium spirits and real fruit juices to boot.

"During Covid, I kept thinking, ‘Why can't I grab a bar-quality cocktail at the store as easily as a bottle of wine?’" Justin tells The 518. “I started thinking about solving this need for myself.”

Currently in over 100 retailers across New York State, Gold N Go is focusing on quality over quantity. Their corn-based vodka is six times distilled. Their tequila? Imported directly from Jalisco. The honey in their Bee's Knees comes from a specific bee farm in the Mexican highlands. Their espresso martini uses house-made espresso with beans that soak for two full days.

We love the brand's premium aesthetic, too. It’s pure New York charm—think Gatsby meets modern mixology, with sophisticated black and gold packaging.

Right now, Justin wants to get as much “liquid to lips” as possible. He’s finding that people are responding well to the premium quality—and the fact that Gold N Go is a brand being built out of Albany by one of their own.

The deets: Gold N Go cocktails range from $9.99 to $11.99, depending on the retailer. Flavors include Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan, and their latest, Espresso Martini. An Old Fashioned is in the works. Pro tip: Give these bottles a shake before drinking—that sediment at the bottom means real, high-quality ingredients are inside. Here’s where you can find them on the shelf.

❄️ WEATHER WATCH

A word from our sponsor

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 🚧 The City of Albany has abruptly shut down its SeeClickFix service, a website and app that allowed residents to report potholes, fallen trees and other municipal issues. The move comes after a court ruling makes the city liable for damages if these issues aren’t properly addressed. For now, residents can call 518-434-CITY to report problems. [TU gift article]

🥘 The Times Union compiled a convenient list of all the notable restaurants that have opened in the Capital District in 2024—some 40+ eateries. We’ve visited about a third of this list, but there’s still so many more to try. Be sure to read our reviews of Meat & Company, Bol and Mystic Momo. [TU gift article]

🍔 Slidin' Dirty, which turned into the now-closed Twisted Fiddler in Troy, is getting a second life at Ophelia's in downtown Albany, across from the SUNY admin building. The new menu will revisit Slidin' Dirty's slider menu but will also include some larger entrees featured at the Fiddler. [Albany Business Review]

⭐️ = The 518 Staff Picks

⭐️ The winter solstice arrives on Saturday. While it’s the shortest day of the year, it also means the nights will get shorter and shorter from now on. Join celebrations across the Capital Region & Hudson Valley. Olana State Historic Site invites you for some sun-gazing with the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association, personal astrology readings, and other sky-centric activities and games. Sat, 1-5p, free. Details here.

⭐️ This weekend brings a couple of free events for the kiddos that should put them in the holiday mood (one can hope, anyway). On Saturday morning, Ten Broeck Mansion puts on a free Sinterklaas story hour. (Sinterklaas is a variation on St. Nick celebrated in Belgium.) Also Sat morning, the NYS Museum hosts a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” with a display of the first-ever publication of the famous poem + a Santa letter-writing station.

⭐️ Melodies of Christmas at Proctors is a symphony of holiday music presented by the ESYO Symphony Orchestra, backed by the Melodies Chorale and special guests. Proceeds benefit the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders at Albany Med—your ticket is your donation. Show times through Sunday night.

⭐️ Art Night Schenectady is a walkable celebration of the arts, taking place Friday 5-8:30p. As the media sponsor for First Friday Albany, we appreciate how much work it takes to get folks out to these civic celebrations.

⭐️ Still dragging your feet on holiday shopping? You can try the ol’ 2-day Amazon delivery thing, or you can go out and support a local merchant. Consider one of these holiday markets: A Little Gay Popup Market in Troy, Spa City Holiday Faire in Saratoga, the Artisan’s Market at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, or the Schenectady WinterVillage.

🎟️ MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

FRIDAY

🎄 A Sherlock Carol at theREP mashes up the stories of ol’ Scrooge and Sherlock Holmes for a charming holiday show. Through Dec. 22.

🍸️ Fireside Friday at Saratoga’s Night Owl features 2-for-1 drinks. The following night, get to the Night Owl for their annual Xmas Party w/ DJ Trumaster.

🎥 Also Friday, the Palace Theatre’s free holiday movie nights continue with the classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.

SATURDAY

⛸️ The Empire State Plaza Skating Rink is open daily, but Saturdays are free skate rental days. Remember that the rink is closed on Christmas Day, but open on Christmas Eve—expect crowds!

🎅 The 19th Annual Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl takes off from The Saratoga City Tavern at 3p. Brown’s Brewing Co’s Fugly Sweater Party is also Saturday night.

🍪 Nine Pin hosts the Great Gingerbread Build-Off!

🎼 The Albany Symphony Orchestra teams up with crowd-pleasing composer Nicky Sohn to play Vivaldi and Mozart for a holiday show at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Saturday and Sunday).

SUNDAY

🎄 Sunday would be a perfect day to visit one of the many holiday light shows happening around town, including Magic of Lights, Christmas at Animal Land, Spirits in the Trees in Glens Falls, Schenectady Festival of Trees, and Santa’s Playland at QuickResponse.

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