Killjoy Mocktail Kit Brings Zero-Proof Vibes to BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator and Rufi Thorpe

When we dreamed up the first-ever BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator event featuring Rufi Thorpe, author of “Margo’s Got Money Trouble”, we knew we wanted it to feel like more than a virtual author talk.

We wanted a vibe.

We wanted a little indulgence. A little conversation fuel. A little “main character energy, but sober.” And ideally, something that felt smart, elevated, fun, and just a tiny bit unhinged in the best possible way.

Enter: the Killjoy Mocktail Kit. This is NOT a self-care kit. This is a vibe.

This curated box of zero-proof drinks, adaptogenic sips, and delightfully extra goodies is the kind of offer that makes staying in feel like an event. It’s thoughtful without being stuffy, wellness-forward without being annoying, and cool without trying too hard — which, honestly, is the same lane “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” lives in.

And that’s exactly why this pairing works.

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A Mocktail Kit for People with Taste and Opinions

This isn’t one of those sad little “self-care” bundles that arrives with a dusty tea bag, a generic candle, and an identity crisis. The Killjoy Mocktail Kit is stacked with personality.

It includes adaptogenic drinks, NA beer, alcohol-removed wine, and mocktails — plus a Killjoy grocery bag, Eat Gold Organics’ Big Orgasm Chocolate, a card that reads “Never Forget How Wildly Capable You Are,” and a “Women doing whatever the F they want” sticker.

Which, if we’re being honest, is pretty much the emotional support package for reading Margo’s Got Money Trouble.

The kit is worth just over $70, but VIPs can grab it for $57. That’s a very solid price for a box that says, “Yes, I contain layers.”

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Why Killjoy Was the Perfect Partner

Killjoy Bottle Shop wasn’t born out of trend forecasting or some wellness-adjacent branding brainstorm. It came from frustration and a real gap in the market.

After deciding that drinking was no longer serving her, co-founder Stephanie — known to most as Rude — spent about a year doing what too many people do when they stop drinking: settling for sparkling water and hoping that counted as a personality. Then she discovered the world of zero-proof beverages, and everything changed.

She found sophisticated, complex, grown-up drinks that made alcohol-free living feel expansive instead of restrictive. The problem? Finding them was a chore. A few liquor stores carried a brand here or there, but the staff rarely knew much about them, and tracking down good options felt like a scavenger hunt no one had time for.

So because the space she needed didn’t exist in Nashville, she and co-founder John — aka Goody — built it themselves. Like bad bitches do.

That origin story is part of why Killjoy resonates so hard with us at The Sober Curator. It’s not just about beverages. It’s about creating the kind of space you wish existed and then refusing to wait around for someone else to make it.

Frankly, that is also the energy behind BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator.

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Oh, and the Co-Owner Is Going to DJ the Event

Yes, you read that right.

Killjoy co-founder John Goody will be spinning hot beats as the crowd settles in — which means before Rufi Thorpe says a single word, the room is already going to feel like somewhere you actually want to be.

This is not a Zoom call with a book recommendation. This is an experience. And Goody setting the tone from the jump is exactly the kind of detail that separates a good event from one people talk about afterward.

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What’s Inside the Killjoy Mocktail Kit

Okay, here’s what’s actually inside — because yes, we know you want to know:

• Kin Euphorics Luna Morada — sweet-smoky, non-caffeinated, with liver and digestive support
• Hiyo Watermelon Lime — light and playful, crafted with organic adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals
• Buzzkill Sauvignon Blanc Can — alcohol-removed California wine with lemongrass, passionfruit, and citrus
• Portal Cultured Soda — berry-forward, no added sugar, prebiotic cultures, 39 calories
• Psychedelic Good Mood Mix — powdered drink mix with noble kava and velvet bean (yes, really)
• Free Spirits Espresso Old Fashioned — bold zero-proof riff with real espresso, oaky notes, and B vitamins
• Charmlee Youth — grapefruit, apple, Himalayan pink salt, and a full radiant skin blend
• Lucky Frog Repose Meyer Lemon Strawberry Basil — low-calorie social tonic with ashwagandha and magnesium
• Best Day Brewing Galaxy Ripple
• Eat Gold Organics Big Orgasm Chocolate — because we are not here to play small
• “Never Forget How Wildly Capable You Are” card
• “Women doing whatever the F they want” sticker
• Killjoy grocery bag

This is not a one-note box. It’s giving complexity. It’s giving choices. It’s giving, “I contain multitudes and at least one delicious beverage for every mood swing.”

