Dappled Tonic - Faith Dionne
Faith Dionne’s journey with Dappled Tonic beautifully illustrates how expertise in one craft can inspire another. For nine years as a craft distiller, Faith recognized an untold story about native Oregon ingredients like douglas fir and cottonwood buds that deserved to be celebrated beyond her gin creations at JAZ Spirits.
Drawing on her training as a pastry chef and her experience in craft spirits, Faith was struck by the disconnect between the artisanal gins she was producing and the mass-market tonics they were being paired with. “I was sure I could do better than that,” she thought, and Dappled Tonic was born - her third entrepreneurial venture.
The response was immediate and surprising. Dappled Tonic transcended its intended purpose as a mixer, with Faith estimating that 40% of early customers were enjoying it as a sophisticated non-alcoholic beverage on its own - a percentage that has only grown. “It’s so much more than just bitters and bubbles,” Faith explains, “It’s adult and fancy - there are light and dark movements that stimulate your palate in a way that many people miss when they go non-alcoholic.”
Unlike her previous ventures, Faith approached Dappled with a team from the start - a decision she credits as crucial to their success. “Having a team has been brilliant because I didn’t have to be the expert on EVERYTHING,” she reflects. With a trusted CFO handling finances and equity partners invested in the business, they’ve weathered numerous challenges together, including losing their Oregon co-packer - a crisis that ultimately led them to find an even better partner in Colorado, tripling production and reading a clear path to profitability.
Fatih embraces the entrepreneurial journey with all its unexpected turns. When slow leaks in some cans led to the discovery that tonic water glows under blacklight (which they used to identify the problematic cans), they transformed this challenge into an opportunity - now they are in talks with the Portland Light Festival to be part of the 2026 celebration.
“The thrill is in the danger and the joy,” Faith says of entrepreneurship. Her advice to other founders navigating the “valley of death” is pragmatic: “Turn off all the emotions and assess the lay of the land. Create accountability partners and talk to them - your sounding board is critical. Verbalize and check whether you are working on assumptions or facts.”
For Fatih, Built’s most valuable contribution has been connecting her with mentors who provided perspective, validation and guidance through critical situations. These relationships helped her clarify language, understand what to expect and navigate the complex journey of scaling an artisanal beverage company that is now catching the attention of national press, including the Washington Post.
You can find more about Dappled Tonic here: https://www.dappledtonic.com/
And follow them on Instagram here.