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Why It Works So Well with Margo’s Got Money Trouble

Rufi Thorpe’s novel is sharp, funny, messy, human, and wildly tuned in to the absurdity of modern womanhood, economics, survival, and reinvention. It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh, wince, underline three things, and text a friend, “This woman gets it.”

That makes this Killjoy kit feel like more than a sponsor tie-in. It feels like an extension of the experience.

There’s something perfect about sipping an adaptogenic social tonic or a zero-proof espresso old-fashioned while sitting with a story about ambition, motherhood, money, sex, survival, and the bizarre systems women are asked to navigate with a smile and maybe concealer.

This isn’t about pretending a drink kit is literature. Let’s stay grounded. But it is about creating a fuller, more intentional experience around the conversation — one that feels aligned with the kind of community we’re building through BACKSTAGE.

#ADDTOCART “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe

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A Little Taste of Nashville, Too

There’s also a personal layer here.

Alysse and Amy visited Killjoy on a recent trip to Nashville, and it left an impression. When you spend your days covering sober culture, you know when a place is just selling products and when it’s actually building community. Killjoy feels like the latter.

It’s curated. It’s smart. It’s welcoming. And most importantly, it understands that alcohol-free adults deserve options that feel exciting — not like punishment for having a frontal lobe.

That matters.

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The Bigger Picture

This first BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator event is about more than one book, one guest, or one promo box. It’s about building a cultural clubhouse for people who want more from sober living than just not drinking.

We want conversations that are intelligent and entertaining. We want events that feel special. We want partnerships that actually make sense. We want sober culture with taste, texture, humor, and edge.

The Killjoy Mocktail Kit checks all those boxes.

Grab Your Kit Before They’re Gone

Only 23 kits available. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The event is Wednesday, April 22nd at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern — but the Killjoy Mocktail Kit isn’t just for one night. Order it this week, stock your fridge, and sip your way through the series as “Margo’s Got Money Trouble plays out on Apple TV.

Think of it as your official companion kit for the whole ride.

Here’s what you need to know:

• 🎟️ This offer is exclusively for BACKSTAGE VIP Founding members
• 📦 Only 23 kits available — this will sell out
• 📺 Order this week and sip along as the series unfolds on Apple TV
• 🛒 ORDER YOUR KIT HERE

Goody will be setting the vibe from the first beat. Rufi Thorpe will bring the conversation. You bring yourself — and something fabulous to sip on.

Come for the conversation. Stay for the vibes. Sip something fabulous while you’re at it.

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BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator: Media Night | Rufi Thorpe Live

This event is FREE to BACKSTAGE Members. Not a member yet? JOIN HERE.

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BACKSTAGE with The Sober Curator Is Open — And These 200 Founding Member Spots Won’t Last

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WHAT A TRIP! Sober Tennessee Road Trip: Best Things to Do in Dollywood, Franklin & Nashville

Welcome to HAPPY EVERY HOUR, your go-to hub for all things NA (non-alcoholic). We review alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and share NA cocktail recipes that taste just as good—if not better—than the boozy originals. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just taking a break, this is where great taste meets zero proof.

TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … #becausedrunkneverlooksgood.

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SOBER EVENTS at The Sober Curator keeps you in the loop on alcohol-free gatherings happening nationwide. From sober comedy shows and non-alcoholic tastings to festivals, retreats, and sporting events, we highlight vibrant, community-driven experiences from coast to coast. Our goal? To keep you entertained, inspired, and connected—no matter where you live. Need more sober time than one event? We’ve got your back with our Sober Retreat Calendar.

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Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

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